History

From The Hilton Head Monthly

Clockwise from lower left: Ben Tucker, Lise & Mark Husbands, Ron Burton, Teri Rini Powers, Lavon Stevens, Bob Alberti, John Brackett and Terry Grant.

Jazz Reborn 

For about 20 years, the Hilton Head Jazz Society served up the finest jazz in the region. Its monthly “First Sunday Jazz” concerts would find the King’s Wharf exploding with vibrant sounds from bluegrass to progressive fusion. That’s why it came as a shock this past May when the 500-member society unceremoniously closed its doors. Its members received refund checks for dues paid and a void was instantly created.

Of course, after twenty years of quality jazz music, the island wasn’t about to hang up its dancing shoes. With the dissolution of the Hilton Head Jazz Society came an unspoken challenge: someone needed to carry on their work.

Local “First Lady of Jazz” and Jazz Society founding member Teri Rini Powers has risen to that challenge and resurrected the local jazz scene. “With the old Jazz Society, we were really able to nourish the community with jazz,” said Powers. “Once it was gone, people immediately started telling me they missed it, and started asking when it would come back. Now they have the opportunity to help bring it back.”

This new society, Jazz Lovers of the Lowcountry, will hold its first concert at 7 p.m. on September 25 at Monkey Business in Park Plaza, which will serve as the triumphant return of jazz to Hilton Head. “It’s going to be one heck of a concert, enthused Powers, “I’m really looking forward to it.” Local musicians scheduled to appear include: Mark Husbands, Ben Tucker, Bob Masteller, John Brackett, Bobby Ryder, Bob Alberti, Ray Cummings, Ron Burton, Danny Dennison, Lavon Stevens, Earl Williams, Louise Spencer and Terry Grant. Teri Rini Powers will also take the stage.

In addition, the Jazz Lovers of the Lowcountry will be selling CDs full of tracks from Hilton Head prominent jazz artists. Each musician donated a few of their tracks to the compilation, which will be sold to raise funds for the fledgling society.

To assist in returning jazz to Hilton Head, you can become a charter member of Jazz Lovers of the Lowcountry by sending your name and address to info@jazzloversclub.com , or signing up at the concert.