"Jazz" McCray died yesterday...
"Charleston - NOT New Orleans - is really where American Jazz began." My friend Jack McCray said that a lot back when we both worked at The Post and Courier.
Jack was a writer and music expert that I was never able to surprise with any of my offbeat questions about jazz. I would even look up little known facts to tease him with but he always was a step ahead of me.
He died Wednesday after being
MR. JAZZ in this city for as long as I can remember.
He wrote a book about the Charleston music roots.
I bought it.
He signed it for me.
I'm glad he left me a memento of a nice guy.
A few years ago, I did a
salute to Mr. Jazz on my blog. That was a fun day.
I heard a LOT of good jazz upstairs at Mistral's on Market Street. And at McCrady's.
Yes, Jack was the driving force behind those Piccolo Spoleto Jazz Fests.
He used to share stories about noted music places like the old Chef & Clef, also on Market Street.
I was born here but left when I was a teenager to join the Marines.
When I came back in 1993, I appreciated the city a lot more.
After I started at the paper and got to know him, Jack would tell me what I had missed.
Now, I'll miss him.
Thanks for stopping by. Happy Marine Corps birthday. It's our 236th.
Labels: 236th Marine Corps Birthday, Chef and Clef, Jack McCray, McCrady's Restaurant, Mistral's, Mr. Jazz
LOL and All That Jazz...
The last Piccolo Spoleto Jazz Evening for 2008 upstairs at Mistral's ended on a high note. Literally.
Bobbie Storm sang up a storm as she has been doing in Charleston for the last four decades. She was one of the first jazz performers I enjoyed when I came back to Charleston in 1993.
Back then she sang at places like
Chef & Clef and
Acme Bar & Grill (Think global/Drink local). Very fitting that Mistral's fairly new upstairs setting was her venue.
Another music place I have found to be very enjoyable is
Mad River, the former Seaman's Chapel on Market at East Bay. The room is perfect with fine acoustics and a wait staff eager to make your visit a good one.
Jazz, Blues...and comedy. These are a few of my favorite things and the comedic Finale at
Theater 99 was, as always, a treat.
Upright Citizens Brigade, the touring group down from NYC, demonstrated there MIGHT be humor in a visit to the OB/GYN.
The UCB also observed during their stay that Charlestonians loved their city and loved to drink. Looking just on my row, I guess I'd have to agree.
The home team of
The Have Nots had fun "making sausage" on stage - in English and Spanish.
The script for all the shows there is blank paper and fertile minds. Wow.
I'm about to wrap up my stint as a
SpoJo (citizen journalist covering Spoleto Piccolo) and suggest you take a look at the home base w
ww.Spoletotoday.com for all the coverage by staff and we humble SpoJos. Thank you.
Labels: Acme, Chef and Clef, Mistral's, The Have Nots. Bobbie Storm, UCB, Upright Citizens Brigade
"Charleston - NOT New Orleans - is really where American Jazz began." 
