The Jazz Arts Trio will kick off the Cherokee County Arts Council's 2009- 2010 season on Tuesday, Sept. 29, at 7:30 p.m. Other groups set to perform in Fullerton Auditorium are the Winthrop/Carolinas Wind Ensemble, Route 66 and The Queen Charlotte Chorus.

The Jazz Arts Trio brings to the stage the best trio arrangements of wellknown pianists, including Oscar Peterson, Bill Evans, Vince Guaraldi, Erroll Garner, horac Silver, Herbie Hancock and Chick Corea. This one-of-a kind group, through note-for note transcription of historic moments in piano jazz, is keeping alive music that otherwise would live on only in recordings. The trio does not simply imitate - they infuse the music with their own vitality and interpretations. Lifetime friends, the trio's members began playing together in the Boston area over 30 years ago.

The Winthrop/Carolinas Wind Ensemble will take the stage on Monday, Dec. 7, at 7:30 p.m. An internationally recognized group of instrumentalists dedicated to the performance of wind band literature, the 112-member group is under the direction of Dr. William Malambri and Stanley Michalski. The concert band is composed of college music students, middle and secondary school band directors and professional and highly skilled amateur players. The orchestra has performed throughout the Carolinas, at the 2005 American Bandmasters Association Convention and at prominent festivals around the world.

In a trip down memory lane, Route 66 will perform on Feb. 16, 2010, at 7:30 p.m. You can drive from Chicago to Los Angeles in about 31 hours if you stick to the interstates. However, for the road warrior who isn't in a hurry, a cruise along old Route 66 can be an unforgettable journey - one with surprises around every curve. The musical comedy Route 66 celebrates the golden era of the quirky old highway. Often called "America's Main Street," U.S. Route 66 is a retro-fantasyland of art deco motels, roadside attractions, Indian trading posts, novelty drive-ins, and old-fashioned split-and-polish service stations. Chock full of hilarious characters, wild antics and good old-fashioned schtick, this surefire crowed pleaser features hit songs from the late 50s and early 60s, including Dead Man's Curve, King of the Road, Little Old Lady From Pasadena, Six Days on the Road, GTO, Fun, Fun Fun, I Get Around and Route 66.

The Queen Charlotte Chorus, an affiliate of Sweet Adelines International, will perform April 27, 2010, at 7:30 p.m. The chorus was chartered in 1965 and has always enjoyed excellent musical leadership. The chorus consistently places at the top in the five state Blue Ridge Region Competition and has sung in St. Louis, Phoenix, Detroit, Kansas City, Miami, New Orleans and Portland.