Charleston Jazz Festival expands to nine days in 2025, showcasing an unparalleled lineup of World-Class Artists

The Charleston Jazz Festival proudly announces 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. 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.”

– Tatjana Beylotte, Executive Director, Charleston Jazz

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The festival extends beyond performances with educational initiatives and community engagement:

Donald Harrison will engage with students through an in-school performance and a masterclass for Charleston Jazz Academy youth combo students.

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.

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.

Presented by Charleston Jazz, the Charleston Jazz Festival celebrates jazz as an integral part of Charleston’s cultural landscape. Featuring world-class musicians and emerging talent, the festival is committed to fostering community engagement, education, and artistic excellence through live performances and educational initiatives.

About Charleston Jazz 

Founded in 2008, Charleston Jazz is a non-profit organization dedicated to building a vibrant jazz community through performance, education, and outreach. Honoring Charleston’s rich jazz heritage, we present and promote exceptional musicians while nurturing the next generation of artists. Committed to diversity and inclusion, we ensure accessible and equitable opportunities for all to experience the transformative power of jazz. Through collaboration and creative expression, we unite and uplift our community, fostering a shared love for this dynamic art form.