Get your jazz on...

Florence's own Mark Rapp will be back in South Carolina this week to promote the release of his 3rd CD, Art of the Song, Vol. 1. The CD is part of Rapp's The Song Project, which is co-led by NY guitarist Derek Lee Bronston. The duo will be playing several shows here in the Carolinas this week.

Tues, Sept 21: Greenville, SC - Brown Street Jazz Club 6:30pm-9:30pm

Wed,
Sept 22: Boone, NC - The Inn at Crestwood 8pm-10pm

Thurs, Sept 23: Rock
Hill, SC - Winthrop University 7pm-9pm

Fri, Sept 24: Charleston, SC -
Alluette's Jazz Cafe 9:30-11:30pm

Sat, Sept 25: Columbia, SC - The Blue
Martinit 9pm-12:30am

Sun, Sept 26: Greenville, SC – Euphoria Jazz Brunch!
Downtown Greenville 10:30am-2pm

The Song Project's new album Art of the Song, vol. 1 contains unique arrangements of popular songs by bands as diverse as Radiohead, AC/DC and Tears for Fears, as well as, 4 original compositions. The genre, in a broader sense, can be called instrumental jazz and is a blend of jazz improvisations, singer/songwriter feel, rock ballads, ambiant sounds and even a taste of New Orleans.

Rapp is one of the genre's rising stars, having been named "top emerging trumpeter" by Downbeat Magazine. He's been on a Travel Channel's documentary, played with Branford Marsalis and other top artists, and has spent a lot of time traveling and playing shows in Europe (where...let's face it, they're cooler than us and dig jazz more). On top of all that, anyone who knew Mark when he was here in Florence knows he's a good guy.

So pick a show, go out and support a guy from Florence that is making it at the top of his field. We're gonna catch Rapp Friday night in Chucktown and get our jazz groove on.