Sarah Jones
Photography by Jabberpics

To say that Monroe, Louisiana, natives Jeremy Davis and Clay Johnson are two peas in a pod is the understatement of a lifetime. Best friends since the seventh grade, the tenor saxophonist and vocalist unite to create the unstoppable lead entity of Jeremy Davis and the Fabulous Equinox Orchestra—a musical force that has been gaining strength in Savannah since Davis’s arrival in 2005.

Their most recent wave of success is the beginning of their concert series at the Westin Savannah Harbor, “MadMonday,” which kicked off September 17 with a release party for the band’s first CD, “Great American Swagger.” The event offers martinis and a show on the third week of the month throughout the fall at the Westin’s clubhouse, which will be transformed into an intimate space with a lounge atmosphere (Davis is kicking around the idea of calling it “The Bungalow”) where the audience can interact with the entire 17-piece big band.

Monday nights are, Davis explains, a traditional time when jazz musicians around the country gather at clubs and lounges for jam sessions. “It’s going to be this opportunity to try out new material on the audience, and it’s always going to be a new show,” Davis says. “Clay is the main event, but we’ll have some special guests, including people like Roger Moss, Savannah Children’s Choir co-founder, and some of our friends from out of town.” And these guys have no shortage of those. In fact, their goal has more to do with making connections and building relationships with people than it does with putting on a traditional show.

“We don’t call what we do a concert,” says Johnson, explaining their mission in performing. “It’s not like we’re here to entertain you for 90 minutes, we’re here to establish a friendship with you that’s hopefully going to last for a long time, and I think that really better defines who we are and what we do on stage than just doing a concert.”

Read more in the October/November issue of South!

If you’re looking for entertainment, musicianship and cultural diversity, look no further than the Savannah Jazz Festival starting September 23 and running through September 30 at various locations around the city.

Organized by The Coastal Jazz Association, the festival is free and offers local, regional, national and international jazz musicians performance opportunities.

This year’s festival includes performances by:

Teddy Adams
The Jody Espina Quartet
Bob Mastellar & The Jazz Corner All Stars
Swing ’42
Amburgey & Hanson
SSU Gospel Choir
Eric Culberson Band
Li’l Ed and the Blues Imperials
Doc Handy Band
Jay Stewart Band
University of North Florida Jazz Ensemble
US Navy Band Southeast Dixieland Band “TGIF”
Jazz Hall of Fame
Andreas Varady Quartet
Tony Monaco B3 Trio
Savannah Jazz Orchestra

For times and locations, as well as further details about special guest musicians, visit savannahjazzfestival.org.

Where to Eat, Play, Shop & Stay with Your Four-Legged Friend
Written by Richelle Laughinghouse, Reporting by Sinjin Hilaski
Photography by Angela Hopper

Savannah is one of the most pet-friendly towns around, which means there is no shortage of places to stay, play, eat and shop with your furry friends. Dozens of Savannah eateries allow dogs to chow down alongside their owners, and doggy day cares, unique pet stores and even dog bakeries make pet life in the Lowcountry something to wag your tail about. The South’s Greatest Pet Contest winners test out some of these favorite local spots.

For the entire story, see the current issue of South Magazine on shelves now at these local retailers.

Summertime in the city promises exciting networking events and entertainment throughout the week and into the weekend. Here are some of this week’s hottest happenings that are not to be missed, including the 2012 Teen, Miss and Mrs. All-Star United States Pageant Finals on Saturday, July 28.

Still unsure what to do for the Fourth of July this year?

Kick off the week’s festivities by heading over to Leopold’s Ice Cream on July 1 between 4 and 7 p.m. for their “I Pledge” Project. They will be handing out free scoops of ice cream to children 12 and under who can recite the Pledge of Allegiance from memory. Click here for more information about this nation-wide event.

Next, grab your sunscreen and spend July 3 on Tybee Island. Stay for the fireworks, which are launched from the Tybee Pier around 9:15 p.m. Click here for more information about this year’s event, or click here to see photos from last year.

Catch a Fourth of July Sand Gnats game at Historic Grayson Stadium, where they will host the Charleston RiverDogs. First pitch is at 6:05 p.m., and fireworks will start after the game. Click here to buy tickets.

The fireworks show on River Street begins at 9:15 p.m. Make sure you arrive early and bring chairs, blankets and refreshments.

If you would rather stay on the beach for fireworks, there will be three fireworks displays on Hilton Head Island on Independence Day. Jekyll Island is also hosting a fireworks show.

Find your way back to River Street over the weekend for the Great American Weekend, July 7 and 8, for arts, entertainment, games, food, contests and more.

A list of the top ten events you can’t afford to miss for the upcoming week.

July 9
The Odd Lot Improv Comedy Troupe

July 10
A Night of Jivamukti & Kirtan with The Jais

Hostess City Toastmasters Club

July 11
Jukebox Journey

July 12

Masquers Summer Theatre: Love’s Labor’s Lost
BNI Downtown Networking Club

The Bakery with a PURPOSE owner, Belinda Baptiste, hosted a Caribbean party Tuesday to kick off her new breakfast menu. Local author Joan Kornblatt was present for a book signing. Proceeds from her book, COLORS: The Book for Haiti, benefit Haitian children in need. Click here to see more photos from the event.

Tybee YMCA campers said “mahalo” to Tropical Storm Debbie Wednesday as they hung ten in a gnarly surf during Tybee YMCA’s Surf School. Click here to see photos from the event.

Cspotters kicked back and relaxed at the Flip Flop Tiki Bar Wednesday afternoon during their monthly networking social. Click here to see photos from the event.

The Savannah Area Tourism Leadership Council Membership Social and Hospitality Night met at the Massie Heritage School. Members unwound and socialized with other members Thursday evening. Click here to see more photos from the event.

A list of the top ten events you can’t afford to miss for the upcoming week.

June 26
Surf Camp
Hostess City Toastmasters Club

June 27
Murphy’s Law Public House Trivia Event

June 28
Savannah Live!
BNI Downtown Networking Club

June 29
Bay Street Theatre Presents “Bug”
True Grit (1969) – Classic Westerns Weekend
Fashion Boot Camp “Shoe Art”

June 30
3:10 to Yuma (2007) & Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969) – Classic Westerns Weekend

July 1
Savannah Winds Annual Patriotic Concert

Last week started off with a big turnout of local business leaders and elected officials during the Downtown Business Association’s first legislative Meet & Greet at 24e Monday. Click here to see photos from the event.

Throw your hands up and Shout! Off-Broadway’s smash mod musical is at the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina this summer, bringing back the swinging sounds and styles of the sixties. It’s the dawn of women’s liberation and London is rocking to the songs of English pop stars Petula Clark, Dusty Springfield, and Lulu.