The Charleston Jazz Festival today announced its return in 2025 with an expanded nine-day celebration of jazz, running from April 21 through April 29.
This year’s festival features a 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 House, MUSC Health, City of Charleston, 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 Charleston Jazz Festival has grown into a week-long celebration of the vibrant and diverse world of jazz, bringing together legendary artists, emerging talent, and our incredible local musicians," said Tatjana Beylotte, Executive Director of Charleston Jazz. This year, through our community partnerships, we are expanding accessibility, outreach, and education, ensuring that jazz reaches every corner of our community. We invite everyone to experience the magic of live jazz and join us in celebrating the power of this music to connect and inspire.”
Festival Line-Up
April 21 – Terence Blanchard’s Fire Shut Up in My Bones: Opera Suite in Concert
7PM, Charleston Gaillard Center
Presented in partnership with the Charleston Gaillard Center, Grammy Award-winning trumpeter and composer Terence Blanchard will present Fire Shut Up in My Bones: Opera Suite in Concert with his acclaimed ensemble, E-Collective, featuring special guests Justin Austin and Adrienne Danrich. This performance bridges the worlds of jazz and classical music, capturing the emotional depth and improvisational spirit that defines Blanchard’s signature style.
April 22 – College of Charleston Faculty Jazz Ensemble
7PM, College of Charleston
The festival continues with a showcase by the College of Charleston Faculty Jazz Ensemble, highlighting original compositions and timeless jazz standards performed by Charleston’s esteemed jazz educators and musicians.
Jazzmeia Horn (Provided)
April 23 – Jazz Dinner with the Richard White Trio
6PM, The Establishment
This intimate evening pairs an exceptional three-course dining experience 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.
April 24 – Lowcountry Jazz Day - Featuring the Mark Sterbank Quartet & Kenney/Khayat/Baxter Trio
6PM + 8PM, American Theater
The Mark Sterbank Quartet will open the evening with a program of original compositions, entitled Ballads, Blues & Swing. The second performance will feature the Kenney/Khayat/Baxter Trio presenting Impressions of Soul, a modern jazz interpretation of the music of Motown and soul legends such as Stevie Wonder, Donny Hathaway, and Otis Redding.
April 25 – Grammy-Nominated Jazzmeia Horn
7PM, Charleston Music Hall
Recognized for her powerful vocal range and compelling stage presence, Jazzmeia Horn will headline this evening’s concert, bringing a contemporary and deeply expressive approach to jazz vocal performance. Opening the night is Tonya Nicole’s Four Women, a tribute to Nina Simone, Billie Holiday, Erykah Badu, and Lauryn Hill.
April 26 – Grammy Award-Winner Paquito D’Rivera with the Charleston Jazz Orchestra
5PM + 8PM, Charleston Music Hall
Celebrated Cuban-American saxophonist and clarinetist Paquito D’Rivera will join the Charleston Jazz Orchestra for two performances, featuring his distinctive blend of Latin jazz, classical music, and bebop. With multiple Grammy and Latin Grammy Awards, D’Rivera is widely regarded as one of the most influential Latin jazz musicians of his generation.
Big Chief Donald Harrison (Provided)
April 27 – Big Chief Donald Harrison Quartet
5PM, Circular Congregational Church
Presented in partnership with Spoleto Festival USA, the Charleston Jazz Festival Finale showcases the Big Chief Donald Harrison Quartet. As an NEA Jazz Master and cultural ambassador, saxophonist Donald Harrison seamlessly fuses New Orleans traditions, modern jazz, and funk, offering an unparalleled performance that reflects the evolution of jazz from its roots to its future.
Beyond the Stage: Education and Community Engagement
The festival extends beyond performances with educational initiatives and community engagement:
April 28 – In-School Performance & Masterclass
Donald Harrison will engage with students through an in-school performance and a masterclass for Charleston Jazz Academy youth combo students.
April 29 – Bark Like Thunder, Roll Like Lightning: A Conversation About Building Community Through Culture, Followed by Big Chief Donald Harrison Quartet, in performance
6PM, 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.
6pm - 7pm
Screening of “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.
7:15pm
Larry Blumenfeld (Jazz Curator, Spoleto Festival USA) will interview Harrison about his long legacy in American music—from Art Blakey Jazz Messengers to Eddie Palmieri to Biggie Smalls and more—and his lifelong dedication to music education and to building community through culture. The evening will end with a performance by Big Chief Donald Harrison Quartet.
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, the Byron Fellowship Educational Foundation, MUSC Health and the South Carolina Arts Commission.
Tickets and Additional Information
The 2025 Charleston Jazz Festival offers an unparalleled opportunity to experience the best of jazz in one of the nation’s most historic cities. For tickets and full festival details, please click here.
