Jim Mings is easily one of our greatest treasures. He is a beautiful cat inside and out, an encyclopedia of jazz songs, a brilliant guitarist, and one of the most interesting improvisers you’ll experience. Whether he’s playing a standard from the American songbook or a country tune, without fail, it is deep in the pocket … Read more
Shannon “True Blue” or “Deon Blue” Pinkney is a beautiful and fun pianist here in Columbia, SC. He always plays with a smile and exudes joy, calmness, and humility everywhere he goes. Listening to him is a treat as he aims for melodic expression and often interjects quirky musical quotes from a variety of other … Read more
Zach Bingham is one of the most well-rounded musicians we have in the Columbia Jazz scene. He is a style wizard. He’s also one of the most humble and nicest guys you’ll meet. Zach started playing guitar at age six and soon progressed from rock to jazz and fusion. Comfortable in any setting, he studied … Read more
Thanks to everyone who came out this Monday night, March 19th, 2018. Amos, Sam and Brendan played a brilliant set of jazz standards to launch the event and it was nothing short of inspiring. Lee Snelgrove from OneColumbia filled us in on Amplify Columbia. Let your voice be heard! Fill out the survey now! We … Read more
David Liebman, a National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Masters Lifetime Achievement Award recipient and saxophone legend, has been announced as the Master Clinician for the USC ColaJazz Camp taking place on July 13-15, 2018. Liebman gained worldwide notoriety playing with Miles Davis. With a career stretching nearly fifty years, Liebman has played with masters … Read more
HOUSE RESOLUTION SALUTES MARK RAPP AS AMBASSADOR OF JAZZ FOR THE CITY OF COLUMBIA AND THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA Columbia, SC, Feb 20th, 2018: On Thursday, February 8th, during the morning legislative session, House Representatives Kirkman Finlay and Beth Bernstein presented jazz trumpeter Mark Rapp with the framed resolution naming him jazz ambassador of … Read more
Welcome to the 1st annual ColaJazz Festival! My name is Mark Rapp, founder of ColaJazz and in partnership with the Music Farm Columbia, producer of this, our 2018 ColaJazz Festival. I firmly believe Columbia, our capital city, ought to be the cultural hub offering the best in the arts. We can be and are showing … Read more
GRAMMY-nominated saxophonist and Columbia, SC native Chris Potter returns home to headline the 2018 ColaJazz Festival. Columbia, SC, Nov 22nd, 2017: Grammy-nominated artist Chris Potter, arguably the best living saxophonist in jazz, will headline the 2018 ColaJazz Festival in Columbia on Feb 3, 2018. Potter grew up in Columbia, and graduated from Dreher High School. … Read more