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 In 2018 Festival

 JANUARY 26, 2019 / CHARLESTON GAILLARD CENTER

CHARLESTON, SC – AUGUST 28, 2018 – The 5th Annual Charleston Jazz Festival proudly presents an extraordinary collaboration showcasing the great musical explorer Bobby McFerrin with Charleston’s Ranky Tanky at the Charleston Gaillard Center on January 26, 2019.

With 10 Grammy Awards and his #1 global hit Don’t Worry, Be Happy, Bobby McFerrin’s great gift to his audience is transforming a concert hall into a playground. Attendees are encouraged to sing-a-long and accompany this celebrated artist as he raises the roof with joyful grooves.  For years, the jazz and classical worlds have celebrated Mr. McFerrin’s innovative technique and spirit.  His portfolio of solo performances and collaborations with such artists as Yo-Yo Ma, Chick Corea, and Herbie Hancock are often described as “legendary.”

Sharing the stage with Bobby McFerrin is Charleston’s Ranky Tanky, a gifted quintet of celebrated musicians from the South Carolina Lowcountry, most of whom trace their roots directly back to a unique African American culture called Gullah.  Released in October of 2017, Ranky Tanky’s debut album reached #1 on the Billboard, Amazon and iTunes jazz charts. Their musical performances pay tribute to the Gullah community by updating timeless game songs, work songs, and spirituals collected from early field recordings taken along the Carolina Coast.

“This year’s jazz festival will focus on musical exploration and collaboration,” said Mary Beth Natarajan, Executive Director at Charleston Jazz.  “We are thrilled to present Bobby McFerrin with Ranky Tanky. It promises to be one of the most innovative pairings to ever grace the Charleston Gaillard Center stage. We think our jazz audience will be delighted.”

The Charleston Jazz Festival is presented and produced by Charleston Jazz, a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization with a mission of growing a local and global community for jazz through performance, education and outreach while celebrating and preserving Charleston’s rich history in jazz. Festival proceeds benefit the Charleston Jazz Academy and the Jazz Performance Fund at Charleston Jazz.

About the Charleston Jazz Festival:

The Charleston Jazz Festival offers a world-class celebration of jazz by presenting timeless and creative productions that entertain audiences, stimulate arts education, foster economic growth and unite artists and audiences in Charleston. Each year, the festival line-up includes internationally acclaimed headliners, the best local jazz bands, and top youth artists performing a wide range of styles including Swing, Salsa, Blues, Brazilian, and the American Songbook.

The 2019 jazz festival is scheduled for January 25-27, 2019.

About Charleston Jazz:

Charleston Jazz is a non-profit organization whose mission is to promote musical awareness and education including the recognition and preservation of the history of jazz in the Lowcountry through performances, special events and educational outreach. Established in 2008 as Jazz Artists of Charleston, the organization has earned a reputation for presenting, producing and advocating for all things jazz and the artists who bring this music to life in dynamic ways. The organization manages the Charleston Jazz Orchestra, the Charleston Jazz Festival and the Charleston Jazz Academy.

For more information and to schedule an interview, media appearance, or for hi-resolution images, contact Mary Beth Natarajan at [email protected].

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