“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
Jabbo Smith (December 24, 1908 – January 16, 1991) was born Cladys Smith in Pembroke, Georgia. He was mentioned in a previous post as being the #2 trumpeter in Jazz, which is pretty incredible considering the many talented horn players of the genre. Jabbo learned to play at the famed Jenkins Orphanage and was also … Read more
July 30th is officially known as “Drink Small Day” in Columbia, SC. ColaJazz in partnership with the White Mule, Cottontown Soul Society, Freeway Music and Sara Williams celebrated our beloved Blues Doctor with speeches, music, and awesome community fellowship! Shelley Magee of the Cottontown Soul Society said, ‘It was an absolute honor for us to … Read more
Eartha Kitt was a magnetic soul who lit up the stage, screen, and room wherever she appeared. A pop-culture icon, Kitt is forever remembered for playing Catwoman in a 60s Batman series. During her career, her first song recordings were done in Paris with a jazz trio. In 2006, she sang at the Monterey Jazz … Read more
Joseph Anthony “Fud” Livingston (1906-1957) was a jazz virtuoso who not only arranged music, but played saxophone, clarinet, and piano. This Charleston, South Carolina, native composed the music for “I’m Thru with Love,” which was popularized into a standard. The song was recorded by Bing Crosby, Nat King Cole, Marilyn Monroe, and Ella Fitzgerald, and … Read more
ColaJazz is the only jazz organization in South Carolina selected to offer Jazz at Lincoln Center’s after school pilot program. In partnership with the Auntie Karen Foundation, ColaJazz will implement the Jazz at Lincoln Center Afterschool Content (JALC-AC) to multiple Boys & Girls Clubs sites around South Carolina and offer refinements to the program for … Read more
“It’s quite remarkable how many great jazz musicians came from the state of South Carolina and Charleston, in particular. لعب البوكر على الانترنت ” – Dan Morgenstern, Director, Institute of Jazz Studies, Rutgers University This week, SC Jazz History gives us a look at famed trumpet players, William Alonzo “Cat” Anderson and Leo “The Whistler” … Read more
South Carolina is the birthplace and home to many jazz influencers. Once such group is the Jenkins Orphanage Band of Charleston, South Carolina. Jabbo Smith, who was Jazz’s #2 trumpeter, got his start with the Jenkins Orphanage Band. In the late 1930’s, Jabbo reportedly is the one who encouraged a 17 year old Sarah Vaughn … Read more