The SC Jazz Masterworks Ensemble will make your season bright with a collection of jazz for the holidays presented with some big band energy and swingin’ sleigh bells for a very merry holiday celebration.
The SC Jazz Masterworks Ensemble will make your season bright with a collection of jazz for the holidays presented with some big band energy and swingin’ sleigh bells for a very merry holiday celebration.
French jazz singer, Cyrille Aimée possess an infectious joy, lightness of touch and deep feeling for the lyric. She is a matchless interpreter of song, combining the depth and sophistication of jazz, the immediacy of pop, and the irrepressible dance rhythms of the Caribbean. Cyrille will join the SC Jazz Masterworks Ensemble for an intimate and spirited evening, not to be missed
Renowned trumpeter, composer, bandleader and educator Sean Jones joins the SC Jazz Masterworks Ensemble for an explosion of big band sounds. Sean Jones played lead trumpet with the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra for six years, served as the musical director of SFJAZZ Collective for two years and has performed and recorded with Nancy Wilson, Diane Reeves, Marcus Miller, Herbie Hancock and Wayne Shorter, just to name a few.
We are celebrating Mike LeDonne’s 68th birthday and the Jazz Masterworks Ensemble is presenting the swinging sounds of a Hammond B-3 organ for the first time. Mike LeDonne has performed with Benny Goodman, Milt Jackson, Sonny Rollins, Bobby Hutcherson, George Coleman, etc. Mike is on over 200 recordings and has produced 23 recordings as a leader.
Saxophone Colossus - Chris Potter
June 15, 2024 - 7:30 P.M. - Harbison Theatre
A Columbia, SC native and one of the greatest jazz saxophonists of all time, Chris Potter will join the SC Jazz Masterworks Ensemble for our season finale. Since emerging on the scene as a sideman 30 years ago with Red Rodney, Chris Potter has gone on to play with everybody from Pat Metheny to Steely Dan. DownBeat magazine called him “One of the most studied (and copied) saxophonists on the planet” and JazzTimes identified him as “a figure of international renown.” Potter’s impressive discography includes 18 albums as a leader, as well as sideman appearances on more than 100 albums!
An Evening with The New York Voices
April 13, 2024 - 7:30 P.M. - Harbison Theatre
New York Voices (NYV) is the GRAMMY® Award winning vocal ensemble renowned for their excellence in jazz and the art of group singing. New York Voices is considered as one of the premiere vocal (and only) jazz groups in the world today. They use a repertoire that includes bop songs from the vocalese tradition, plus adaptations of more timely material from the jazz and pop worlds.
Jazz is for Lovers with Roberta Gambarini
February 14, 2024 - 7:30 P.M. - Harbison Theatre
This is the perfect Valentine’s date night. Roberta Gambarini and the SC Jazz Masterworks Ensemble will take you on a journey through lush harmonies and gorgeous melodies sweeping everyone off their feet.
Swingin’ Holidays
December 17, 2023 - 3:30 P.M. - Harbison Theatre
The SC Jazz Masterworks Ensemble will make your season bright with a collection of jazz for the holidays presented with some big band energy and swingin’ sleigh bells for a very merry holiday celebration.
Overjoyed: The Music of Stevie Wonder
October 28, 2023 - 7:30 P.M. - Harbison Theatre
Stevie Wonder was a child prodigy who signed with Motown at the age of 11 and has since become an indisputable genius. He is one of the best-selling artists of all time and has won 25 Grammy Awards. Stevie Wonder is a pioneer in fusing elements of R&B, pop, soul gospel, funk, and of course, jazz. His body of hit songs will lend itself perfectly to an evening of magic with the SC Jazz Masterworks Ensemble.
THE ANSWER TO A NIGHT OF LEGENDARY MUSIC. The SC Jazz Masterworks Ensemble takes two of jazz’s most celebrated composers and brings you a full evening of their musical genius.
THE ANSWER TO THE PERFECT VALENTINE’S DATE. The SC Jazz Masterworks Ensemble will make you swoon when they croon and present some of jazz’s greatest love songs.
THE ANSWER TO A VERY MERRY BIG BAND CELEBRATION. The SC Jazz Masterworks Ensemble will make your holidays bright with a collection of classic jazz for the holidays presented with some big band energy and swingin’ sleigh bells.
THE ANSWER TO A GREAT NIGHT WITH FRIENDS. The SC Jazz Masterworks Ensemble presents an unforgettable evening of jazz favorites while spotlighting some of South Carolina’s most celebrated musicians.
Clarinetist, Ken Peplowski is an undisputed master of swing and is a musical descendant of the great Benny Goodman. As the New York Times says, Peplowski is “Goodman Straight Up, With a Twist of Lightning.”
Joe Lovano is one of the most highly regarded jazz saxophonists of his generation and he improvises from his soul. When Joe Lovano walks in the room, you feel the presence of Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Charlie Parker, Miles Davis and John Coltrane.
Jazz and popular music have always been in a relationship and the blending of genres is a way of life for most musicians. “SC Jazz Plays the Beatles” feels like a great idea.
Stefon Harris's passionate artistry and astonishing virtuosity have propelled him to the forefront of the jazz scene. Heralded as "one of the most important artists in jazz" (The Los Angeles Times), he has been named a recipient of the 2018 Doris Duke Artist Awards.
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New York based vocalist, Veronica Swift is now being recognized internationally as one of the top young singers on the scene.
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Chris Potter has performed or recorded with many of the leading names in jazz and will be performing here with the Jazz Masterworks Ensemble under the direction of Dr. Robert Gardiner.
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With 18 amazing musicians, the musical possibilities are almost unlimited. The SC Jazz Masterworks Ensemble comprises eighteen of the finest jazz musicians, soloists, and bandleaders from across the Carolinas and their mission is to present jazz concerts at the highest artistic level. The ensemble will be performing big band classics, music from the great American song book and modern originals by the group's members.
Honored by The National Endowment for the Arts as a 2010 Jazz Master, Kenny Barron has an unmatched ability to mesmerize audiences with his elegant playing, sensitive melodies and infectious rhythms. The Los Angeles Times named him “one of the top jazz pianists in the world” and Jazz Weekly calls him “The most lyrical piano player of our time.
The SC Jazz Masterworks Ensemble comprises eighteen of the finest jazz musicians, soloists, and bandleaders from across the Carolinas.
With 18 amazing musicians, the musical possibilities are almost unlimited. The SC Jazz Masterworks Ensemble comprises eighteen of the finest jazz musicians, soloists, and bandleaders from across the Carolinas and their mission is to present jazz concerts at the highest artistic level. The ensemble will be performing big band classics, music from the great American song book and modern originals by the group's members.
We are excited to announce that jazz trumpeter Justin Ray will join the ensemble for our final concert of the season. Dr. Robert Gardiner will lead the SC Jazz Masterworks Ensemble in a performance of jazz standards that promises to deliver a performance that will resound in the listeners’ ears and memories.
Join us at sponsor location Bar Figaro immediately following the Chris Potter concert for a fundraiser to benefit the SC Jazz Foundation.
World class solo artist Chris Potter has emerged as a leading light of his generation. Down Beat magazine called him “One of the most studied (and copied) saxophonists on the planet” and Jazz Times identified him as “a figure of international renown.” Potter’s impressive discography includes 15 albums as a leader, as well as sideman appearances on more than 100 albums. He has performed or recorded with many of the leading names in jazz and will be performing here with the Jazz Masterworks Ensemble under the direction of Dr. Robert Gardiner.
Join us for a fundraiser at Bar Figaro immediately following the Wycliffe Gordon concert.
Wycliffe Gordon is an internationally acclaimed musical ambassador and interpreter of jazz, America’s music. He has 21 solo recordings and is a former longtime member of the Wynton Marsalis Septet and the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra. The Jazz Journalists Association recently named him “2018 Trombonist of the Year” for the 11thtime. Wycliffe will be performing big band classics and swinging originals accompanied by the Jazz Masterworks Ensemble under the direction of Dr. Robert Gardiner.
More information and ticket sales can be found at scjazzfestival.com
Join the SC Jazz Foundation in Columbia, SC for "Beyond The Notes", their first sponsorship event hosted by Reggie Sullivan. This fundraiser and goods donation drive will be held in the City Market Place - Vista Venue (705 Gervais Street) in Columbia, South Carolina.
Entertainment will be provided by the Jmichael Peeples Movement and the Reggie Sullivan Jazz and Rock Band, with a VIP only performance by Amos Hoffman.
