Rapp on Jazz

Bebop may have been born in the clubs of New York, but South Carolina musicians were right there in the mix—bringing that fast, fiery, intellectual style home.

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Jazz has always been about movement—musically, culturally, and historically. It began with ragtime in the late 1800s, where composers like Scott Joplin laid down syncopated rhythms and structured forms on the piano. 

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Bassist and vocalist Jim Ferguson began his musical journey in South Carolina, where he started singing in church at the age of four, influenced by his father, who was a church music director. 

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Guitarist Terry Rosen's impact on the South Carolina music scene is unforgettable. 

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Another overlooked figure in jazz and blues is singer Bea Foote. Born Beatrice Harrisson in South Carolina on September 3, 1896, she was celebrated for her strong vibrato and straightforward delivery, Foote steered clear of her contemporaries’ melancholic style.

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Oscar Lee Mack, another lesser-known jazz musician from South Carolina, was born in Sumter County around 1936. 

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Space is vital in jazz, exemplified by the Bill Evans Trio—Bill Evans on piano, Scott LaFaro on bass, and Paul Motian on drums. This group showcased equal contribution, with Evans’ introspective sound, LaFaro’s innovative bass playing, and Motian’s color-focused drumming.

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As Director of Jazz Studies at the University of South Carolina, Dr. Matt White is an accomplished trumpeter and educator as well as a gifted arranger and composer whose work bridges tradition and innovation.

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One name stands out when it comes to swinging, sophisticated big band sound in South Carolina: the Left Bank Big Band at the University of South Carolina.

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The University of South Carolina School of Music is celebrating a century of musical excellence. For 100 years, it has been a beacon for aspiring musicians, educators, and scholars.  

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