Charleston Jazz Announces 2020 Festival Headliners

Charleston Jazz this week announced the world-renowned performers for the 6^th Annual Charleston Jazz Festival. The four-day festival will take place January 23rd to 26th, 2020 featuring the legendary Freddy Cole, Jane Monheit and the Charleston Jazz Orchestra, the Monty Alexander Trio, and jazz violinist Regina Carter.

The Charleston Jazz Festival will also showcase some of the area’s best jazz groups on Local Band Night, as well as up-and-coming high-school jazz bands from around South Carolina on Family Jazz Day. Those performers will be announced at a later date.

“We are thrilled to present this extraordinary and diverse line-up of some of the best jazz performers touring the world today” Tatjana Beylotte, Acting Director of Charleston Jazz, said. “The Charleston Jazz Festival is always memorable and we look forward to engage our audience with an incredible range of jazz.”

Here’s a look at the current schedule:

JANUARY 24, 2020
The World of Regina Carter
7:30PM  |  CHARLESTON MUSIC HALL  |  TICKETS: $25 – $50  |  SENIOR (65+) + STUDENT RATES AVAILABLE

Remarkable jazz violinist Regina Carter is one of today’s most original and daring musicians. Classically trained, Regina grew up in Detroit, where she absorbed all the music that Motown had to offer. Though her work draws upon a wide range of musical influences – including Afro-Cuban, Swing, Bebop, Folk, and World – she has crafted a signature voice and style on the violin. She has performed with Aretha Franklin, Patti LaBelle, Wynton Marsalis, Kenny Barron, Billy Joel, Cassandra Wilson, and many others. A recipient of the MacArthur “genius” award and a Doris Duke Artist Award, Regina Carter is widely considered the finest jazz violinist of her generation.

JANUARY 25, 2020 
Jane Monheit + Freddy Cole with the Charleston Jazz Orchestra
Opening Act: Monty Alexander Trio
7:30PM  |  CHARLESTON GAILLARD CENTER  | TICKETS: $53 – $128 (+ applicable fees)

The evening begins with a performance by the Monty Alexander Trio, followed by the Charleston Jazz Orchestra performing with vocalists Jane Monheit and Freddy Cole.

Originally from Kingston, Jamaica, Grammy-nominated pianist Monty Alexander is an American classic, touring the world relentlessly with various projects delighting a global audience drawn to his vibrant personality and soulful message. A perennial favorite at Jazz festivals and venues worldwide, his spirited conception covers a repertoire spanning a broad range of jazz and Jamaican musical expressions – the American songbook and the blues, gospel and bebop, calypso and reggae.

Blessed with “a voice of phenomenal beauty” (Stephen Holden, New York Times), Jane Monheit has had plenty of milestone moments in establishing herself as one of today’s best and most important vocalist-musicians. The twice Grammy-nominated singer has released 12 solo albums and has collaborated with Michael Bublé, John Pizzarelli, Terence Blanchard, among many others. Her latest release, The Songbook Sessions: Ella Fitzgerald, pays joyous tribute to the legendary singer, while sharing a definite portrait of herself.

The legendary Freddy Cole, a four-time Grammy Nominee (most recently a 2019 Grammy Nominee for Best Jazz Vocal Recording)was born in 1931, the youngest of Edward and Paulina Nancy Cole’s five children. His three elder brothers, Eddie, Ike and Nat (twelve years Freddy’s senior) were all musicians taught by their mother.At the young age of 88, Freddy Cole’s career continues to ascend as he has moved into the front ranks of America’s homegrown art form with a style and musical sophistication all his own. Nominated for a 2019 Grammy for Best Jazz Vocal Recording, masterful vocalist and pianist, Freddy Cole captivates listeners with his elegant presence, subtle phrasing, and intimate singing style.

The Charleston Jazz Orchestra, under the direction of Robert Lewis, has been performing for audiences in the Lowcountry for over 10 years. The Charleston Jazz Orchestra is comprised of 18 accomplished jazz musicians and is an entertaining and educational example of the rich history of jazz in Charleston. The Charleston Jazz Orchestra offers a six concert subscription series known for its unique, enthusiastically received performances that contribute mightily to the ever-evolving Lowcountry arts scene.

About the Charleston Jazz Festival
The Charleston Jazz Festival offers a world-class celebration of jazz by presenting timeless and creative productions that entertain audiences, stimulate arts education, foster economic growth and unite artists and audiences in Charleston. Each year, the festival line-up includes internationally acclaimed headliners, the best local jazz bands, and top youth artists performing a wide range of styles including Swing, Salsa, Blues, Brazilian, and the American Songbook.

About Charleston Jazz
Charleston Jazz is a non-profit organization whose mission is to grow a local and global community for jazz through performance, education, and outreach while celebrating and preserving Charleston’s rich history in jazz. Established in 2008, Charleston Jazz has earned a reputation for presenting, producing, and advocating for all things jazz and the artists who bring this music to life in dynamic ways. The organization manages the Charleston Jazz Orchestra, the Charleston Jazz Festival, and the Charleston Jazz Academy. For more information, visit www.charlestonjazz.com.

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