International Jazz Day brings together communities, schools, artists, historians, academics, and jazz enthusiasts all over the world to celebrate and learn about jazz and its roots, future and impact; raise awareness of the need for intercultural dialogue and mutual understanding; and reinforce international cooperation and communication. Each year on April 30, this international art form is recognized for promoting peace, dialogue among cultures, diversity, and respect for human rights and human dignity; eradicating discrimination; promoting freedom of expression; fostering gender equality; and reinforcing the role of youth in enacting social change.

In South Carolina, the Skipp Pearson Jazz Foundation is putting on a series of concerts around the state, including a benefit at Public House on Main Street in Columbia. Woodshed Archive is honored to broadcast the concert on our radio station WAPR, live from Public House, 5-8pm on Sunday, April 30th.

Carl Payne and his 23 piece Big Swing Band will headline the Columbia event. Carl Payne, Jr. was inspired by the SWING era of the ’30s and ’40s. The bands of that day lead by Louie Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman, Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey and others helped to shape his love of jazz. Carl continued to cultivate his love for all forms of music through his studies at The Navy School Of Music, South Carolina State University, and the prestigious Berklee College of Music. Carl is also a retired Marine Corp Band Trumpeter and Combat Veteran.

Between sets, Dick Goodwin (composer, arranger, performer, and studio producer) will bring up some “young bloods” and offer the opportunity to some Jazz Masters sitting in the audience to take part in a short “jam session”. Dick Goodwin leads the Dick Goodwin Quintet and Dick Goodwin Big Band, is a Yamaha Artist, and is a Distinguished Professor Emeritus at the University of South Carolina where he still teaches a handful of doctoral students. The State Newspaper declared, “If a touring act or local performance needs musicians — strings, brass, rhythm, anything — there’s only one person to call: Dick Goodwin.”

Main Street Public House is one of twenty sites hosting a variety of activities and events offered to the public in support of live jazz music in our communities. This unique project created by the Skipp Pearson Jazz Foundation seeks to promote a greater appreciation of live jazz music performances and to promote the preservation of the rich history of jazz in America.

Woodshed Archive hopes you can tune in to this special event. In addition to the music, we will conducting interviews with Carl Payne, Dick Goodwin, and local jazz drummer James Casey about the impact Skipp Pearson has had on the jazz scene in Columbia and South Carolina. Please join us as we celebrate International Jazz Day here in Columbia, SC!