Quentin Baxter enjoys what he does and he leads by example. Photo by Amy Painter

Quentin Baxter (left), Kevin Hamilton (center) and Tommy Gill held forth at Charleston Grill last week. Photo by Amy Painter

Pianist Tommy Gill and his bandmates introduced some new arrangements at Charleston Grill last week. Photo by Amy Painter

At the vanguard of the Lowcountry's live jazz scene is the Quentin Baxter-Mickey Bakst show.

"We're the Bax brothers," Bakst is fond of saying. He is the general manager of Charleston Place Hotel's Charleston Grill where Baxter has been musical director for about two years now.

Over that time, the duo has crafted a consistent, high-quality music bill available every night in a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Baxter has developed a stable comprising a score of local, regional and national musicians, minimizing the monotony that can settle into regular house gigs such as this. You're likely to see players ranging from young adult trombone prodigy T.J. Robinson to standout Savannah trombonist Teddy Adams to international trombone headliner Wycliffe Gordon along with local luminaries and up-and-comers.

The repertoire is mostly straight ahead and bop oriented but all the styles inevitably show up in the music since improvisation of thought as well as technique is the order of the day on any given night.

The Bax brothers' experiment, including a complete physical overhaul of the room, has been successful. Bakst has decided to bring more attention to the bandstand that has become the pulse of his popular Mobil four-star restaurant. In a conversation at the bar a couple of weeks ago, Bakst, an animated and gracious host, said, "Sometimes when I'm walking around this place, I stop, look around and listen, and I'm hearing this amazing music and the place is empty. … It's ready to be a real late-night jazz scene."

Telling of the Bax brothers jazz juggernaut is Baxter's regard for his colleague and the esteem with which Bakst looks at the music and those who play it. "He's the first club owner/restaurant manager I've dealt with who extends a hand to a new musician I bring in before I can introduce them to him," Baxter said.

Over brunch at Glass Onion the morning of Sept. 27, Baxter ruminated on the challenge of having played all new arrangements the night before at the Grill and considered his repertoire for that night's performance at the MOJA Arts Festival.

He was relaxed, feeling good about the chemistry of his band - pianist Tommy Gill and bassist Kevin Hamilton - and looking forward to pushing the envelope for MOJA headliner Kirk Whalum.

The Charleston-area jazz scene is closely tied to food and beverage. Building blocks for the current landscape not currently programming live music are operations such as FIG, Clara's, Coast and Mezzane at Sermet's.

The Grill's layout has the music playing to a bar and lounge area, just off the restaurant proper and it has is own staff.

The operation hums like a sewing machine.

The feel Bakst is talking about runs 10 p.m.-midnight Thursday, Friday and Saturday, usually comprising Baxter in trio with Hamilton and Gill, none more effective in town.

The new emphasis on the after-10 action is flying under the banner Late Night Jazz.

Baxter's playing and programming bring energy and creativity to the nicely appointed room. His custom-designed sound system is flawless. The recorded soundtrack, when a band isn't playing, is a swinging, informed excursion through the American jazz canon.

When he and his cohorts are playing, his vaunted intensity-not-volume concept reigns.

The large-format, elegantly matted and framed photos of

Billie Holliday, Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong put the icing on the jazz cake the Bax brothers are baking.

Casual dress is cool in the bar. The bands play 7-11 p.m. Sunday-Wednesday (Brazilian night) and 8 p.m.-midnight Thursday, Friday and Saturday. www.charlestonplace.com, 722-4900.

Gennaro's

One of the reasons Charleston Grill excels is that it has featured live jazz since 1986. Others have had great runs there such as mainstays Frank Duvall and Robert Lewis.

Another longstanding venue is Gennaro's, an Italian ristorante that got going in 1982 west of the Ashley and now located in North Charleston.

The family-owned eatery features a big band 8:30-10:30 p.m. Thursdays.

Trombonist Mike Gennaro leads Gennaro's Jazz Ensemble, a group of seasoned players that includes the likes of guitarists John Oden and Joe Wilson, pianist John Tecklenburg and saxophonist John Phillips. Started by Gennaro's musician father, the beat started on Savannah Highway is still going strong on Dorchester Road.

Gennaro's features one of the best new artists around the area, native Brazilian guitarist/vocalist Duda Lucena, who also plays Charleston Grill on Wednesdays for Baxter's Brazilian night. http://gennarositalian.com, 760-9875.

Market Street

Another Italian restaurant is also home to jazz. Hank Holliday's Mercato, a glistening, vibrant venue on North market Street, whose building is the former home to jazz outlets Mitchell's and the legendary Chef and Clef of the 1990's.

Music is offered Wednesday through Saturday with local artists playing an eclectic mix. www.mercatocharleston.com, 722-6393.

Mistral is one of the oldest businesses on South Market Street, offering more traditional jazz since 1986. The French restaurant is owned and run by Peter and Francoise Duffy, longtime friends and supporters of the music.

It gave the local jazz scene a gigantic boost this spring when it hosted Jazz Artists of Charleston's series, Upstairs at Mistral, produced for the Piccolo Spoleto Festival. The Duffys and JAC are in discussions about putting jazz in yearound in the cozy, private room on the second floor.

Mistral recently hosted without charge a live musical celebration by the area jazz family of the life of the late pianist Taras Kovayl.

Music is offered every night. www.mistralcharleston.com, 722-5708.

Just east on South Market form Mistral is the French Quarter Inn's Tristan (AAA four diamond), home to Charleston's consensus First Lady of Jazz, Ann Caldwell and her band Loose Fit.

The American cuisine restaurant also has a Sunday brunch that features one of the more versatile jazz musicians in town, Joe Clarke. www.tristandining.com, 534-2155.

King Street

One of Charleston's hottest jazz musicians is trumpeter Charlton Singleton. Once a week, billed as Jazz Wednesdays, Singleton has a trio in the newly renovated, eight-year-old Fish. It's up close and personal at the French-Asian fusion restaurant where food and music get great respect.

Singleton's band plays standards and music from the Great American Songbook. His approach is straight ahead. www.fishrestaurant.net, 722-FISH.

East Bay Street

The fish are jumpin' at High Cotton, just like the music. This popular spot has provided jazz for years and is among the leaders in live programming. Music is offered these days Saturday through Tuesday by the likes of saxophonist John Slate, keyboardists Bill Aycock and Margaret Coleman and guitarist/vocalist Wayne Daws.

Slate and Aycock are longtime Charleston favorites with a wealth of skills and experience. www.mavericksouthernkitchens.com/highcotton, 724-3815.

If you program live, professional jazz accessible to the public, contact Preview for future stories at clubs@postandcourier.com