JAC spring series headed to McCrady's

A jazz event that's emerging as a rite of spring around here has a new venue.

McCrady's Restaurant, a big supporter of the arts, will host this year's Jazz Artists of Charleston series, an official event of the Piccolo Spoleto Festival.

In its third year, the series is very popular. The idea is to bring together local and regional acts in a setting designed for close listening.

There's something for everyone, but this is especially planned for the serious fan. And it's always a lot of fun.

The first two years of the run took place at Mistral on Market Street, a longtime restaurant-with-jazz venue now closed. JAC would take over the upstairs, set up for 50 or 60 people, and just have at it. Essentially, a nightclub was created with the atmosphere and ambience built around an opportunity to savor fine jazz in all its forms, a real boon since we find ourselves without a jazz club in the area these days.

With the move to McCrady's, 2 Unity Alley, JAC is able to just about double the series' capacity and maintain the intimacy and access afforded guests in the restaurant's upstairs spaces, the Gallery Room and the Long Room.

Probably the most interesting event in the series is its last, the Ron Free Trio with pianist Tommy Gill and bassist Kevin Hamilton on June 11.

Ron, a Charleston master drummer, emerged this year as a centerpiece of the story told in the highly acclaimed book, "The Jazz Loft Project," written by Sam Stephenson, a researcher at the Duke University Center for Documentary Studies. The book is an account of the goings-on in jazz at a dilapidated loft in New York City between 1957 and 1965.

It quickly became a gathering place for jazz musicians to jam. One of its tenants, W. Eugene Smith, was a photographer who took thousands of pictures and recorded thousands of hours of music, documenting a rich period in the development of jazz among celebrities such as Dizzy Gillespie and Thelonious Monk as well as lesser known lights such as Ron.

Ron, who now lives and works in Virginia, is still playing strong and is eager to come home and perform with old friends. The band will start at 8 p.m.. Then, Dan Partridge, who worked on the audio for the project, will talk a little about the research team's efforts. A jam session around Ron will end the evening. This show fills the series' regular slot, Charleston All-Stars. Tickets are $40.

Another highlight of the series is JAC's signature event, Holy City Homecomin', this year featuring the Mark Sterbank Jazz Group performing Hymns & Spirituals, sacred songs expressed in jazz idioms, on June 1.

Mark is feverishly working on a CD of the six-year-old band's music. I've heard some of the mixes and it's great stuff. If it gets done in time, it'll be available at McCrady's. Tickets for that one are $30. There are two shows, 7 and 10 p.m.

Shows on the other 11 nights also are 7 and 10 p.m. They cost $20 in advance, $25 the day of. Call 641-0011 or visit thejac.org.

Mark, an assistant professor of jazz studies at Charleston Southern University, will partner with fellow saxophonist Robert Lewis, College of Charleston jazz studies chief, in a reprise of last year's Tenor Madness on June 9. The blazing performance sold out two shows last year even though it was up against the wildly popular Rene Marie show at the Gaillard Municipal Auditorium for Spoleto Festival USA.

Festivalgoers can sample authentic Brazilian music with jazz influences during the series on June 8 when singer/songwriter Duda Lucena holds court. Duda's sound brings a world music feel to the table, which illustrates the diversity of music in the Charleston area and the reach of the series. He was a smash hit at the Charleston Jazz Orchestra's Latin Night concert in September. His offerings likely will be among the most nuanced repertoires on the bill.

There's something for you in the series if you favor more progressive music. On June 3, Morimoto+1 -- guitarist David Linaburg, drummer Nick Jenkins, pianist Gerald Gregory and bassist Ben Wells -- will take the stage with a mixed bag. Here's what the band posted on Facebook about its show:

"Morimoto returns to the stage for the first time in 2010 with special guest Ben Wells joining on bass. Taking advantage of the 'jazz series' mentality and having a real piano for Dr. Gerald von Gregory to perform on, the group will revisit its roots in playing standards while fluidly mixing in original music and whatever other sounds might find their way to the stage."

These guys love to experiment. And they do it well because they're grounded in the basics of jazz.

There's a ton of jazz planned over the next month so stay tuned. Next week, I'll talk about the spectacular Charleston Jazz Initiative Legends Festival in early June. Look for me on The Post and Courier's upcoming Spoleto pages for the 411 on the festival's Wachovia Jazz Series.

Jack McCray, author of "Charleston Jazz," can be reached at jackjmccray@aol.com.