Rapp on Jazz

South Carolina–born Lauren Meccia is a saxophonist, composer, and University of South Carolina professor known for her versatility in jazz, classical, and contemporary music.  Visit southcarolinapublicradio.org/rapponjazz for full transcripts.

Ann Caldwell, born in Denmark, South Carolina, is known as Charleston’s “First Lady of Jazz.” With her powerful voice, elegant phrasing, and deep commitment to preserving jazz traditions, Caldwell has become a beloved figure in the Charleston music scene. Visit southcarolinapublicradio.org/rapponjazz for full transcripts.

James “Blood” Ulmer was born in St. Matthews, South Carolina, and is a visionary guitarist known for his daring blend of avant-garde jazz, blues, and free improvisation. His nickname, “Blood,” comes from his stinging, cutting guitar style—raw, electric, and impossible to ignore. Visit southcarolinapublicradio.org/rapponjazz for full transcripts.

Charleston-born Alphonse Mouzon was a groundbreaking drummer and a pioneer of jazz fusion. Known for his explosive energy, technical mastery, and rhythmic creativity, Mouzon helped redefine what jazz percussion could be.  Visit southcarolinapublicradio.org/rapponjazz for full transcripts.

Every musician is the sum of the voices they’ve listened to, and my sound is shaped by the artists who came before me.  Visit southcarolinapublicradio.org/rapponjazz for full transcripts.

Born in Dillon, South Carolina, Jimmy Hamilton was a masterful clarinetist and tenor saxophonist best known for his 25-year tenure with the Duke Ellington Orchestra.  Visit southcarolinapublicradio.org/rapponjazz for full transcripts.

Born in Aiken, South Carolina, Bubber Miley was a key figure in the 1920s Harlem jazz scene and a pioneering trumpeter whose sound helped define the early Duke Ellington Orchestra.  Visit southcarolinapublicradio.org/rapponjazz for full transcripts.

When you watch a jazz pianist, it’s easy to focus on the notes but there’s so much happening behind the keys. This is true whether they're performing solo or as part of an ensemble. Visit southcarolinapublicradio.org/rapponjazz for full transcripts.

Jazz played a surprising yet powerful role in the desegregation of U.S. military bands. During World War II, African American musicians were often restricted to all-Black units despite their talent and experience. Yet their exceptional skill in jazz ensembles and big bands could not be ignored.  Visit southcarolinapublicradio.org/rapponjazz for full transcripts.

Jazz played a quiet but powerful role in the fight against apartheid in South Africa. Artists like Hugh Masekela and Abdullah Ibrahim used music to protest racial segregation, promote unity, and give voice to the oppressed. Visit southcarolinapublicradio.org/rapponjazz for full transcripts.

Louis Armstrong was a global ambassador for music and goodwill. During the Cold War, he toured the world under the auspices of the U.S. State Department, performing in Africa, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. Visit southcarolinapublicradio.org/rapponjazz for full transcripts.

In the 1950s and ’60s, Dave Brubeck led some of the most influential U.S. State Department jazz goodwill tours, bringing his quartet to Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and Africa.  Visit southcarolinapublicradio.org/rapponjazz for full transcripts.

During the Cold War, Duke Ellington became one of America’s most powerful cultural ambassadors. Beginning in the 1960s, Ellington and his orchestra toured Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and Africa as part of U.S. State Department goodwill missions.  Visit southcarolinapublicradio.org/rapponjazz for full transcripts.

In 1956, Dizzy Gillespie led one of the Cold War’s most influential cultural missions—the U.S. State Department’s jazz goodwill tour.  Visit southcarolinapublicradio.org/rapponjazz for full transcripts.

During the Cold War, jazz became a form of cultural exchange. As the United States and the Soviet Union competed for influence, jazz traveled the world as a symbol of creativity, freedom, and individuality.  Visit southcarolinapublicradio.org/rapponjazz for full transcripts.

Failure is one of the most important teachers in jazz. Every missed note, every rough gig, every moment that didn’t go as planned carries a lesson—if you’re willing to listen.  Visit southcarolinapublicradio.org/rapponjazz for full transcripts.

I started ColaJazz because I saw both a need and an opportunity. I was performing, teaching, and traveling, but I kept asking myself a simple question: How do we build something that lasts—for musicians, for students, and for the community? Visit southcarolinapublicradio.org/rapponjazz for full transcripts.

Mentorship has always been at the heart of jazz. You can learn scales, theory, and history in the classroom—and that foundation matters—but the bandstand teaches lessons no book ever can.  Visit southcarolinapublicradio.org/rapponjazz for full transcripts.

Jazz still matters because it teaches us how to listen -- to each other and to the moment we’re living in. Visit southcarolinapublicradio.org/rapponjazz for full transcripts.

Technology has always shaped how jazz is recorded—and how it’s heard. Early jazz musicians crowded around a single microphone, capturing performances in one take.  Visit southcarolinapublicradio.org/rapponjazz for full transcripts.

Some of jazz’s most important stories are preserved in archives that safeguard music, history, and culture for future generations.  Visit southcarolinapublicradio.org/rapponjazz for full transcripts.

Before the trumpet took center stage, the cornet was jazz’s leading voice. With its rounded tone and agile response, the cornet helped define the sound of early New Orleans jazz.  Visit southcarolinapublicradio.org/rapponjazz for full transcripts.

The flugelhorn offers a different voice in jazz—softer, warmer, and more intimate than the trumpet. With its wider bore and conical shape, the flugelhorn produces a mellow tone that invites reflection rather than fanfare. Visit southcarolinapublicradio.org/rapponjazz for full transcripts.

From the very beginning, the trumpet has been a defining voice in jazz. In early New Orleans ensembles, it carried the melody—bold, clear, and leading the way.  Visit southcarolinapublicradio.org/rapponjazz for full transcripts.

Few artists pushed the boundaries of jazz like Sun Ra. Composer, bandleader, and visionary, Sun Ra believed music could reshape consciousness.  Visit southcarolinapublicradio.org/rapponjazz for full transcripts.