The Jazz Corner: From Handwritten Notes to Modern Excellence - Sustaining Hilton Head’s Premier Jazz Destination

This case of The Jazz Corner demonstrates how a deeply held vision, commitment to excellence, and the right tools at the right time can sustain a legacy across generations. It shows that modernization doesn't mean losing the soul of your venue—it means having the capacity to fully express it.

Background: A Musician's Dream Realized at 60

David Masteller's father, Bob Masteller, spent years playing clubs throughout the Northeast with his own father, performing in narrow rooms with poor acoustics and mediocre food. He dreamed of creating the club he could never find as a musician, a place that felt like being welcomed into someone's home, where the sound would be pristine no matter where you sat, where you could talk comfortably but also truly listen, and where great food would complement live music.

At 60, he reinvented himself, took the risk, and opened The Jazz Corner in Hilton Head, South Carolina. The stars aligned in this beautiful coastal tourist destination, and what began as a dream became a 26-year institution.

Each year, the spirit of the community and music comes alive at the Jazz For All Ages Music Fest, a beloved event that highlights world-class talent. With decades of experience as a jazz musician and educator, Bob and his wife Lois founded the Junior Jazz Foundation in 2004 to preserve jazz for the next generation through education and live performance. Today, their legacy echoes far beyond the club’s walls.

Location and Atmosphere: A Home Away From Home

The Jazz Corner maintains an intimate scale that fosters genuine personal connections. At 83 years old, David's mother, Lois, still comes to the door to greet guests as they arrive. General manager Kelli has become a familiar face whom regulars know by name. Together, they form the backbone of the club. Their personal touch transforms guests from customers into extended family, establishing relationships that span years.

For musician and owner, David Masteller, inheriting The Jazz Corner introduced an unexpected meaning. He handles accounting, performs handyman duties, hosts when needed, and frequently serves as the sound engineer. He appreciates being the problem solver who makes everything work smoothly. As he puts it, "You take care of your staff. That takes care of the customers."

The Jazz Corner "started really, really humble beginnings. It was really, you know, everything on the line and no certainty in sight, just taking a huge risk. My dad just believed in it," David reflects. "I love being the 2.0 version of that thing, taking this with everyone to this next phase and this next level."

The Masteller family modeled their approach on the parties they hosted when David was growing up. They wanted to replicate that feeling of attending a carefully curated party in someone's beautiful home, emphasizing quality and experience. With a commitment to excellence, every plate is checked and rechecked, every drink is precisely mixed. Alongside their consistent service, the venue continues to invest in musicians who define its sound. From internationally acclaimed artists like Benny Benack III and Carmen Bradford to local favorites such as Deas Guyz and David’s own band, Folderol, the music offers something for both newcomers and jazz lovers alike.

Walking into The Jazz Corner, you know exactly what you're going to get, and you know it will be exceptional. As David explains, "It's not just dinner. It's an experience. There's more attached to that. There's the concert and event, and it just makes for a perfect evening."

Operational Evolution: The Breaking Point

Kelli sent David a text message that crystallized the crisis: "We can't do this. We can't keep up with this."

With their next show season approaching, the team was preparing to manage another surge of guests. Kelli, the general manager, and the reservation representative spent approximately 50 hours per week on the phone, a full-time job's worth of hours dedicated solely to taking reservations. While these conversations allowed staff to know customers personally, the time commitment had become crushing. Their reservation and seating assignment system relied on handwritten notes that were erased and rewritten. After guests arrived, staff would seat them, only to discover they didn't like their assigned seats, requiring time-consuming adjustments. Their communication gaps were widening and their operations stretched beyond their limits.

Despite the venue's exceptional guest experience, a critical problem threatened to undermine everything the Masteller family had built. The reservation and seating assignment system had become unsustainable.

When the Moment Matters: TurnTable’s Timely Arrival

When the right support arrives at the right time, legacies don’t just survive. They grow. By a random act of fate, TurnTable called the Jazz Corner at the perfect moment. Kelli picked up the phone, and soon after, TurnTable owner Doc Watkins booked a flight to visit them in person and hear their story. As a jazz club owner himself, he understood their challenges immediately. What followed was a partnership that benefited everyone. The Jazz Corner became one of the first clubs to join TurnTable, offering invaluable feedback while receiving the support they needed in return.

David doesn't mince words about the impact: "It completely changed our lives, our business landscape, and how we do things." He describes TurnTable as "that needed last puzzle piece that we were missing in our club culture."

Conclusion: The 2.0 Version of a Dream

The transformation began with reclaiming time. They would no longer be tethered to the phone for hours a week. Time would now be redirected toward focusing on the hospitality that makes The Jazz Corner special.

From the guest perspective, the change was equally dramatic. Customers now pick their own seats, eliminating one of the most common sources of dissatisfaction. They can see the venue layout, understand the sightlines, and make informed decisions about where they want to sit. As David explains: "It's a lot more efficient for them too. It's quicker than having to call, wait for a callback, leave a message. You can just get on any night, and hey, let's go to dinner one night, and they can pick the seat, they can pick the time, they can pick the table."

With TurnTable, The Jazz Corner has been able to honor its 26-year legacy while meeting modern expectations. Preserving the family warmth and personal touch while operating with contemporary efficiency and eliminating operational chaos.

Born from the vision of Bob Masteller and carried forward by his family, who have made it much more than just a club, The Jazz Corner is a true pillar of Hilton Head. Centered on constant improvement of the guest experience, every element works in harmony to create something greater than the sum of its parts. When you create the conditions for perfection in every detail, from the experience to the reservations, you create space for the spontaneous artistry. This artistry serves as a reminder of why live music matters and why jazz clubs like The Jazz Corner are worth protecting, celebrating, and nurturing.