For the past couple of years, I've had the pleasure of watching Charlie Kendall play guitar. With various bands and with the Lowcountry Blues Club, Kendall has displayed a great deal of talent. That's why I wasn't surprised in the least when his guitar teacher ( Robert Williams) contacted me to let me know about Kendall's latest accomplishment. He has been chosen as first chair guitarist in the South Carolina All State Jazz Band. Williams has written two method books and taught at college level before working with Mount Pleasant Music, teaching lessons upstairs. "He has been taking lessons with me since middle school and is an excellent student. From the beginning I told him to reach higher than just power chords and tabs and he has listened all the way. He wants to go to Berklee and it's my pleasure to help him. I helped him get into the Moultrie jazz band and told him one day we would work towards the senior all-state jazz band and that day has come. He has followed the course we set with note reading, music theory on an advanced level, scale knowledge, improvisation, jazz chord construction, and a knowledge of the Real Book that we constantly work on. Who do you know that plays John Schofield in the 10th grade?" I've had a chance to hang out with Kendall and I can tell you that he's very talented. He is currently entered in the March Madness Battle of the Bands with his band, Obscene Machine. Expect to see and hear more from this extremely talented young musician.

Speaking of the March Madness Battle of the Bands, year number five is underway. This year it returns to A Dough Re Mi where it started. So far 15 bands are set to compete, three per night in five preliminary rounds. Then the top three scoring winners of the preliminary rounds will advance to the finals that will be on March, 28.

Judging will be various folks involved in the local music scene such as, my beautiful girlfriend Deb Burdick (she has a degree in music from Mount Holyoke), my best friend "Kung Fu" Jerry Beale, Jasmine Pilling (who is a Wando High School student and also helps with this column), Chops (the Dough's Sunday night bartender) who is one of the most knowledgeable music fans I've ever met, members of last year's winning band, Tenfifty and myself. As in years past, maybe I can get my buddy Ballard Leeseman (from the Charleston City Paper) to come help judge the finals.

After disbanding Allnightkungfu in 2009, "Kung Fu" Jerry Beale and I started working on separate solo projects. Although the band was over, we still hung out together and shared a rehearsal space. We'd been there for quite some time and neither of us wanted tear down the sound proofing. One thing led to another and now we have combined our projects into an acoustic duo. In essence, Allnightkungfu is back together. This incarnation of the band is a little different. Instead of all original music, we play cover tunes and standards as well our own songs.We've been hosting an open mic at A Dough Re Mi, had a couple of gigs at Wine A While, played the Barn Jam at Awendaw Green and have a gig at Iacafano's coming up in April.

Next week's column will have a more in depth look at Iacafano's as well as Wild Wing Café and Bambu, which are all located in the same shopping center on Coleman Boulevard. Sort of a mini-scene within the East Cooper Music Scene

Stu Johnson is a local musician.