^{Billions and billions of stars!: Skipp Pearson}

Monk, Dizzy, Bird, Skipp and the stars. If that's not a recipe for a great night, The Playlist doesn't know what is.

Local jazz guru (and South Carolina jazz ambassador) Skipp Pearson and the foundation bearing his name host their annual Jazz Under the Stars spectacular tonight (Friday, May 28) and tomorrow night (Saturday, May 29) on the grounds of the South Carolina State House; the concert runs from 7 to 9 p.m. The program, designed to foster the love of jazz music to every segment of our communities, in the past has paid tribute to big-band legend Benny Goodman and other jazz titans. The theme for 2010: The Art of Bebop, which offers a tribute to three great performers of post-big-band jazz — Thelonious Monk, Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker — from Howard Dean's Bebop Ensemble and Pearson.

You don’t need to bring any money, but you should probably bring a chair and/or blanket. (Not to mention some bug spray.) Call 400-1979 for more information.