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 In CJO Season 9

CHARLESTON, SC SEPTEMBER 27, 2016 – The Charleston Jazz Orchestra (CJO) announces SEASON 9 beginning February 18, 2017. The powerful 18-piece big band orchestra will perform a line-up of concerts specially selected by its fans from February to December.

“Season 9 is simply iconic,” states Charlton Singleton, Music Director and Conductor of the Charleston Jazz Orchestra. “Take your pick of any of our shows for this upcoming season and you’ll find a true iconic trait about it. I venture to say this calibre of jazz is unprecedented in Charleston.”

The season begins February 18, 2017 with Singin’ Ellington: The Duke and his Vocalists. Duke Ellington is considered to be one of the greatest composers and jazz musicians of all time. During this concert, the CJO will celebrate “the Duke” and some of the famous vocalists who sang with his band such as Ella Fitzgerald, Tony Bennett, and Frank Sinatra.

March 18, 2017 marks a performance that will honor one of the most decorated artists of the twentieth century. Unforgettable: A Tribute to Nat King Cole will feature his younger brother Freddy Cole. Celebrating his 85th year, Freddy Cole has been recording and touring for over fifty years and boasts over thirty recordings as a bandleader. The CJO is thrilled to join Freddy in creating an intimate tribute with songs including Unforgettable, L-O-V-E and Mona Lisa.

The Charleston Jazz Orchestra’s third concert on April 15, 2017 will highlight the age of Motown. Motown: The Groove that Changed America will feature music by Smokey Robinson, Diana Ross, Marvin Gaye, The Temptations, Michael Jackson and the Jackson 5, and South Carolina’s own James Jamerson.

The Fall season will be launched on September 16 with the warm tones of jazz. Blue Note Records: The Iconic Jazz Label and Its Stars will provide a variety of jazz styles from hard bop to avant-garde to free jazz.  The label, Blue Note Records, has been home to nearly every major jazz artist of each era. Names like Joe Henderson, Wayne Shorter, Art Blakey, Thelonious Monk, Horace Silver, Herbie Hancock, Sonny Rollins and Eric Dolphy have all graced the albums of Blue Note Records. The CJO will perform favorites from Blue Note’s legendary catalog and relive the jazz milestones that influenced so many.

The October 21 concert will pay tribute to one of the most musically accomplished and critically acclaimed bands of the 20th century. Jazz Elements: The Music of Earth, Wind and Fire, with guest vocalist Quiana Parler, will feature such hits as September, Shining Star, and After the Love has Gone.

To close out the CJO’s 2017 season, Holiday Swing: A Charleston Jazz Tradition will take place on December 2nd. Charlton Singleton and the CJO will swing the audience into the holiday spirit with popular hits from  Season 9 plus big band arrangements of holiday favorites like Baby It’s Cold Outside, Christmas Song, All I Want for Christmas is You.

“We’re pleased to say that our fan base truly picked this concert line-up,” said Mary Beth Natarajan, Executive Director of Jazz Artists of Charleston. “We surveyed our audience earlier this year to discover what they truly want from their 2017 concert experience. This line-up reflects their feedback and we’re thrilled with it.”

Season subscriptions, trio passes, and individual tickets are now on sale for the general public at http://www.charlestonjazz.wpengine.com. Prices range from $38 to $60 per ticket.

About Jazz Artists Of Charleston: Jazz Artists of Charleston (JAC), is a South Carolina-based nonprofit organization incorporated to foster a professional environment for jazz musicians, artists, students and enthusiasts in the Charleston area. Its mission is to develop, promote, and support a vibrant and creative jazz culture through concerts, special outreach events, and educational programs. JAC endeavors to preserve and bolster Charleston’s rich musical history and legacy as it explores the various realms of jazz in terms of how it is created as well as its stylistic expressions.

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

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