SISTER CITY AND ALL THAT JAZZ

May 29, 2007: Today the Director of Charleston’s Piccolo Spoleto Festival brought us greetings and an overview of this year’s fabulous events. With 700 events, 29 venues, 4000 artists and a 1.2 million dollar budget this year’s festival is one of the best.

An introduction of children to the world of opera is featured with special performances throughout the city of Hansel and Gretel, and Amahl and the Night Visitors. Charleston’s theater director Julian Wiles and its own “Have Nots” will have special events. Andrew Lloyd Weber’s music is featured in a spectacular “Absolutely Andrew”. “Illumination Shadows”, a display of original paintings can be seen at the City Gallery. A huge wedding music and cultural event will be highlighted at Hampton Park. Don’t miss the acrobats performing by their double- decker green bus in Marion Square And then there are hundreds of paintings for sale in the sea of tents at Marion Square.

Of special note is the SISTERS CITY JAZZ; A Tale of Two Cities. A free concert at the U.S. Custom House joins the forces of the Charleston Jazz Initiative explained to us by speaker, Jack McCray, and the Fotos for Humanity, highlighted by speaker, Devin Meyers. CJI documents the African American jazz tradition in Charleston which started in the late 19th century. A collection of oral histories, recordings, letters, etc. have been collected and displayed. A slide presentation of Fotos for Humanity gave graphic evidence of both the destruction and the hope of reborn music taking place in New Orleans.

Reported by Fred Sales, Keyway Committee