- design by Evan Bivins, photography by Alice Keeney
- The official poster for the JAC’s Jass Series 2012
The Jazz Artists of Charleston’s fifth annual JAC Jazz Series will be heading uptown to at brand-new venue this year. While they’ve previously presented the annual series in upstairs rooms at downtown restaurants McCrady’s and Mistral, they’ve landed at the Mezz (276 King St.), a newly renovated jazz listening room and bar above Sermet’s at the corner of King and Wentworth streets. As they did last year, the JAC booked and promoted these shows independently of Piccolo Spoleto.
The Mezz will host two shows per night at 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. during the series. Admission to each performance is $25 at the door and $20 in advance.
The piano duo of Tommy Gill and Gerald Gregory will kick things off on Wed. May 23. The series continues with concerts by the Charlton Singleton Quintet, the Lewis-Gregory-Wiltrout trio, Asheville’s Michael Bellar and the As-Is Ensemble, the Suárez and Singleton duo, Faces for Radio, the Sterbank-Suárez duo, guitarist Clay Ross’ Matuto Trio, Columbia-based be-bop band Modus Bone, the Gennaro’s Jazz Ensemble, Cameron and the C-Notes, and the Charleston Latin Jazz Collective. On Fri. June 8, the Charleston All-Stars will close the series with a 8 p.m. performance.
The JAC Jazz Series also includes two special events. Local sax player and arranger Mark Sterbank’s group will present their popular Hymns and Spirituals program at the Circular Congregationalist Church at 8 p.m. on Mon. May 28. The Fifth Annual Holy City Homecomin’ featuring Fred Wesley (of James Brown fame) and the New JBs will hit the Charleston Music Hall stage at 8 p.m. on Tues. May 29.
The JAC is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting and supporting the local jazz scene. Visit jazzartistsofcharleston.org and check the listings at the Music+Clubs section at charlestoncitypaper.com for more.
UPDATE: On May 19, the Jazz Artists of Charleston announced a change in venue for their fifth annual JAC Jazz Series, which starts on June 23 and runs through June 8. They’ve moved the series up King Street to Father Figaro Hall.
Help keep the City Paper free.
No paywalls.
No subscription cost.
Free delivery at 800 locations.
Help support independent journalism by donating today.
