Charleston Jazz Initiative Legends Festival

The Charleston Jazz Initiative at the College of Charleston  will present the “Legends Festival” featuring jazz musicians with ties to South Carolina on June 4 – 6, 2010 as part of the 2010 Piccolo Spoleto Festival. The event will include performances, scholarly presentations, interpretive commentaries, and much more. SC Humanities supported this event through a February 2010 Major Grant.

The Charleston Jazz Initiative documents the African American jazz tradition in Charleston, the South Carolina Lowcountry, and its diasporic movement throughout the United States and Europe between the late 19th century through today. The “Legends Festival” will raise public awareness of the impact that Charleston’s musicians had on the American jazz and world music scene – something that is little-recognized today.

The “Legends Festival” will include such programs as “JazzEd Fest” that will feature an original musical about Charleston’s acclaimed “Jenkins Orphanage Band” and  an exhibit and discussion of the Charleston Jazz Initiative’s collection of photographs, letters, and music scores. The history and cultural importance of the jazz movement in Charleston will be highlighted throughout the weekend. See the full schedule!

For more information about the Charleston Jazz Initiative, visit their website at: http://www.charlestonjazz.net/home.php.

Hilton Head SchoolThe mission of SC Humanities is to enrich the cultural and intellectual lives of all South Carolinians. SC Humanities programs and initiatives are balanced, reflecting sensitivity to the diversity of ideas, encourage open dialogue, demonstrate integrity, and are ethical in operations.

Image Credit: Prop for "The Charleston" – Hilton Head Island School for the Creative Arts