ColaJazz

🎷✨ Exciting News! ✨🎷

The Colajazz Foundation has been nominated for the 2026 The State’s Best Contest, and voting is officially underway!

We’re honored to be recognized and grateful for the incredible support from our community that helped make this possible. ❤️

Now it’s time to celebrate the power of jazz, arts, culture, and education by casting your vote and helping us continue our mission.

🗳️ Vote here: https://www.votethestate.com/

📅 Voting is open now through June 19 at 5:00 PM.

ColaJazz Summer Jazz Camp 2026 | June 15 – 18 🔥

Give your middle or high schooler the ultimate creative edge this summer. For a decade, the ColaJazz Summer Jazz Camp has been the premier destination for young musicians to find their voice, master their craft, and learn the business of being an artist.

Whether they are just starting their jazz journey or preparing for college auditions, our 10th-anniversary program is designed to inspire.

Dates: Monday, June 15 – Thursday, June 18
Daily Hours: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Grand Finale Concert: Thursday, June 18 | 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM

🤩 Watch your camper shine on the big stage! Tuition includes 2 complimentary tickets for family and friends.

Dreher High School 3319 Millwood Avenue, Columbia, SC 29205 Our host location offers wonderful facilities to practice, learn, and play. Parents love the convenient and FREE parking and easy access for morning drop-offs.

Everything Included: Your tuition is all-inclusive. We provide a daily fresh lunch, all daytime activities, masterclasses, and concert access.

R1 students attend FREE! Just let your band director know.

🎶 Tuition: $335
Scholarship Opportunities: A limited number of need-based scholarships are available to ensure talented students can attend; we encourage early inquiry as these spots fill quickly.

Jazz Album of the Week!

This week we feature an album by unsung baritone hero Leo Parker with his Blue Note masterpiece, "Rollin' With Leo"!

Recorded in 1961 on the Blue Note Label, this recording didn't see the light of day until finally being released in 1980. Being one of Leo Parkers only dates as a leader, this session swings from beginning to end. Featuring a cast of mostly unknown players, this session finds the gang playing tunes by Parker as well as fellow saxophonists Coleman Hawkins and Illionis Jacquet!

Blue Note recently re-issued this album as part of their Tone Poet series- available NOW at Papa Jazz Record Shoppe!

Personnel:
Leo Parker- baritone sax
Dave Burns- trumpet
Bill Swindell- tenor sax
John Acea- piano
Stan Conover, Al Lucas- bass
GT Hogan, Purell Rice- drums

Leo Parker - Rollin' With Leo ( Full Album ) Leo Parker (April 18, 1925 - February 11, 1962) was an American jazz musician who played baritone saxophone. Born in Washington, D.C.[citation needed], Parke...

Big Talent. Small Setting.
Skip the crowded concert halls and join us for Alone Together: Keys and Conversation. It’s a masterclass in intimacy: world-class solo jazz piano, candid storytelling, and complimentary refreshments in a space that feels like a private club.

The Vibe: Living-room cozy.
The Talent: World-class pianists.
The Perks: Open conversation, light snacks, and beverages included.
📍 ColaJazz Office: The Space
2123 College Street
Columbia, SC 29205

Seating is very limited. Expect an unforgettable night—warm, soulful, inspiring, intimate and deeply personal.

Featured Artist: John Tecklenbrg
John Tecklenburg, the former Mayor of Charleston (2016–2024), is an accomplished jazz pianist and vocalist who frequently incorporated his musical talent into public life. Trained at the Berklee College of Music, he often performed at local events, fundraisers, and with the Charleston Jazz Orchestra. Known for his "whole body" playing style, he used music to engage the community.

Another awesome ColaJazz Loft Session at The Pastor's Study! This one featured Pete Neighbour; it was awesome.

Don’t miss a beat: https://colajazz.com/newsletter


The Pastor's Study Middleton Bartending Pete Neighbour Sam Edwards Kris Phelps Bert Ligon ColaJazz

🎉 Big News! 🎉

The Colajazz Foundation has been officially nominated for the 2026 The State’s Best Contest and voting starts NOW! https://www.votethestate.com/

This is an incredible moment for our community, and we’re so grateful for the support that got us here. ✨

Help us shine a spotlight on arts, culture, and jazz education by casting your vote today.

🗓️ Voting is open now through June 19 at 5 PM

Thank you for being part of this journey, let’s make it count! ❤️🎶

Experience the sound and spirit of New Orleans in one high-energy live concert led by trumpeter Mark Rapp and the Soda City Brass Band. With narration and second-line grooves, this 50-minute show brings New Orleans music to life at The Nick.

Presented as part of the Varna Int'l Muzika! Festival and the ColaJazz Foundation.