Staff reports | Although jazz and classical music are different in many ways, the border between the two genres is fluid. According to the Charleston Jazz Orchestra, America’s classical music is jazz and it breathes spontaneity while being contained within the technical mastery of a composition.
In three shows this month called “Symphonic Swing: Jazz Meets the Classics,” the Charleston Jazz Orchestra will bring the world of improvisation and swing to notable classical compositions, bridging the gap, bending the genres, and introducing the styles of Miles Davis, Thelonious Monk and Billie Holiday to Mozart, Tchaikovsky and Beethoven.
“I personally love this type of show, because it gives us an opportunity to showcase the full range of talents of the Charleston jazz community,” said CJO Music Director Robert Lewis, in a press release. “Not only do we get to do a wonderful performance, but all of the charts are written by members of the CJO or other fine arrangers in town.
“The creativity on display with this show is top-notch, whether we are talking about a samba version of a Vivaldi aria, Hall of the Mountain King in the style of Take Five, or a complicated funk version of Khachaturian’s Sabre Dance. I guarantee you will recognize a lot of this music, but certainly never like this!”
Shows are scheduled for:
- May 21, 6 p.m., Firefly Distillery, North Charleston.
- May 22, 5 p.m. and 8 p.m., Charleston Music Hall, Charleston.
- June 5, a virtual performance that’s on demand.
Tickets are on sale now at charlestonjazz.com or call the Charleston Jazz box office at 843-641-0011.
Also on the calendar:
Waterparks open on weekends. Each of Charleston County’s three parks — in North Charleston, Mount Pleasant and James Island — is now open for weekends only. Splash Zone at James Island County Park will be open daily starting June 5 through mid-August, when it will return to weekends only until Labor Day. Splash Island at Mount Pleasant Palmetto Islands County Park and Whirlin’ Waters Adventure Waterpark in the North Charleston Wannamaker County Park will be open weekends only until June 18, when they will open daily until mid-August. Both will then open on weekends through Labor Day.
Safe Sounds: Firefly Distillery, North Charleston. Head over to citypapertickets.com to secure a spot. Tickets are available now. Doors open 6 p.m. for shows that begin an hour later. (Editor’s note: City Paper Tickets, which is run by sister publication Charleston City Paper, is operating ticketing for Safe Sounds.) Check out some of the shows that are on the way:
- May 20: Jimmie Allen
- May 22: The Reckoning
Hampton Park picnic: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., May 22, Hampton Park, Charleston. The Charleston Nature Conservancy will hold a Picnic in the Park. You can purchase a picnic basket (with wine) and enjoy it on the lawn near the Rose Pavilion. More.
Johns Island concerts: June 5 and July 10, Johns Island County Park. The reggae sounds of Mystic vibrations on June 5 and the Motown sounds of The Legacy on July 10. For each show, gates open at 6 p.m. with music beginning at 7 p.m. Shows end by 9:30 p.m. Tickets are available for $60 per 10×10 square, not per person. Squares are limited to four people max. Guests must arrive together, as each vehicle must have a ticket for entry. Squares will be available on a first-come, first-served basis upon arrival. Each show will also offer food vendors; no outside food, alcohol or coolers will be permitted. Alcohol will be available for purchase. Patrons are encouraged to bring chairs, blankets, tables, etc. to be used at their space. Masks are required, except when eating.
Ongoing
The Lawn Party exhibition: Through Sept. 19, Charleston Museum, Meeting Street, Charleston. The Charleston Museum is pleased to present The Lawn Party: From Satin to Seersucker, the latest offering in its Historic Textiles Gallery. In an “unprecedented” era when large gatherings have been discouraged and fashion has trended towards leisurewear, this exhibition is a celebration of getting dressed up for an outdoor party. Bringing a hint of glamour to a trying time, the garments on display were selected with the grand idea of “after” in mind. This is a perfect opportunity to come see what to wear for your next outdoor event as we head toward the new “normal.”
Holy City Farmers Market: 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., every Wednesday, Holy City Brewing, North Charleston. vendors rotate weekly to provide shoppers with a tiny but mighty shopping experience. vendors will be selling a range of products from specialty foods, home and body care to arts and crafts. More info.
Birds of Prey flight demonstrations: 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Thursdays and Saturdays, Center for Birds of Prey, 4719 Highway 17. Awendaw. The center has reopened its doors to visitors after closing due to the COvID-19 pandemic, inviting people to once again come and explore the world of raptors through an outdoor program and flight demonstration. Tickets: . $20/adult; $15/children age 3-17.
Quiet Edge: Through May 22, Redux Contemporary Art Center, 1056 King St., Charleston. This new show brings together the works of two artists who address rectangular forms that ebb and flow between depiction and abstraction: Suzanne Dittenber of Ashevlle, N.C., with the form of the book and Benny Fountain of Waco, Texas, with the window and room. Hours are Monday and Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Fridays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Artist exhibition in Park Circle: Through May 28, Park Circle Gallery, North Charleston. More than a dozen new mixed media works will be on display by Johns Island-based artist Christine Bush Roman, winner of the 2020/21 North Charleston Arts Fest Poster Design Competition. Her winning design, Oak Circus, will be featured in the exhibition, which is presented as a component of the annual North Charleston Arts Fest.
Sunday Brunch Farmers Market: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., every Sunday, Charleston Pour House, 1977 Maybank Highway, James Island. While the market is discouraging people from spending too much time hanging out during the market, everyone is invited to shop their local vendors.
Bird-watching at Caw Caw. Every Wednesday and Saturday — particularly through the end of February — you can see a plethora of birds at Caw Caw Interpretive Center in Ravenel as they make their way through the Lowcountry. The two-hour regular walks, which start at 8:30 a.m., are through distinct habitats that allow participants to view and discuss a variety of birds, butterflies, and other organisms. Registration is not required. Participants are encouraged to bring their own binoculars. A paid chaperone is required for participants ages 15 and under. Max. 10 participants. Fee: $9; free for Gold Pass holders. Open to all ages. More: Caw Caw Interpretive Center.
- If you have any online events, drop us a line (editor@charlestoncurrents.com) and make sure to put “Online event” in the subject line. Similarly, if you’ve got cool ideas for stuff to do while in isolation at home, send them our way.
- ORDER NOW: Copies of our new book, 350 Facts About Charleston, are in Lowcountry-area bookstores now, but if you can’t swing by, you can order a copy online today.
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