Every musician is the sum of the voices they’ve listened to, and my sound is shaped by the artists who came before me.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Marking three decades of showcasing top piano talents, the HHIPC is bringing 20 teenagers representing six countries to Hilton Head for its Young Artist Competition March 16th-21st.

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.

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.

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.