An Evening Dedicated to the Great American Songbook--and its place in jazz history.

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The Mike Fritz Quartet specializes in the Great American Songbook—but they are so much more!  Led by vocalist/pianist Mike Fritz, this highly acclaimed quartet can easily navigate the far reaches of American jazz, whether it's swing, stride, bebop, modal, fusion, or jazz funk. 

The band regularly hosts an educational concert where each song from the Great American Songbook is introduced in its historical context. The band then demonstrates how The Great American Songbook became the bedrock of modern jazz. For example, "Blue Skies" (1928) written by Irving Berlin is played first and then "In Walked Bud" (1947) by Thelonious Monk is played second; the latter is based on the harmonic structure of the former. 

All band members are alumni of different music colleges and have been performing professionally in the metro Charleston area for many years. The ensemble currently plays at the CharlesTowne Fermentory and Commonhouse Ale house, to name just a few venues.