An exploration and exhibition of the music of native Charleston composer Edmund Thornton Jenkins. This concert is headlined by Jenkins’ grand-nephew, Saturday Night Live keyboardist Tuffus Zimbabwe. Accompanying Mr. Zimbabwe are Mark Sterbank (saxophone and clarinet) and Kevin Hamilton (bass).

Detailed notes on the composer and participants:

Edmund Thornton Jenkins: Edmund T. Jenkins was born in 1894 in Charleston to the Rev. and Mrs. Daniel Joseph Jenkins. The elder Jenkins, having been born into slavery in Barnwell District, was well-known as a Baptist minister and founder of the Jenkins Orphanage and its eponymous, internationally-known band. The younger Jenkins first studied piano, clarinet and violin at Atlanta Baptist College (now Morehouse College) before directing the Jenkins Orphanage Band himself. While traveling with the band to perform at the Anglo-American Exposition in London, Edmund remained and enrolled in the Royal Academy of Music at the age of 20. There he was awarded scholarships and numerous awards and prizes for composition, eventually being made an Associate of the Academy. During his time in London, Mr. Jenkins also worked as an orchestral musician in theatre orchestras and dance bands and participated in a number of recordings.In 1924 Jenkins moved to Paris, where he established the Anglo-Continental-American Music Press, while continuing to perform and compose. He died there in 1926 from unknown causes (possibly appendicitis) and after funerals in both Paris and Charleston, was buried at the Humane Friendly Cemetery in Charleston. After years of his music falling somewhat into obscurity, this great son of Charleston is finally experiencing his overdue resurgence, something this program hopes to help further.

Tuffus Zimbabwe: Tuffus Zimbabwe is a pianist, composer, and educator from the Roxbury area of Boston. He completed his Bachelors’ degree at Berklee College of Music and received a Master of Music degree from New York University. Mr. Zimbabwe is a keyboardist in the Saturday Night Live house band, pianist, and assistant musical director for Trilogy: an Opera Company. Music has long been a part Tuffus' family as his grandmother, Mildred Jenkins, was a professional vocalist in the Operatic and Spiritual styles. She studied music at the Sorbonne in Paris and the New England Conservatory. Mildred was also the sister of Edmund Thornton Jenkins, making Tuffus his grand-nephew. Tuffus has spent much time and effort to restore, edit and arrange much of Edmund Jenkins’ music from handwritten manuscripts into printed score, preserving and publicizing his uncle’s music and legacy for generations to come.

Mark Sterbank: Mark Sterbank, originally from Cleveland, attended the Eastman School of Music before graduating with a Master’s in performance from the University of New Orleans, where over the course of his studies he was awarded a National Endowment of the Arts Jazz Study Grant to study with famed jazz educator Ellis Marsalis. After performing with the Harry Connick, Jr. Orchestra, Mark moved to Charleston with his wife, Leah, to begin teaching at Charleston Southern University. He has released three CDs and performs regularly with the Quentin Baxter Ensemble, the Charlton Singleton Quintet and the Charleston Jazz Orchestra.

Kevin Hamilton: Bassist and composer Kevin Hamilton is a celebrated artist in Charleston’s vibrant jazz scene. He has performed internationally with diverse ensembles such as the New Music Collective, Opposite A Train, Dude Lucena, and the Charleston Jazz Orchestra, as well as alongside renowned musicians including Houston Person, Gregory Hines and René Marie. Kevin holds a degree in music theory and composition from the College of Charleston.

This event was made possible by the contributions of two sets of anonymous donors to the Chamber Music at St. Stephen’s series. Thank you.