The Second Annual Jazz Festival is scheduled for Friday, September 29, through Sunday, October 1, 2017 as a part of the live music Myrtle Beach calendar. Admission is free, and it will be held on Carver Street (18th Ave N. – 21st Ave N.), which is rich with music history. Beginning in the 1930’s, Carver Street came alive with many famous R & B and Jazz icons.
In the 1930’s, 1940’s and 1950’s, “Charlie’s Place” was owned and operated by Mr. Charlie Fitzgerald, who is legendary for helping to keep music alive in his supper club on Carver Street. He brought such renowned artists as Little Richard, Otis Redding, Ray Charles and Billie Holiday to Charlie’s Place to perform.
Charlie’s Place was on the “Chitlin’ Circuit”, which was a group of performance venues located mostly in the South that were safe and acceptable places for African-American musicians and entertainers to perform during segregation. According to Frederick Douglas Opie, a professor of History, the entertainers called it the “Chitlin’ Circuit” because chitlins and other soul food dishes were sold out of their kitchens.
The mission of the Myrtle Beach Jazz Festival 2017 is to celebrate jazz, culture, community and individuals from all walks of life. Their current projected lineup of performances does seem to do exactly that with live Jazz music in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, featuring the following variety of artists.
On Friday night, September 29, at 6:00, T-Ray, a violinist from Baton Rouge, has fused together 90’s, R & B, Hip-Hop, Jazz, Funk and Classical to create an experimental sound that you will enjoy. At 8:00 P. M., Marcus Anderson, one of the premiere saxophonist in the world and a solo artist with eight albums thus far, to name just a few of his accomplishments, will delight the audience. At 10:00 P.M., Charlie Snuggs, a “Blues” singer that plays electric, acoustic and slide guitar will round out the evening with his performance.
On Saturday, September 30, from 8:00 A. M. to noon, Horry County students will showcase their talents. Starting at 8:00 A.M., the younger students from Aynor Middle Baby Blue Birds and North Myrtle Beach Middle Jazz Band, will be performing. Beginning at 10:00 A.M., the Myrtle Beach High Seahawk Show Choir, Aynor High Jazz Band, Carolina Forest High Show Choir and Socastee High Jazz Band will demonstrate how our talented Horry County High School students have developed into great musicians, vocalists and dancers under the tutelage of the Horry County Schools Fine Arts Programs.
Beginning at 12:00 noon, the lineup includes James “BULL” Canty, a trumpet player and multi-instrumentalist; the West African Drummers; and the Painted Man, a 5-piece R & B band from Myrtle Beach with a soul dance show. Also performing that afternoon is Gino Castillo, who won 2013 and 2014 Jazz Artist of the Year, City Paper Music Awards 2K, and 2015 Jazz Artist of the Year Independent Tone Winner. Following Gino is Ashley A-Luv Doe, a rare left-handed bass guitarist with a very distinct sound that shows during his passionate performance. Then, T-Ray is back to play your favorite genres with his experimental sound and the evening concludes following the performance of Chocolate Chip & Company at 10:00 P. M., one of the newest and hottest bands on the beach with an infectious beat and a funky groove.
Beginning at 1:00 P.M. on Sunday, October 1, Saxophonist Don Colton will kick off the final day of the Myrtle Beach Jazz Festival with solo performances of the top 50 artists as heard on JAZZ Sirius. Funky Leroy Harper, Jr., also a saxophonist, will follow him playing Funky Jazz. Leroy has played with such icons as James Brown, Stevie Wonder, Stacy Lattasaw, Millie Jackson, and Nappy Brown as well as all-star bands such as Herbie Hancock-Headhunters, Sylk, Spur of the Moment, Exit Enterprises and Soul Power Posse.
At 4:30 P.M., the Mike Frost Band with Lauren Meccia singing and playing the saxophone; Mike Frost on bass; Donald Vega on piano; and Edwin Hamilton on drums whose smooth crossover jazz is a mix of fusion, hard bop, Latin jazz and more. One of the hottest new bands on the Grand Strand, Special Blend, will play at 6:30 P.M. They will be performing cover songs from the 1960’s to present such as the sounds of Motown Soul, R&B, Pop, Funk and today’s Top 40.
Shableek, the self-proclaimed “Saxophonist Evolutionary”, will be the grand finale beginning at 8:30. Per Facebook, “He has been hailed as ‘the Lead Singer’ on his instrument as audiences are mesmerized by his ability to emulate the nuances of a human voice through the alto, tenor and soprano saxophones.”
If you have enjoyed the Myrtle Beach Festivals 2017, the Myrtle Beach Jazz Festival will not be a disappointment. If you are vacationing in beautiful North Myrtle Beach Real Estate and looking for North Myrtle Beach events to attend, it is just a short drive to 18th Avenue in Myrtle Beach. No coolers are allowed, but there will be a Wine and Beer Garden as well as Food and Merchandise vendors.
Don’t forget your lawn chairs and enjoy a great night of free entertainment filled with the melodic sounds of great Jazz music.
