FORTE JAZZ LOUNGE

On King Street, Charleston’s hotspot for food, night life, and shopping, Forte Jazz Lounge fits right in. Opened in 2019, Forte stands as the perfect combination of the big sound of New York City jazz clubs and the comfort of southern hospitality. Husband and wife Joe and Rosie Clark run the venue, with the help of their kids, to bring Chuckdown a place for music that the city didn’t know it was missing.

Having always lived in Charleston playing a myriad of instruments, Joe Clark naturally found himself in the city’s music scene as an adult. Clark has both taught and performed his craft, while developing a network of like-minded artists. Clark has since shifted his career to running Forte, he has musicians that come from near and far to perform.

“Every musician has their forte – the thing they do better than anybody else – and we wanted to create an environment where they could come and be heard,” Clark said.

Past the lobby and wine bar is the comfortable yet luxe seating area for 120 listeners. Couches toward the front, candle-lit tables behind those, and bar seating on the sides, there is not a bad seat in the house. Blue and green lights illuminate the stage with a grand piano and ample space for performers. The ambience is warm and inviting with the foundations for a lively night of music.

A grand mural covers the wall to the right of the stage, with portraits of ten of history’s greatest jazz musicians, including Louis Armstrong, Aretha Franklin, and Frank Sinatra. Many performers that come through Forte Jazz Lounge channel inspiration from these icons in their acts, bringing a unique, modern flair to the classics that many know and love.

“You can’t have jazz without Hispanic, African, and European influences coming together and creating something completely new,” Clark says.

The performances at Forte flourish because of this beautiful mélange of cultures, time periods, and genre adjacencies. They connect a diverse audience that would not have come together otherwise by way of a common sound and a shared experience.

Any concertgoer understands the magic of live music that headphones cannot translate. The Clarks at Forte Jazz Lounge prioritize making live music more accessible for both locals and those traveling through Charleston, in an effort to uphold their mission of exposing more people to the wonders of jazz.

“Most people yearn for this environment. They may not know that they need it. The kind of environment we’ve built at Forte is essential for human connection,” Clark says.

Perfect for a date night, special occasion, or fun night on the town, Forte Jazz Lounge provides an exceptional small concert experience in the premier listening room in downtown Charleston.