Our highly anticipated Season 18 begins with the Charleston Jazz Orchestra’s tribute to Billie Holiday, featuring Charleston’s own, Tonya Nicole. Billie Holiday, also known as ‘Lady Day’, is considered one of jazz’s greatest vocalists and who bravely revolutionized jazz, blues and popular music. Her distinctive, expressive style was strongly influenced by jazz instrumentalists and widely known to convey intense and personal feelings through her distinctive voice.

Following the success of her 2025 Charleston Jazz Festival performance, Tonya Nicole’s rich vocal expression with southern warmth glides from velvety lows to soaring highs effortlessly blending music and storytelling to an unforgettable experience. We look forward to having you join us for the Charleston Jazz Orchestra’s Season 18 opening performance, Ode to Billie Holiday!

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Ode to Billie Holiday: Tonya Nicole + The Charleston Jazz Orchestra

Charleston Music Hall

Join us for a  night of live jazz featuring the College of Charleston Faculty Jazz Ensemble — five of Charleston’s most celebrated jazz musicians coming together for a rare performance as a quintet!

These acclaimed artists are constantly in demand across local, regional, and national stages, making this collaboration a truly special occasion. Experience their dynamic, creative energy as they bring original compositions and reimagined jazz standards to life. This is one show you won’t want to miss!

Charleston Jazz Festival | The College of Charleston Faculty Jazz Ensemble

College of Charleston

Experience the thrilling synergy of the Alfredo Rodriguez Trio at the Charleston Jazz Festival. Cuban-born pianist Alfredo Rodriguez, celebrated for his virtuosic technique and emotive storytelling, leads this powerhouse ensemble. Joining him are the versatile Munir Hossn on guitar and bass, and the dynamic Michael Olivera on percussion, creating a sound that is both rhythmically intricate and melodically rich.

Expect a journey through jazz infused with Afro-Cuban rhythms, contemporary improvisation, and unforgettable energy—this is a performance that will resonate long after the last note.

Charleston Jazz Festival | Alfredo Rodriguez Trio

Jazz guitar fusion legend Al Di Meola returns with his acoustic band and the program “The Guitarchitect,” a refined concert experience that unites five decades of music, sweeping multimedia visuals, and the stories that shaped a lifetime of artistry. This tour is a celebration of legacy, innovation, and the evolution of the Di Meola sound — performed with the unmistakable precision and passion that have defined his world-renowned career.

Joined by acclaimed guitarist Peo Alfonsi, percussionist Sergio Martinez, and tabla virtuoso Amit Kavthekar, this ensemble blends intricate acoustic guitar interplay with pulsating Latin and Indian-inspired rhythms.

Join us for an evening that honors the past, embraces the present, and looks toward the future.

Charleston Jazz Festival | Al Di Meola Acoustic Quartet

Podcast link: https://youtu.be/4hagYvrYbuM

The Artelize Podcast and Kasper Holten - Pedefining Opera for the modern world

Podcast link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d36M5Hi6O80

The Artelize Podcast - A legacy of innovation in Opera: Celebrating Marc A. Scorca

Podcast link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59E40S_EQSY

The Artelize Podcast: A love letter that was never sent

Podcast link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=THv6htilWtI

The Artelize Podcast and Adolfo Corrado: Mediterranean flavors, opera and social media

Experience an unforgettable night of world-class jazz as Grammy Award-winning pianist, composer and educator Danilo Pérez joins forces with the dynamic Charleston Jazz Orchestra for a performance that transcends borders and genres! Pérez, known for his visionary blend of Pan-American jazz and collaborations with the likes of Dizzy Gillespie and Wayne Shorter, brings his signature passion, rhythm, and innovation to the stage in a powerful collaboration with South Carolina’s premier Big Band.

A night of Global Jazz, this performance promises a journey through the universal language of music. Under the direction of Maestro Robert Lewis, this show will explore rich sonic landscapes, celebrating the spirit of improvisation and cultural connection. Whether you’re a lifelong jazz enthusiast or new to the genre, this is a concert you won’t want to miss!

Global Connections: Danilo Pérez + The Charleston Jazz Orchestra

Experience two extraordinary performances honoring the vibrant musical legacies of Charleston and New Orleans. The evening opens with the Gullah Collective, led by CL Baxter, celebrating the Gullah Geechee traditions of the Sea Islands through ancestral rhythms, soulful vocals, and powerful storytelling.

The program continues with legendary drummer Herlin Riley and his Quartet—featuring Oscar Rossignoli on piano, Max Moran on bass, and Julian Lee on tenor and soprano saxophone—as they pay homage to the dynamic rhythms and improvisational spirit that define New Orleans jazz.

Together, these performances illuminate the deep connections between two iconic American jazz traditions, creating an immersive and uplifting celebration of rhythm, culture, and creativity.

Charleston Jazz Festival | Herlin Riley Quartet + Gullah Collective

Miles Davis and John Coltrane, two towering figures who reshaped the landscape of 20th-century music. Both born in 1926, Davis’ understated, cool lyricism on Trumpet and Coltrane’s intense sheets of sound on Saxophone would form the modern jazz soundscape in the 1950’s and 60’s. Their musical relationship produced some of the most celebrated recordings in jazz history, such as Kind of Blue, ‘Round About Midnight, and Milestones.

The 18-member Charleston Jazz Orchestra, with its rich musical heritage of South Carolina, celebrates 100 years of Miles and Coltrane, continuing the journey set forth by these powerhouse architects of jazz!

Miles and Coltrane at 100: The Charleston Jazz Orchestra

Piano Legends celebrates and explores the rich legacy of iconic pianists throughout Jazz history. Spanning the evolution of jazz from Ragtime to Modern Fusion, the Charleston Jazz Orchestra will present the styles and innovations of legendary jazz pianists such as Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, Thelonious Monk and Bill Evans, to showcase how this grandiose instrument shaped the genre’s emotional and harmonic language. Featured with your Charleston Jazz Orchestra will be 4 outstanding members of our jazz piano community to pay homage to the Piano Legends who shaped its sound.

Piano Legends: The Charleston Jazz Orchestra

Louis Armstrong is considered one of the most important, if not the most important figure in the history of Jazz. His energetic and rhythmic playing has been a major influence on soloists of every genre of American popular music. Louis’ soaring trumpet and gravelly voice were made world famous with such favorites as Hello Dolly, Mack the Knife, Cheek to Cheek, and What a Wonderful World.

Trumpet phenom Bruce Harris is an internationally renowned musician and educator and is Artistic Director of Programs at the Louis Armstrong House Museum in New York City. Throughout his career, Bruce has collaborated with many artists, to include Wynton Marsalis, Tony Bennett, Dave Brubeck and Samara Joy. On this special evening, Bruce joins the Charleston Jazz Orchestra for a Celebration of ‘Satchmo’ and the amazing music he created for the world to enjoy!

What a Wonderful World: Bruce Harris + The Charleston Jazz Orchestra

Embrace the festive spirit with the Charleston Jazz Orchestra’s highly anticipated annual extravaganza, Holiday Swing. Under the direction of Robert Lewis, with featured guest vocalist Tommy Brown, Jr, this concert promises a jubilant celebration of the holiday season through the lens of jazz. The Orchestra will present an array of seasonal jazz standards, each reimagined with arrangements crafted by some of their own musicians. These interpretations deliver a fresh take on classic tunes, offering something truly special that can only be experienced at this concert.

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