AMERICAN jazzman Curtis Stigers heads to Wirral as part of his new album tour next year.

The multi-platinum selling singer, saxophonist, producer and songwriter - who burst on the music scene in the '90s with hits including I wonder why and You're all that matters to me - is at the Floral Pavilion in New Brighton on February 10.

His new album, Hooray For Love was released in April.

Speaking to the Globe during a break on a tour of Columbus, Ohio this afternoon, Curtis recalled: "I performed in Wirral once, but it was a few years ago.

"I'm looking forward to coming back, because as I remember it was a great audience.

"People who haven't seen me before are surprised when they see me on stage.

"A lot of people have this faint memory of me as a pop sensation in the early '90s, but what they don't realise is that I'm a professional musician and have played saxophone since I was a kid.

"Wives bring their husbands along and, at first the guys are are like 'It's that guy who had some hits in the '90s', but by the end, they are really impressed by what they hear."

On the new album, the 49-year-old, who was born in Boise, Idaho, said: "It's a departure from my last album, revisiting the classic 1950s jazz-pop.

"In that period they had really great singers like Nat King Cole and Doris Day; pop singers who were really jazz singers.

"Although I make jazz records, this album is my way of looking back."

In a recording career spanning 23 years he has worked with the likes of Eric Clapton, Elton John, Prince, Rod Stewart, Joe Cocker, George Benson, The Allman Brothers Band and many more.

His rendition of Nick Lowe's (What's so funny 'bout) peace love and understanding was included in the soundtrack of The Bodyguard, which starred Kevin Costner and the late Whitney Houston. It sold more 40 million copies.

He recently sung and co-composed the theme tune to cult television series Sons of Anarchy, for which he was also nominated for an Emmy.

In 2001 he embarked on career as a first class jazz singer, which led to the production of seven albums out so far and many awards.

His 2003 album You Inspire Me was named the London Times' Jazz album of the year.

In 2007 he was named Jazz artist of the year by BBC Radio 2, and in 2010 won the German Jazz Echo in the category Best international male jazz singer.

He has performed at most major jazz festivals and iconic jazz clubs around the world and is a regular at concert halls on both sides of the Atlantic.

Looking back on his career, Curtis said: "There have been many highlights, a lot of them small, but I suppose the main was getting my first hit in the 1990s and performing at the Royal Albert Hall."

Looking to the future, he said: "I make my living on the road and I look at my records as providing the fuel for my tours.

His decision to follow a musical path was made at an early age.

He said: "As a kid I was a big fan of records and radio, I also played in a lot of bands, so it seemed obvious to want to play music.

"Then suddenly school was finished and music was all I wanted to do."

Tickets for the show are from the box office on www.floralpavilion.com or 0151 666 0000.