PS 24 - Oscar Rivers Quartet

Oscar Rivers is a living Lowcountry legend and an esteemed jazz instrumentalist on both saxophone and piano. Oscar has been a vital part of the Charleston and Chicago jazz scenes for over half a century, and is an inductee of the Lowcountry Music Hall of Fame. Having mastered the saxophone at an early age, Oscar’s education took him from Burke High School to South Carolina State College to Chicago's Roosevelt University, where hear earned his Masters in Music.  His decades-long career as a musician and music educator has included playing sax with musical legends Sonny Stitt, Quincy Jones, Melba Moore, BB King, Stevie Wonder, the Tempations, the Jackson Five, and he was also part of the house band for the legendary Regal Theater. In 1979, Oscar moved back to Charleston, where he continued to perform professionally, but also taught music, math and science. Looking for a musical challenge, Oscar decided to learn classical piano as an adult. In addition to performing jazz and rhythm and blues locally, including a standing Monday night gig at Barsa Tapas Lounge on Upper King Street, Oscar proudly leads and accompanies the Morris Brown AME Church's gospel choirs. Oscar received the “Tip of the Hat” award for jazz contributions in Charleston this year. The quartet performing this afternoon features Oscar Rivers on piano, Kat Keturah on vocals, Paul Gelpi on bass and Donald Fields on drums.