Charleston Jazz Festival Expands to Nine Days in 2025, Showcasing an Unparalleled Lineup of World-Class Artists

The Charleston Jazz Festival proudly announces its return in 2025 with an expanded nine-day celebration of jazz, running from April 21 through April 29.

This year’s festival features an extraordinary lineup of internationally renowned artists, distinguished local musicians, and a diverse array of performances, presented in partnership with a variety of organizations and venues, including Spoleto Festival USA, the Charleston Gaillard Center, the College of Charleston, The Establishment, Fox Music, Circular Congregational Church, and Charleston Music Hall.

From jazz-infused opera and Latin jazz mastery to soul tributes and innovative educational programs, the 2025 Charleston Jazz Festival will offer a rich and dynamic experience, further solidifying Charleston’s reputation as a leading cultural destination for jazz enthusiasts.

The 2025 Charleston Jazz Festival is made possible in part by the Oliver S. and Jennie R. Donaldson Charitable Trust, Hilton C. Smith Jr., Explore Charleston, MUSC Health, City of Charleston, the Byron Fellowship Educational Foundation, and the South Carolina Arts Commission.

Schedule of Events

April 21, 2025

Charleston Gaillard Center presents Terence Blanchard - Fire Shut Up in My Bones: Opera Suite in Concert

Time: 7:00 PM

Venue: Charleston Gaillard Center

The Charleston Gaillard Center, in association with the Charleston Jazz Festival, proudly presents Terence Blanchard’s FIRE SHUT UP IN MY BONES: OPERA SUITE IN CONCERT featuring special guests Justin Austin and Adrienne Danrich.  Performed by Terence Blanchard and E-Collective, the performance beautifully bridges the worlds of jazz and classical music, showcasing the emotional depth and improvisational spirit that jazz brings to opera. 

Concert Length: 90 min (no intermission)

Ticket Price: Tickets start at $29

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April 22, 2025

The College of Charleston Faculty Jazz Ensemble

Time: 7:00pm

Venue: Albert Simons Center for the Arts Recital Hall

Join us for an evening of live jazz with the College of Charleston Faculty Jazz Ensemble, showcasing an exciting mix of original compositions and timeless jazz standards. Experience the dynamic talent and creativity of our distinguished faculty as they bring their passion for music to the stage. 

CofC Faculty Jazz Ensemble:

Robert Lewis – saxophones

David Heywood – flute and EWI

Tyler Ross – guitar

Frank Duvall – bass

Ron Wiltrout – drums

Concert Length: 75 min (no intermission)

GA Ticket Price: $18

Student Ticket Price: $8 with Student ID

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April 23, 2025

Dinner + an Evening with the Richard White Trio at The Establishment

Time: 6:00pm

Venue: The Establishment

This intimate evening pairs an exceptional three-course dining experience at the Establishment on Broad Street with a live performance by the Richard White Trio, led by one of Charleston’s most dynamic jazz pianists and composers, Richard White. Guests are welcome to ask questions and interact with the musicians, creating a dynamic and engaging jazz experience.

Richard White – Piano

Ron Wiltrout – Drums

Jake Holwegner – Bass

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April 24, 2025

Charleston Jazz Festival Lowcountry Jazz Day: Mark Sterbank Quartet – Ballads, Blues & Swing

Time: 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Doors at 5PM

Venue: The American Theater

446 King St, Charleston, SC 29403

The 2025 Charleston Jazz Festival Lowcountry Jazz Day kicks off with the Mark Sterbank Quartet and their stirring program of original music, Ballads, Blues & Swing.

Mark Sterbank is Professor of Music teaching Jazz Studies and Saxophone at Charleston Southern University. He performs regularly with the Charlton Singleton Quintet and Quentin Baxter Quintet, the Charleston Jazz Orchestra and the South Carolina Jazz Masterworks Ensemble. Joining Mark on this special evening will be Charleston favorites, Jonathan Lovett on piano, Brett Belanger on bass, and from Augusta, Ga, Edwin Hamilton on drums.

Mark Sterbank – Tenor Saxophone

Jonathan Lovett – Piano

Brett Belanger – Bass

Edwin Hamilton – Drums

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Charleston Jazz Festival Lowcountry Jazz Day: Kenney/Khayat/Baxter Trio – Impressions of Soul

Time: 8:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Doors at 7:30

Venue: The American Theater

446 King St, Charleston, SC 29403

Featuring Thomas Kenney on guitar, Tim Khayat on electric bass, and Calvin Baxter on drums, this unique trio explores the timeless music of Motown and Soul through the lens of modern jazz. They weave through the tapestry of exciting rhythmic and new harmonic versions of well loved songs by Stevie Wonder, Donny Hathaway, Otis Redding and more!

Culminating their experiences as members of Doom Flamingo, Ranky Tanky, Motown Throwdown and the Gullah Collective, this powerhouse group brings their passion and soul to Lowcountry Jazz Night at the Charleston Jazz Festival!

Thomas Kenney – Guitar

Tim Khayat – Electric Bass

CL Baxter – Drums

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April 25, 2025

Charleston Jazz Festival: The Artistry of Jazzmeia Horn

Time: 7:00 PM - 9:30 PM

Venue: Charleston Music Hall

37 John St., Charleston, SC 29403

In collaboration with the Charleston Music Hall, Grammy-nominated Jazzmeia Horn, renowned for her dynamic vocal range and captivating stage presence, will grace the stage at Charleston Music Hall, bringing her unique blend of soulful, expressive jazz to the festival. Known for her powerful storytelling and deep connection to jazz traditions, Jazzmeia delivers a performance that’s both timeless and fresh, infusing each note with emotion and artistry.

The evening will commence with Tonya Nicole’s FOUR WOMEN, a tribute celebrating Nina Simone, Billie Holiday, Erykah Badu, and Lauryn Hill, setting the tone for a night of exceptional music that celebrates the heart and soul of jazz.

Tonya Nicole – Voice

Jonathan Lovett – Piano

LaVonta Green – Bass

JT Rollerson – Drums

Price: $30 – $67

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April 26, 2025

Havana Night with Paquito D’Rivera – Charleston Jazz Orchestra

Time: 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM

Venue: Charleston Music Hall

37 John St., Charleston, SC 29403

Get ready for an extraordinary night of music as the Charleston Jazz Orchestra proudly presents Grammy Award-Winner Paquito D’Rivera, a Cuban-American virtuoso known for his mastery of the alto saxophone and clarinet. With a career spanning decades and a repertoire that blends traditional Latin jazz with contemporary influences, D’Rivera brings a unique and electrifying energy to the stage. His performances are celebrated for their infectious rhythms, lyrical melodies, and innovative arrangements that showcase his unparalleled talent and deep-rooted passion for jazz.

Concert Length: 90 min (no intermission)

Price: $10 – $67

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Havana Night with Paquito D’Rivera – Charleston Jazz Orchestra

Time: 8:00 PM - 9:30 PM

Venue: Charleston Music Hall

37 John St., Charleston, SC 29403

Get ready for an extraordinary night of music as the Charleston Jazz Orchestra proudly presents Grammy Award-Winner Paquito D’Rivera, a Cuban-American virtuoso known for his mastery of the alto saxophone and clarinet. With a career spanning decades and a repertoire that blends traditional Latin jazz with contemporary influences, D’Rivera brings a unique and electrifying energy to the stage. His performances are celebrated for their infectious rhythms, lyrical melodies, and innovative arrangements that showcase his unparalleled talent and deep-rooted passion for jazz.

Concert Length: 90 min (no intermission)

Price: $10 – $67

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April 27, 2025

Charleston Jazz Festival: Big Chief Donald Harrison Quartet

Time: 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM

Venue: Circular Congregational Church

150 Meeting St, Charleston, SC 29401

The grand finale of the Charleston Jazz Festival is presented in partnership with Spoleto Festival USA and will feature the incomparable Big Chief Donald Harrison Quartet from New Orleans. A National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master and cultural ambassador, alto saxophonist Donald Harrison masterfully blends traditional New Orleans sounds with modern jazz, funk and more, creating a style as vibrant and dynamic as the city he calls home and as broad as jazz gets. 

After an early stint in Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers, Harrison has gone on to be among the most distinctive and wide-ranging of jazz bandleaders and among the most sought-after band members, working regularly with the likes of Ron Carter, The Headhunters and The Cookers. His high-energy grooves, fluid improvisation, and soulful melodies move from bebop to soul to funk and have entranced audiences around the world. In his hometown, New Orleans, he is known as “Big Chief” for his pivotal role in preserving and promoting a tradition of Afro-New Orleans Cultural Groups he inherited from his father, and that is a vital element of community organization. Don’t miss this spectacular closing concert, where the Big Chief and his quartet will capture the spirit of New Orleans, celebrating the legacy and future of jazz in an unforgettable performance.

DONALD HARRISON – ALTO SAXOPHONE

DAN KAUFMAN – PIANO

NORI NARAOKA – BASS

JOE DYSON – DRUMS

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April 29, 2025

Charleston Jazz Festival | Big Chief Donald Harrison | Bark Like Thunder, Roll Like Lightning

Time: 6:00pm

Venue: Fox Music House

An intimate and wide-ranging evening with NEA Jazz Master alto saxophonist Donald Harrison, who is Big Chief of Congo Square Nation, an Afro-New Orleans Cultural Group.

At 6pm, we’ll screen “Guardians of the Flame,” a documentary that is the product of some 17 years, begun on a visit to post-Katrina New Orleans in 2006 by Oscar-winning director Jonathan Demme and writer Daniel Wolff, about creativity, cohesion, survival and healing among Harrison’s family and the culture bearers of his community.

Ticket Price: FREE TO ATTEND

This event is free and open to the public. 

Date: April 21 - 29, 2025

Location: Various Venues in Charleston

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