Sunday, Apr 27, 2025 at 5:00pm
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 an extraordinary 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, 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 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, MUSC Health, City of Charleston, the Byron Fellowship Educational Foundation, and the South Carolina Arts Commission.
Schedule of Events
April 27, 2025
Charleston Jazz Festival: Big Chief Donald Harrison Quartet
Time: 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM
Venue: Circular Congregational Church
150 Meeting St, Charleston, SC 29401
The grand finale of the Charleston Jazz Festival is presented in partnership with Spoleto Festival USA and will feature the incomparable Big Chief Donald Harrison Quartet from New Orleans. A National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master and cultural ambassador, alto saxophonist Donald Harrison masterfully blends traditional New Orleans sounds with modern jazz, funk and more, creating a style as vibrant and dynamic as the city he calls home and as broad as jazz gets.
After an early stint in Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers, Harrison has gone on to be among the most distinctive and wide-ranging of jazz bandleaders and among the most sought-after band members, working regularly with the likes of Ron Carter, The Headhunters and The Cookers. His high-energy grooves, fluid improvisation, and soulful melodies move from bebop to soul to funk and have entranced audiences around the world. In his hometown, New Orleans, he is known as “Big Chief” for his pivotal role in preserving and promoting a tradition of Afro-New Orleans Cultural Groups he inherited from his father, and that is a vital element of community organization. Don’t miss this spectacular closing concert, where the Big Chief and his quartet will capture the spirit of New Orleans, celebrating the legacy and future of jazz in an unforgettable performance.
DONALD HARRISON – ALTO SAXOPHONE
DAN KAUFMAN – PIANO
NORI NARAOKA – BASS
JOE DYSON – DRUMS
Date: April 21 - 29, 2025
