Mark Rapp Columbia SC Jazz Ambassador

Experience Columbia Ambassador

ColaJazz Foundation Executive Director Mark Rapp is named an “Experience Columbia Ambassador” for 2020 along with 3 other incredibly influential movers & shakers all working hard to make Columbia, SC an exciting place to live and work! Named SC Jazz Ambassador by the State Legislature in 2018, Rapp continues to be a champion of jazz … Read more

Big Apple Dance

SC Jazz History: Big Apple Dance

“When the steps came together in a joyous dance, it had the power to bring people together.” Big band jazz otherwise known as Swing is the music that gets people moving. While big bands of Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman, and Count Basie were swinging the tunes, people were surely dancing around the room. Another famous … Read more

Gift of Story and Song

The “gift of story and song” runs through the African-American experience from slavery to the speeches of the first black president of the United States—and a portion of it emerged from the South Carolina lowcountry. Performed by Gullah people, slave songs such as “Michael, Row the Boat Ashore,” “Roll, Jordan, Roll,” “Nobody Knows the Trouble … Read more

Amazon Prime Jazz Films

Amazon Prime Jazz Films

Check out the amazing jazz films on Amazon Prime! Great jazz movies and jazz documentaries for your enjoyment and edutainment! Here are a few of our picks… The Jazz Ambassadors Bolden Bill Evans Time Remembered Count Basie – At Carnegie Hall Icons Among Us The Case Of The Three Sided Dream Sun Ra – A … Read more

ColaJazz Summer Camp 2020

ColaJazz Camp 2020 Announced

We are so excited to be entering our 4th year offering a world-class summer jazz camp! SAVE THE DATE: July 16-19, 2020 Join the ColaJazz Camp’s Facebook page: https://facebook.com/colajazzcamp Stay up-to-date with ColaJazz announcements and join our Newsletter: https://colajazz.com/contact/ Do more. Be more. JAZZ more! The ColaJazz Camp is our premier jazz education event welcoming … Read more

ColaJazz jazz for Young People Concerts

Jazz for Young People Concerts

On a Friday morning in June, about 700 kids from the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Midlands and the Boys & Girls Club of Kershaw County experienced jazz music! They learned about the history of jazz, the different instruments and the sounds they make, and how jazz brings us together. The concert was a … Read more

ColaJazz SC Jazz Education

ColaJazz in the Schools

ColaJazz is one of fifteen arts organizations chosen to beta-test the new Jazz at Lincoln Center After-School Content. ColaJazz is able to present this new jazz curriculum to underserved schools and young people by partnering with the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Midlands. “We know from proven practice that jazz is a great community … Read more