Forte Jazz Lounge's Upcoming Shows

Brett Belanger is a highly accomplished and sought after bassist. He leads this trio of A-list musicians, Abdiel Iriarte on Piano and Ron Wiltrout on Drums. They cover great American Jazz Standards as well as more contemporary material from the Bebop era. From time time, they include some of their own compositions. Come in for a relaxing night listening to great performances. Join us every Wednesday for an amazing jazz set performed by Charleston's best.

Forte Jazz Lounge presents an evening of vocal jazz from the Great American Song Book. Cole Porter, Harold Arlen, George and Ira Gershwin, Duke Ellington are just a few of the composers represented in this night dedicated to the the Great American Songbook and the Vocalists that brought them to life for the past 80+ years. Artists like Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Nat King Cole, Billie Holiday, Bobby Darrin, Tony Bennett, Rosemary Clooney, Sarah Vaughn are all celebrated on Thursday Nights. This evening Forte's Owner and veteran Big Band vocalist, Joe Clarke will be entertaining you from 7pm-10pm.

Prepare to be transported into the electrifying world of modern jazz! This exclusive performance brings together the visionary sounds of jazz legends and contemporary titans. Immerse yourself in the groundbreaking compositions and improvisational genius of Herbie Hancock, the intricate rhythms of the Chick Corea Elektric Band, and the raw energy of Tribal Tech. Feel the unparalleled guitar prowess of Mike Stern and Lee Ritenour, groove to the sophisticated sounds of the Yellowjackets and Jeff Lorber, and experience the innovative, genre-bending collective that is Snarky Puppy. This isn't just a concert; it's a journey through the evolution of jazz fusion, showcasing artists who have continually pushed boundaries and redefined the genre. Whether you're a long-time jazz enthusiast or new to the scene, you'll be captivated by the virtuosic musicianship and dynamic performances. Join us for an unforgettable night that promises to be nothing short of spectacular. Get your tickets now and experience "Fusion Frontiers" live! Josh Hoover - Drums Thomas Norris - Guitar Brett Belanger - Electric Bass Kevin Patton - Sax Abdiel Iriarte - Piano, Keys, Music Direction

Charles Grant is a premier vocalist with a band composed of the finest musicians playing the very best Classic Soul, R&B, Smooth Jazz and Motown hits from the 60's, 70's & 80's.

Brett Belanger is a highly accomplished and sought after bassist. He leads this trio of A-list musicians, Abdiel Iriarte on Piano and Ron Wiltrout on Drums. They cover great American Jazz Standards as well as more contemporary material from the Bebop era. From time time, they include some of their own compositions. Come in for a relaxing night listening to great performances. Join us every Wednesday for an amazing jazz set performed by Charleston's best.

Forte Jazz Lounge presents an evening of vocal jazz from the Great American Song Book. Cole Porter, Harold Arlen, George and Ira Gershwin, Duke Ellington are just a few of the composers represented in this night dedicated to the the Great American Songbook and the Vocalists that brought them to life for the past 80+ years. Artists like Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Nat King Cole, Billie Holiday, Bobby Darrin, Tony Bennett, Rosemary Clooney, Sarah Vaughn are all celebrated on Thursday Nights. This evening Forte's Owner and veteran Big Band vocalist, Joe Clarke will be entertaining you from 7pm-10pm.

Experience the electrifying legacy of a true jazz-fusion pioneer. Join us at Forte Jazz Lounge for a high-energy tribute to the late, great David Sanborn. Known for bridging the gap between jazz, R&B, and pop, Sanborn’s searing alto saxophone defined the sound of an era and influenced generations of musicians. Leading the night is the incredible Abdiel Iriarte (Music Direction & Keys), bringing his signature precision and flair to Sanborn’s iconic arrangements. He is joined by a rhythm section that hits as hard as it swings: the deep, melodic grooves of Tim Khayat on electric bass and the unstoppable pocket of JT Rollerson on drums. Taking center stage to channel Sanborn’s unmistakable "crying" tone and soulful phrasing is saxophonist Chris Williams. From the smooth melodies of Chicago Song to the funky intensity of Run for Cover, this quartet will take you on a journey through the hits that made David Sanborn a household name and a six-time Grammy winner. Don’t miss this night of soulful fusion and world-class musicianship!

Joe Clarke has entertained audiences for over 30 years. On the 1st Saturday of each month, this wildly popular 17-piece band takes the Forte Jazz Lounge stage and brings you on a fun, romantic and entertaining journey though time when great music was played, and spirits were high. Your date night just got an upgrade. In this very special presentation, The Forte Big Band will bring to you the greatest, swinginest tunes of the expansive library of Bobby Darin performances. In Bobby's short life, he produced many hit records, starred in movies and was a guest on dozens of TV specials. The show will feature these well-known charts: Mack the Knife, More, Artificial Flowers and Once in a Lifetime. Plus, Joe Clarke will perform a rendition of his very last live audience recording, The Curtain Falls. Sure, you can turn on your favorite Bobby Darin playlist at home, but nothing beats the power and artistry of listening to these arrangements performed live.

Brett Belanger is a highly accomplished and sought after bassist. He leads this trio of A-list musicians, Abdiel Iriarte on Piano and Ron Wiltrout on Drums. They cover great American Jazz Standards as well as more contemporary material from the Bebop era. From time time, they include some of their own compositions. Come in for a relaxing night listening to great performances. Join us every Wednesday for an amazing jazz set performed by Charleston's best.

Forte Jazz Lounge presents an evening of vocal jazz from the Great American Song Book. Cole Porter, Harold Arlen, George and Ira Gershwin, Duke Ellington are just a few of the composers represented in this night dedicated to the the Great American Songbook and the Vocalists that brought them to life for the past 80+ years. Artists like Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Nat King Cole, Billie Holiday, Bobby Darrin, Tony Bennett, Rosemary Clooney, Sarah Vaughn are all celebrated on Thursday Nights. This evening Forte's Owner and veteran Big Band vocalist, Joe Clarke will be entertaining you from 7pm-10pm.

Prepare to be swept away by the smooth and captivating sounds of contemporary jazz as we welcome you to an unforgettable evening of musical brilliance. We are thrilled to present a specially curated performance that will celebrate the timeless artistry of some of the most iconic smooth jazz performers from the 80s, 90s, and beyond. Featuring the incomparable music of David Sanborn, Grover Washington Jr., Jeff Lorber, Bob James, Pat Metheny, Spyro Gyra and more, this extraordinary concert will take you on a journey through the golden age of contemporary and smooth jazz. Backed by a world-class ensemble of virtuosic musicians, you'll be mesmerized by the rich harmonies, infectious grooves, and masterful improvisations that define this beloved genre. Whether you're a longtime devotee of contemporary jazz or discovering these legendary artists for the first time, this concert promises to be an evening of pure musical bliss. From the silky smooth sax lines of David Sanborn to the shimmering electric piano of Bob James, each performance will leave you transported, igniting your senses and stirring your soul. Don't miss your chance to experience the timeless magic of contemporary and smooth jazz live on stage. Get your tickets now for this unforgettable evening and get ready to be swept away by the musical mastery of these revered jazz titans. Jon Phillips - Sax Thomas Norris - Electric Guitar John F. Kennedy - Electric Bass Josh Hoover - Drums

Forte Jazz Lounge presents the genius of Ray Charles. Charles Grant sings and is backed up by the Forte show band as well as the Fortettes!! Charles Grant - Host/Lead Vocals John Kennedy - Bass Josh Hoover - Drums Thomas Norris - Guitar Horn Section: Jon Phillips - Sax/Vocals Brian Bohannon - Trumpet/Vocals Carrie Bates - Trombone/Vocals The Fortettes: Jenna Bohannon - Vocals Andrea Catangay - Vocals Veronica Wright - Vocals

Brett Belanger is a highly accomplished and sought after bassist. He leads this trio of A-list musicians, Abdiel Iriarte on Piano and Ron Wiltrout on Drums. They cover great American Jazz Standards as well as more contemporary material from the Bebop era. From time time, they include some of their own compositions. Come in for a relaxing night listening to great performances. Join us every Wednesday for an amazing jazz set performed by Charleston's best.

Forte Jazz Lounge presents an evening of vocal jazz from the Great American Song Book. Cole Porter, Harold Arlen, George and Ira Gershwin, Duke Ellington are just a few of the composers represented in this night dedicated to the the Great American Songbook and the Vocalists the brought them to life for the past 80+ years. Artists like Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Nat King Cole, Billie Holiday, Bobby Darrin, Tony Bennett, Rosemary Clooney, Sarah Vaughn are all celebrated on Thursday Nights. This evening a local favorite and accomplished Jazz vocalist, Alva Anderson will be entertaining you from 7pm-10pm.

The Forte Jazz Quartet backs up Joe Clarke as he performs from the vast collection of Sinatra Hits! This is one of Forte Jazz Lounge's most popular shows. You'll hear iconic songs made famous by Frank Sinatra like; Fly me to the Moon, I've Got you Under My Skin and Lady is a Tramp. Great Composers from that era will be on full display; Harold Arlen, Cole Porter Gershwin, Mancini to name a few. Join us for this fun and romantic evening full of great music. Abdiel Iriarte - Piano John Kennedy - Bass Josh Hoover - Drums Thomas Norris - Guitar.

Charles Grant leads this Vocal trio through the greatest R&B and Motown Hits of the 60's, 70's & 80's such as Temptations, Smokey Robinson, Marvin Gaye, Stylistics and More!

Brett Belanger is a highly accomplished and sought after bassist. He leads this trio of A-list musicians, Abdiel Iriarte on Piano and Ron Wiltrout on Drums. They cover great American Jazz Standards as well as more contemporary material from the Bebop era. From time time, they include some of their own compositions. Come in for a relaxing night listening to great performances. Join us every Wednesday for an amazing jazz set performed by Charleston's best.

Forte Jazz Lounge presents an evening of vocal jazz from the Great American Song Book. Cole Porter, Harold Arlen, George and Ira Gershwin, Duke Ellington are just a few of the composers represented in this night dedicated to the the Great American Songbook and the Vocalists that brought them to life for the past 80+ years. Artists like Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Nat King Cole, Billie Holiday, Bobby Darrin, Tony Bennett, Rosemary Clooney, Sarah Vaughn are all celebrated on Thursday Nights. This evening Forte's Owner and veteran Big Band vocalist, Joe Clarke will be entertaining you from 7pm-10pm.

Highly sought after Jazz bassist, Brett Belanger has new group that will perform all originals with pianist, Arshak, Drummer, Ron Wiltrout and Robert Lewis on Saxophone. Barrel Proof is a new band based in Charleston, SC that was born out of a weekly session in which Brett, Robert, Arshak, and Ron would play each other’s original compositions. Starting the very first day, it was discovered that the band also shared a mutual appreciation for whiskey which became an integral part of the weekly sessions. All four members of Barrel Proof contribute compositions that span a wide range of influences which makes for a performance with a vast sonic pallet. Robert Lewis: Based in Charleston, SC, saxophonist/composer/educator Robert Lewis is enjoying a growing presence in the jazz community of the South. Robert is in demand as an artist and clinician, both as a leader and as a sideman. He is the Director of Jazz Studies at the College of Charleston and is the Director of the acclaimed Charleston Jazz Orchestra. Brett Belanger: A native of Greenville, South Carolina, Brett Belanger developed an interest in music performance at the age of 11 when he began playing alto saxophone in middle school band. At age 12 he began playing electric bass and was influenced by artists such as Jaco Pastorius. His jazz education began at this time with multi-instrumentalist Charlie Parker. In high school Brett attended the Fine Art Center studying both saxophone and bass under guitarist Steve Watson while also taking lessons with saxophonist Matt Olson. During this time, he developed a strong foundation in jazz performance and theory while also winning a best-in-class award. Upon graduating, Brett auditioned at the College of Charleston for jazz bass where he earned his B.A. in Jazz Performance under the mentorship of Frank Duvall. He graduated Magna Cum Laude and received three music awards including "Outstanding Student" and "School of the Arts Scholar". After a short time at the college, Brett began studying double bass which he now plays professionally all over the Southeast at restaurants, listening rooms, hotels, and in music festivals. Brett is currently earning his Artist Certificate at the College of Charleston. Arshak Syriunin: Born and raised in the city of Yerevan, Armenia, by the age of seven, Arshak Sirunyan’s natural musical talent had already come to the attention of Sergey Kechek, Director of the A. Spendiarov School of Music; one of the leading musical academies in Armenia. Studying under unparalleled teacher and a music mentor Arkuhi Harutyunyan, Arshak continued his study of classical piano styles for the next 10 years, performing solo concerts and going so far as to receive the third-place award at the 1994 Armenian National J. S. Bach Concerto Competition. Later, he attended and graduated from Komitas State Conservatory, where he concentrated on Composition and Piano Performance under the tutelage of Stephan Rostomyan and Georgy Kasabyan. In the fallowing years Arshak has composed classical and contemporary compositions for vocal, piano, clarinet, string quartet and symphonic orchestra. In 2002, the Armenian Komitas String Quartet performed a work composed by Arshak Sirunyan that was dedicated to the victims of the earthquake that struck Armenia fourteen years earlier. In the year of 2002, after releasing his first album “Armenian Folk Melodies” with his friend Artur Yeghiazaryan, Arshak was granted the great opportunity to come to the United States of America. In 2008 Arshak found and produced a band by name “Double Sharp“with his two childhood friends Levon Mikaelian and Nune Vartanyan, which also includes two veterans of American jazz scene Tony Bunn and Wes Crawford. This gave a birth to the album “With a Song in My Heart“. The same year he began working on his trio album “Journal“[Released in 2010] and Tony’s project “Small World“ [Released in 2009] with Dennis Chambers on drums. In May 2010, “Twitching Eye“from the album “ ” Honorable Mention” from the 2010 International Songwriting Competition. In late 2012 Arshak began working on his “Hoodman’s Blind” project collaborating with multi Grammy Award winning & nominated musicians from all over the world. Featuring Mike Stern, Omar Hakim, Eric Marienthal, Chieli Minucci, Bob Franceschini, Raul Pineda, Cheikh NDoye, John Lamkin III, Arto Tuncboyaciyan, Artyom Manukyan, Artur Yeghiazaryan, Vardanyan String Quartet & more.. Ron Wiltrout is a percussionist based in Charleston, SC. He performs regularly in the Southeast with ensembles whose styles range from jazz and salsa to free improvisation to avant-garde and contemporary classical music. As a performer of new music, he has premiered pieces by Ted Hearne, Michael Pisaro, Sam Sfirri, KCM Walker, Andy Akiho, Sean Friar, Philip White, and Nathan Koci. His work with Ted Hearne has earned him a Grammy Nomination (for Place released 2020.) Wiltrout is devoted to exploring the use of unconventional percussion and extended techniques and integrating the drum set into any musical scenario. He co-leads multiple jazz groups and is the leader and originator of the band Rad Western. Wiltrout has performed with The Charleston Jazz Orchestra, Barrel Proof, Garage Cuban Band, Harry Allen, Lee Barbour, Tommy Gill, Asphalt Orchestra, Gino Castillo and the Cuban Cowboys, Duda Lucena, Conor Donohue, Lindsay Holler, Matadero, Katrina Ballads, Your Bad Self, and the Opposite of a Train.