Press

Hosted by restaurateur Carl Sobocinski and platinum-selling singer and songwriter Edwin McCain, Southern Exposure will educate, entice, enlighten, and entertain. In its highly anticipated second year, this event will include exclusive tasting events, cooking demonstrations and wine seminars, as well as multi-course dinners and live musical performances. Dedicated to excellence, Southern Exposure features domestic and international wines, celebrity chefs, master sommeliers, and national recording artists (Edwin McCain, Branford Marsalis, Michael McDonald, Mark Rapp, Blue Dogs).

This weekend long event will shine a spotlight on Greenville South Carolina's thriving Culinary and Arts Communities. Greenville, situated at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, stands out with its award winning downtown, vast entertainment options, and diverse population. Most of the weekend's activities will take place at the Peace Center for the Performing Arts, Falls Park, various downtown restaurants and along Main Street.

Supporting the community from which this event originated, proceeds from Southern Exposure will fund the 501 (c)(3) created by Sobocinski and McCain to benefit local non-profit organizations.

Southern Exposure is a weekend destination event that will impress all with its passion for quality and value. Indulge in this inspiring weekend of activities, and expose yourself to the finest in food, wine, and music.

September 14-16, 2007

For more info, click here.

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"...Rapp's five years in New Orleans instilled a love for the Crescent City tradition that colors his playing, though he is not afraid to use electronic effects... His quartet is trying to find the fertile middle-ground 'between adult contemporary accessibility and modern jazz idealism.'"
-David French

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Grammy Winning Jazz Producer, Hip-Hop Engineer Join Forces for Trumpeter Mark Rapp's Debut Release

Jazz trumpeter Mark Rapp recently recorded his debut effort under the producing prowess of Grammy Winner Jason Olaine (Roy Hargrove, Michael Brecker) and The Roots' engineer Robert “LB” Dorsey who has recently started working with Beyonce and her team.

Mark describes his sound as "...bridging the gap between modern and contemporary jazz music. There's a wide division between the two, both artistically and in the audiences - just go to a Christian Scott gig and then a Chris Botti gig - huge difference. I'm trying to connect the best of both worlds."

Musically, his melodies are memorable and played with passion. Artistically, Mark and his band play with fire and coax the listener into a world of improvisation. Visually, he understands there is much more to a performing art form than sound alone.

Through accessible melodies, stable harmonic structures, solid grooves, honest and raw playing and even by utilizing the earthy sounds of a didgeridoo, Mark engages everyone from the layman to the most hardened critic.

Currently, Mark's record is being mixed and introduced to various labels to find their new home.

AllAboutJazz.com, JazzReview.com, JazzCorner.com

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