Voodoo Lounge headlines summer season

Now in its second year, the jazz series at Avondale's Voodoo Lounge is becoming something of an institution.

Last summer, it burst onto the scene with great success, followed by a winter series that was even more popular.

Never ones to miss an opportunity to look out for their customers, owners Jen and Mike Kulik have sweetened the pot this time around.

It's free.

The series includes some of the better jazz acts around the area.

It started last month with the Quentin Baxter Quartet. Lindsey Holler & the Hollerettes held forth Tuesday. The shows happen at the bar and lounge on 15 Magnolia Road at 9 p.m. Tuesdays.

No cover probably means you have to show up early for lounge seating.

This coming Tuesday will feature Leah Suarez.

The rest of the lineup through Aug. 11 will have the Garage Cuban Band, Elise Testone & Emotive, Duda Lucena and Quiana Parlor, new to the series.

Voodoo is a fun place and music is central to its motif. It's reminiscent of a funky New Orleans bar.

In February it hosted a slammin' Mardi Gras celebration. In fact, Quiana and her band headlined the celebration one of the nights of that week. She tore it up.

Not only will you hear good music and enjoy yourself along with others if you go, you'll be supporting two of the Charleston area's biggest advocates for live music, Jen and Mike.

They regularly attend other events. They do whatever they can to help musicians. Quentin, who helps with production of the series, told me last year when it all started that he works with them because of their attitude and previously demonstrated support.

Further more, they live in the neighborhood. They're all about local. And that's important. Music scenes grow from the bottom up.

Give it a shot. It'll be good for your soul and good for the local scene.

While you're there, try the truffled tater tots.

For more, contact 769-0228, www.voodootikibar.com.

Sunday vespers

For more than 10 years now, Circular Congregational Church, 150 Meeting St., has put on a jazz vespers program the second Sunday of every month featuring local jazz and blues performers in a spiritual setting.

This Sunday, it's blues.

The Cotton Blue Band, with Rob Poser and Debbie Pasek, will kick it off at 6 p.m. with what the band calls "blues music from the swamp." Good ol' down home stuff.

I've always felt that Circular's vespers is one of the best music offerings around here.

It's early evening time is a great way to prepare for the upcoming week.

It's relaxed, unhurried pace is just right for a Sunday evening. It gives the listener a chance to get in touch with the transcendent powers of American music without the clutter of bar noise and idle chatter, the stuff of bars and restaurants.

There is no proselytizing. The church isn't looking for converts. Susan King Dunn and the staff just put on good music.

There is no admission. A free will offering is taken to help pay for the musicians.

577-6400.

Jazz video

There's a free Web service available that finds jazz videos on YouTube for subscribers. It's called Jazz on the Tube.

About once a day a link is sent to your e-mail for old and new videos. It's an especially a great way to see and hear some of the masters who are no longer with us in their original element.

I've been a member for a while now but my memory was jogged to share this with you this weekend when I got a link to a Count Basie Orchestra performance of "Corner Pocket," a jazz chestnut composed by Charleston guitarist Freddie Green, a 50-year member of the Basie band.

Some of you have seen this tune performed by the Charleston Jazz Orchestra during its concerts at the Charleston Music Hall.

In fact, it has become the band's theme song.

Now, you can hear the Basie band do it. Go to www.jazzonthetube.com/page/303.html.

To subscribe to the service visit www.jazzonthetube.com.

It's a blast.

Mail bag

I've been overwhelmed by mail on my Philip Simmons column last week. I'm now totally convinced that I should write about jazzy people who don' play jazz.

I wish I could report all the comments I've gotten since then but this space doesn't allow that to happen.

I will, however, share the words of jazz singer Ann Caldwell which capture in a jazz metaphor some of what I was trying to say about life:

"There is nobody standing over our beds every morning handing us a piece of sheet music or a well drafted script. And we get up anyway! Jazz is about being. Being real, being honest, being true. It's about making music from the inside out. That to me is exciting. It is not governed by scripts or sheet music. The end of the day marks the end of the performance. The end of life marks the end of the show. Jazz, as with life, is in the moment."

Nuff said.

Thanks to all of you who wrote in. It makes this column more "our" space.

Jack McCray, author of "Charleston Jazz," can be reached at jackjmccray@aol.com.