Steven Charles Atlanta Jazz

Of course it varies, depending on both the number of players & type of event. Usually, when working as a duo, trio, or even solo, we present very high level, smoothly performed Jazz. With the professional quality of both our sound system, and the musicians, we are able to "fill the room with sound, yet not squelch conversation" (says John Berger, columnist @ Honolulu Star Bulletin)...

We sometimes are called on to play the cocktail hour, dinner, and then a set of dance music to end the evening, and we can also do that. Of course, when we play a showcase club, concert, or festival, the band may expand in size, as well as the volume & energy level.

A good example of this, is a week where one performance was on the main stage of the 2010 Atlanta Jazz Festival, where my six-piece band, plus vocalist, was followed by Trombone Shorty, recent Grammy winner Esperanza Spalding, & the headliner, Marcus Miller.

A few days later, my Jazz Trio played an exclusive reception for Microsoft's top executives, at the Four Seasons Hotel.

In whatever configuration, I'll be the constant, constantly switching between all my various instruments, even singing some, & always putting my all into the music. The music itself switches gears & genres frequently, we don't play the same Jazz tunes every other band does, but love to take songs from R&B, Classic Rock, Pop, Blues, Reggae, Brazilian, etc, & Jazz'em up! Always soulful, smooth, & tastefully performed...

Featuring Steven Charles on flute, tenor, alto & soprano saxophones, wind synthesizer, percussion & vocals, the band weaves musical elements from a diverse palette of genres & styles, with a Jazz flair & the creative freedom of personal, improvisational expression. It's soulful music at it's essence, real, right now, and sayin' something...

Steven has performed with an array of well-known artists, representing a broad musical spectrum. Such greats as George Benson, Marvin Gaye, Otis Rush, Junior Wells, Mick Fleetwood, Stephen Stills, Elvin Bishop, Jonn Serrie, & Dr. Lonnie Smith, groups as The Neville Brothers, Indigo Girls, as well as with members of Earth, Wind & Fire, The Crusaders, Hiroshima, Santana, Sly & the Family Stone, & The Doobie Brothers.
He has opened concerts for Chicago, Joe Sample, Bob James, Esperanza Spalding, Marcus Miller, Taj Mahal, Herbie Hancock, Alex Bugnon, Wayne Shorter, and many others, as well as performing at the last Crater Festival, inside Diamond Head, Hawaii.

In concert, The Steven Charles Band has been featured at The Atlanta Jazz Festival, “Kingfest” at The Martin Luther King Jr. Center, Taste of Atlanta, PGA Awards Ceremony, DeKalb County & Charlotte Jazz Festivals, The Trumpet Awards, Centennial Olympic Park, The SCLC 50th Anniversary Banquet (w/Barack Obama), & even a solo National Anthem performance at a Falcons-49ers Monday Night Football game inside the Georgia Dome.

WHEN A BAND IS TOO MUCH... YET CANNED MUSIC IS NOT CLASSY ENOUGH:

For those times a smooth & soulful, professionally performed mix of jazz, perfect for creating just the right ambiance at your reception, party, or event, is desired, call on Steven Charles. Playing tenor, soprano, & alto saxes, flute, wind synth, & some vocals, he, along with some of Atlanta's finest world class musicians, can provide what you need. Specializing in a warm, full-sound, yet with only a duo or trio (even solo, as a "one-man band"), you can pass on a dj, yet not have to deal with the logistics of a larger band. Of course, with our 20 years of concert & festival experience, a larger ensemble is readily available, as well.

Some of the countless corporations, charities, & professional organizations we've played for:

PGA National Championship Awards luncheon & ceremony
VIP Reception at Phillips Arena, for opening of Atlanta's WNBA team
SCLC 50th Anniversary Gala (w/Barack Obama)
The Trumpet Awards
Atlanta Community Food Bank Ground Breaking, 25th Anniversary, & annual Christmas Luncheons
MLK Papers Society Fundraising Reception (w/Andrew Young/Mayor Franklin)
Microsoft
Kilpatrick Stockton LLP
Pfizer
Worldspan
Gwinnett County Bar Association
Raytheon
MetLife
AT&T
Bell South
DeKalb Medical Society
Vinings Club
191 Club
Country Club of the South
Atlanta Hawks
Atlanta Falcons
Sun Trust Bank
Lucent Technologies
Honolulu City & County
King & Spaulding
Dr. Pepper
Phillip Morris
GE
Atlanta City Government
Piedmont Park Conservancy
Atlanta History Center
Ron McNair Foundation
United Air Lines
Morehouse Alumni Association
WSB, WJZZ, WCLK, WRFG, WGCL, WAOK, NBC, CBC...
Associations of Pediatricians, Oncologists, Cardiologists, Urologists, Dermatologists,

We're very self-contained, providing our own sound equipment, including recorded music we play before & after, as well as during any breaks we may take, so as to keep the music going...