The Charleston Gaillard Center today announced its continued partnership with Closing the Gap in Health Care to present the annual Lowcountry Jazz Festival this Labor Day weekend. Under the artistic direction of producer Tony Clarke, in collaboration with the Gaillard Center’s artistic team, the Festival boasts an impressive lineup of award-winning jazz singers and musicians, including headliners Samara Joy and Brian Culbertson. More than a series of concerts, the Lowcountry Jazz Festival is a multifaceted cultural experience that has become an annual highlight of Charleston’s artistic calendar, bringing together a vibrant community of musicians and music lovers.
Drawing on the rich tradition of jazz in the South, this season's Festival unites venerable masters and emerging talents to celebrate this enduring genre and its profound connections to Charleston. As a pivotal hub for African American music from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Charleston played a crucial role in the evolution of jazz, nurturing some of its earliest pioneers and ensembles. This Festival honors that heritage, showcasing world-class performances in the heart of a city that continues to influence and shape the jazz landscape.
Saturday night's performance features the headline act of three-time Grammy Award winner Samara Joy , whose self-titled, chart-topping debut album electrified the jazz scene in 2021. At just 24 years old, Joy has captivated a new generation of listeners, amassing over one million followers on social media and introducing new audiences to the vibrant world of jazz. The “smooth, but funky” Braxton Brothers and contemporary jazz masters Marion Meadows (soprano saxophonist/composer) and Alex Bugnon (jazz pianist/composer) open. Sunday opens with British jazz/funk band Incognito , and Brian Culbertson closes the Festival with a show stopping performance of genre-defying excellence.
Returning to the Gaillard Center this year is the much-anticipated All White Party, the Festival’s opening-night event on Friday, August 30th. Guests are invited to don their finest white attire and mingle with fellow jazz enthusiasts in a festive atmosphere featuring performances by Art Sherrod, Lin Rountree, and Ragan Whiteside.
In addition to annually bringing together jazz fans from across the Southeast, the Festival is the primary fundraiser for Closing the Gap in Health Care, Inc.
Here's the schedule:
All White Party (Friday, August 30, 2024)
- Artists: Art Sherrod, Lin Rountree, and Ragan Whiteside
Day One (Saturday, August 31, 2024)
- Opener: Braxton Brothers
- Opener: Marion Meadows and Alex Bugnon
- Headliner: Samara Joy
Day Two (Sunday, September 1, 2024)
- Opener: Incognito
- Headliner: Brian Culbertson
*Lineup is subject to change.
Lissa Frenkel, President and CEO of the Charleston Gaillard Center , noted, “The Lowcountry Jazz Festival has become a highly anticipated highlight of the Gaillard’s season and we are thrilled to welcome audiences from all over the Southeast to experience and engage with world-class jazz.”
Dr. Thaddeus J. Bell, Founder of the Lowcountry Jazz Festival and Closing the Gap in Health Care , said, “As we approach the 18th Lowcountry Jazz Festival, I am thrilled to once again welcome audiences to experience the very best the genre has to offer at the Charleston Gaillard Center. This partnership continues to serve our community by bringing people together in celebration of jazz, and we look forward to ‘jazzing with a purpose’ as we endeavor to decrease health disparities affecting the African American community.”
Tickets on sale Friday, May 10, at 11 AM EST at gaillardcenter.org. Gaillard Center Members receive presale access! To learn more about the Membership program, contact the Advancement Office at info@gaillardfoundation.org or (843) 718-1578.
