Middle C Jazz celebrates the countless contributions Black artists have made to the American Jazz songbook. During February, we are honored to bring Adam Hawley, Maria Howell, Selwyn Birchwood, Jacob Webb, and Eric Darius among others to the Middle C stage.

Middle C Jazz is honored to welcome countless National Artists to our stage this spring! Don’t miss your chance to see Keiko Matsui, Sy Smith, Eric Darius, Maysa, Gerald Albright, Althea Rene, Peter White, Spyro Gyra, Marion Meadows, and more right here at Middle C Jazz – Charlotte’s New Home for Cool!

To further enjoy the best of Middle C Jazz, consider becoming a Baby Grand Member!

Please ensure you are purchasing tickets through our Middle C Jazz Website via ETIX, our ticketing partner. Please do not purchase tickets from any other site

2.10-11.2023

Noel & Maria present Love Letters from Middle C

Noel & Maria present Love Letters from Middle C on Friday, February 10 at 7pm and 9:15pm and Saturday, February 11 at 6pm and 8:30pm! Join Noel & Maria as they celebrate what the world needs now: Love, Sweet Love including the best of the love songs, from classics to contemporary. This will be Middle C’s third year of this beloved show—join us in celebrating Valentine’s Day weekend 2023!

Featured Artist of the Week: Noel & Maria

NOEL FREIDLINE (Bandleader/Piano)
Pianist, vocalist, writer, arranger and educator, doesn’t come close to all things Noel Freidline! As a Magna Cum Laude graduate of the University of North Florida, with a BA in Music, Noel has been the bandleader of The Noel Freidline Quintet for over 26 years. He has numerous recordings to his credit, and has performed at jazz festivals from the Jacksonville Jazz Festival (FL)…to the Montreux Jazz Festival (Switzerland)…not to mention, a 3-year stint at the world famous Bellagio in Las Vegas, as the house band, leading his NFQ, where he performed for actress Julia Robert’s surprise 35th birthday party.

Noel was named Best Jazz Musician by Charlotte Magazine in 2006 and in 2009 and was named “Best Musical Director”, by the Metrolina Theatre Association of the Carolinas. In 2011 Freidline was chosen for the Blumenthal Performing Arts Association – Center Stage Award (Charlotte, NC), in recognition of his excellence in service to the arts. And in May, 2015, Noel Freidline was inducted into the Jacksonville Jazz Hall of Fame.

MARIA HOWELL (Vocals)
For over 35 years, this petite NC native, who splits her time between both the east coast and the west coast, has developed her career as a singer, actor, and voiceover artist. Her debut acting role was the choir soloist in the Oscar Nominated film, “The Color Purple”. She has gone on to appear in hit TV shows as Lifetime’s “Army Wives”, NBC’s “Revolution”, and CBS’s “Criminal Minds”. Feature films…“The Blind Side”, “Hidden Figures”, and “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire”. As a song stylist, Maria has shared the musical stage with legendary artists as, Nancy Wilson, George Benson, Ray Charles, Earl Klugh, brothers Ronnie and Hubert Laws, and veteran actor/singer, Keith David.

2.9.2023

Rodney Shelton & Eric Brice Present TRS: Famous Girl Groups Through the Decades – Motown, Pop and RnB

Thursday Night Jazz Jams return on Thursday, February 9 at 7pm! Rodney Shelton will be joined by TRS for Famous Girl Groups Through the Decades – Motown, Pop, and RnB. This exciting neo-soul, jazz and R&B trio was formed in the QC in 2014. Thia Reynolds, Ruby Edwards, and Sherretta Ivey are dynamic and versatile vocalists with an impressive history of performance experience.

2.14.2023

Songs in the Key of Love: A Middle C Jazz Valentine’s Day featuring JD, Robyn Springer, & Jay D Jones

We are excited to welcome some of our very favorites to the stage for Songs in the Key of Love: A Middle C Jazz Valentine’s Day featuring JD, Robyn Springer and Jay D. Jones! Join us to celebrate Valentine’s Day on Tuesday, February 14 at 7pm!

2.16.2023

A Night with Alligator Records recording artist and Contemporary Blues Star, Selwyn Birchwood

We’re excited to bring Blues Music Award Winner Selwyn Birchwood to Middle C for a for two shows on Thursday, February 16 at 7pm! Birchwood and his band have crisscrossed the U.S. and Europe repeatedly, delivering unforgettable live performances.

“A remarkable, contemporary bluesman…a powerhouse young guitarist and soulful vocalist. A major player…highly recommended” –Rolling Stone

“Rising blues star Selwyn Birchwood is the real deal. Birchwood puts his own fresh spin on the blues, taking the tradition and making it into something new.” –Guitar World

2.17.2023

A Night with Jacob Webb

Are you ready to go to a place where you’ve never been before? Come join us for an elegant night of jazz with 6x #1 Billboard recording bassist Jacob Webb. Brace yourselves as Jacob will cover his original works as well as music from the catalogue of Earth Wind and Fire, The Gap Band, Musiq Soul Child, and many more! His Middle C debut is on Friday, February 17 at 7pm and 9:15pm!

2.18.2023

Mandyl Evans featuring The Songs of Luther Vandross

We’re excited to bring Mandyl Evans to Middle C for a tribute to Luther Vandross for two shows on Saturday, February 18 at 7pm and 9:15pm! In the 90’s Mandyl started his own band The Mandyl Evans Group and performed as the opening act for Roberta Flack, Aretha Franklin, Gladys Knight and the Ohio Players. Mandyl has also toured singing background with R&B singers Stephanie Mills and Calvin Richardson.

2.21.2023

Fat Tuesday with the Soda City Brass Band

Fat Tuesday: the Mardi Gras Party featuring Carolina’s own Soda City Brass Band returns for a third year! Join us for a Mardi Gras celebration like none other on Tuesday, February 21 at 7pm with sounds from the streets of New Orleans! The Soda City Brass Band presents the best of the Dirty Dozen, Soul Rebels, Rebirth, and Preservation Hall brass bands.