Les DeMerle Drums

About The Amelia Island Jazz Festival

Our Story

The Amelia Island Jazz FestivalΒ provides a rich, diverse cultural offering to the Amelia Island area by exposing thousands of people of all ages and backgrounds to the sounds, excitement and vitality of great jazz.

The Festival presents world-class jazz in many styles, including swing, bebop, Dixieland, big band, Latin, and contemporary. During the annual week-long festival, held every October since 2003, music is performed by jazz greats as well as fresh, up-and-coming young talent. Performances are staged in several venues around Amelia Island including the Courtyard | Springhill Suites Amelia Island by Marriott, Sadler Ranch, The Decantery, Mocama Beer Company and the Amelia Rec Center. The goal of the Amelia Island Jazz Festival is to help preserve the American art form Jazz by increasing the exposure and awareness of the music genre to the general public.

Founded in 2001, the Amelia Island Jazz Festival is fairly young as far as music festivals go. But this Festival has come a long way and is becoming a world- renowned musical event. In fact, the Amelia Island Jazz Festival seems to be following the footsteps of such festivals as the Monterey and Newport Jazz Festivals.

Like other renowned jazz festivals, the Amelia Island Jazz Festival benefits from the vision and energy of a veteran jazz professional who instantly gives the Festival a rich heritage:

Les DeMerle, Artistic Director. Under his leadership the Amelia Island Jazz Festival has delivered jazz greats to enthusiastic audiences on Amelia Island:

John Pizzarelli TrioΒ  Β β€’Β  Β Longineu ParsonsΒ Β  β€’Β  Β Steve March-TormΓ© Β  Β β€’Β  Β Delfeayo MarsalisΒ Β  β€’Β  Jamil SharifΒ Β  β€’Β  Trio CalienteΒ  β€’Β  Requinte Trio with Janis SiegelΒ  β€’Β  Henry Johnson β€’Β  Nestor TorresΒ  β€’ Β  Houston PersonΒ  β€’ Β Bria SkonbergΒ  β€’ Kevin MahoganyΒ  Β β€’ Β Larry CoryellΒ  Β β€’Β  Β Randy BreckerΒ  Β β€’ Β Tony MonacoΒ  Β β€’ Β Mindi Abair Β  β€’ Β  Royal Crown RevueΒ Β  β€’ Β Β Spyro GyraΒ Β  β€’ Β Β David BenoitΒ Β  β€’ Β Β Buckwheat ZydecoΒ Β  β€’ Β Β Nicole HenryΒ Β  β€’ Β Β Doug CameronΒ Β  β€’ Β Β Ramsey LewisΒ Β  β€’ Β Β David SanbornΒ Β  β€’ Β Β Christian Tamburr Β Β  β€’ Β Β Harry Allen Β Β  β€’ Β Β Marcus PrintupΒ Β  β€’ Β Β Bill Allred Classic Jazz BandΒ Β  β€’ Β Β Richie ColeΒ Β  β€’Β  Β  Frank TiberiΒ Β  β€’ Β Β Barry GreeneΒ Β  β€’ Β Β Woody Herman Sax SectionΒ Β  β€’ Β Β Bobby Pickwood

The Mission of the Festival

As a not for profit 501(c)(3) corporation, the Les DeMerle Amelia Island Jazz Festival distributes proceeds toward a scholarship program to fund college educations for aspiring jazz musicians and works to provide a rich, diverse jazz offering to the Amelia Island area.

It is doing this byΒ offering educational programs and jazz workshops in area schools and senior centers and promote Amelia Island as a tourist destination by drawing jazz enthusiasts from around the nation and the world.

Past AIJF Performers

... this is what they had to say:
Pizzarelli Trio performing at the Amelia Island Jazz Festival

"Finally we made it to Amelia Island. Great audience, great fun performing at the Amelia Island Jazz Festival. It was worth the wait since we were postponed for the last two year."

John Pizzarelli 2022 AIJF Headliner

Steve March-Torme at the 2019 AIJF

"This is the second time at the Amelia Island Jazz Festival and it gets better every time. Love the vibe!"

Steve March-TormΓ© 2021 AIJF Headliner

Longineu Parsons at the 2020 AIJF

2020 was a challenging year, however, Les managed for the Festival to go virtual. Had an amazing time performing. And it was great to be back at the 2022 Festival."

Longineu Parsons 2020 & 2022 AIJF Headliner

Delfayo Marsalis at the 2019 AIJF

"Indeed, the Spirit of New Orleans is right here on Amelia Island! What a great experience! Thank you for inviting me."

Delfeayo Marsalis 2019 AIJF Headliner

Jamil Sharif at the 2019 AIJF

"What a magical place!Β  Amazing energy in the room.Β  Love it!"

Jamil Sharif 2019 AIJF Headliner

Janis Siegel at the 2018 AIJF

"It was an honor to finally perform at the Amelia Island Jazz Festival. What a magical night it was!"

Janis Siegel 2018 AIJF Headliner

Henry Johnson at the 2018 AIJF

"I was really looking forward to doing the Amelia Island Jazz Festival with Les DeMerle and his trio.Β  It was amazing..."

Henry Johnson 2018 AIJF Headliner

Nestor Torres at the 2017 AIJF

"I loved to perform in front of this amazing audience.Β Β What a perfect place to have a Jazz Festival."

NΓ©stor Torres 2017 AIJF Headliner

Roseanna Vitro at the 2017 AIJF

"... I admire you both (Les & Bonnie) for your beautiful spirits, hard work, ethics in business and your Big Talent! Les, you could power the Empire State building, such a great musician. Bonnie you were amazing as well. I'll never forget my concert with you guys and such a great audience.

Roseanna Vitro 2017 AIJF Headliner

Houston Person at the 2016 AIJF

"The Amelia Island Jazz FestivalΒ features outstanding musicians. Β It was a great honor to be invited. Keep up the great work!"

Houston Person 2016 AIJF Headliner

Bria Skonberg at the 2016 AIJF

"Wow... Β the Amelia Island Jazz Festival sure knows how to put on a fantastic show and party. Β I had so much fun..."

Bria Skonberg 2016 AIJF Headliners

Tony Monaco at the 2014 AIJF

"... it was great being here. Β Thanks for all the kindness and professionalism. Β Hope to play Amelia Jazz again!..."

Tony Monaco 2014 AIJF Headliner

Daniel Glass with the Royal Crown Revue 2013

"We, The Royal Crown Revue,Β had great timeΒ performing at this Festival. Β What an amazing audience you are! We hope to be back!"

Daniel Glass 2013 AIJF Headliner

Mindi Abair 2013 AIJF Headliner

"This Festival rocks! Β You've got something really good going here. Β I hope to be back soon...."

Mindi Abair 2013 AIJF Headliner

Spyro Gyra - Bandleader Jay Beckenstein

"...the Amelia Island Jazz Festival rocks. We had an amazing time here...."

Spyra Gyra Bandleader - Jay Beckenstein 2012 AIJF Headliner

David Benoit 2012 AIJF Headliner

"... what a great audience and an amazing place to have a Festival..."

David Benoit 2012 AIJF Headliner

Nicole Henry and Doug Cameron 2011 AIJF Headliners

"... so much love. This is a fabulous festival and a great place to hang out..." " Definitely... I look forward to coming back soon!"

Nicole Henry and Doug Cameron 2011 AIJF Headliners

Buckwheat Zydeco at the 2011 AIJF

"We had a ball! This Festival was so much fun.... Great place and great people!"

Buckwheat Zydeco 2011 AIJF Headliner

Ramsey Lewis at the 2010 AIJF

"This Festival is the 'real deal' because the focus is on true Jazz music. Β I look forward to be back..."

Ramsey Lewis 2010 AIJF Headliner

Harry Allen at the 2009 AIJF

"A great swingin' festival in a beautiful setting. I had a ball and hope to be back soon."

Harry Allen 2009 AIJF Headliner

David Sandborn at the 2009 AIJF

"The Amelia Island Jazz Festival is authentic, exciting and charming. I love the island and I look forward to coming back soon."

David Sandborn 2009 AIJF Headliner

Marcus Printup at the 2006 AIJF

"The vibe is right and the true spiritΒ of jazz is alive and swingin'. The Amelia Island Jazz Festival is the best!"

Marcus Printup 2006 AIJF Headliner

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Amelia Island Jazz Festival

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A not for profit 501c3 corporation, the Les DeMerle Amelia Island Jazz Festival distributes proceeds

1 week ago

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Amelia Island Jazz Festival Valentine’s Big Band Bash Swings Hard! The AIJF Valentine’s Big Band Bash was a great success on all counts-The Dynamic Les DeMerle 15-piece Orchestra featuring Bonnie Eisele plus exciting soloists Bill Prince-Alto/Sax and Clarinnet, Paul Tafoya Trumpet, Clarence Hines -Trombone, Rob Chapman-Tenor Sax and Doug Matthews-Piano, hit the stage swingin’ and the dance floor was packed all night long.Toward the end of the first set, Les introduced 2024 AIJF Scholarship winner, 18-year-old Bassist/Vocalist, Ayanna Nelson. Ayanna played a Blues on Bass and then sang Diane Shure’s hip arrangment of β€œCome Rain Or Come Shine” which earned Ayanna a standing ovation from the packed house.During the band’s break, Park West Gallery auctioneer, Molly Townsend, auctioned 15 pieces of world-class Art of which all of the proceeeds benefit the AIJF Scholarship Fund.Dancing continued with the classic Big Band Hits of Miller, Basie, Ellington and a special tribute to Harry James. Then, Les was excited to announce this year’s AIJF Headliners:Award-Winning Saxophonist/Vocalist, Grace Kelly, on Friday Oct. 4 and Legendary New Orleans Pianist /Vocalist, Marcia Ball on Saturday Oct. 5. Other crowd-pleasing artists to perform at the 2024 Amelia Island Jazz Festival (9/29-10/6) are Tony Cruz and The Latin Jazz Legends, The Dynamic Les DeMerle Little Big Band featuring Bonnie Eisele, The Spare Rib Six Dixieland Band and the UNF Jazz Ensemble 2 directed by Dennis Marks.Don’t miss a beat! Stay tuned to all the action, tickets and info at ameliaislandjazzfestival.com ... See MoreSee Less
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This Valentine's Celebration will be happenin' on Saturday!Surprise your Valentine with an amazing night of Music, Dancing and Dining for a great cause! Tickets are still available for the Amelia Island Jazz Festival Valentine's Big Band Bash Dinner-Dance Gala this Saturday, 2/10, at the Courtyard-Springhill Suites by Marriott, Amelia Island.For tickets and details visit ameliaislandjazzfestival.comEnjoy a delicious dinner and dance the night away to the Big Band Classics, Romanic Ballads, Latin, R&B and more while supporting the Amelia Island Jazz Festival Scholarships that are awarded annually to deserving High School seniors.Don't Miss A Beat! Purchase now! ... See MoreSee Less
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⏰ Time is running out! Act now to make this weekend unforgettable! ⏰Extend the magic of the Amelia Island Jazz Festival by joining us for our Recipe for Love Jazz Brunch, just 7 days away! πŸ₯‚ But wait, there's more!After dancing the night away at our Big Band Bash, keep the romance alive at Courtyard by Marriott Amelia Island! Reserve your hotel stay now for special rates and make the most of this enchanting weekend. Indulge in the Jazz Brunch featuring:🎢 The Dynamic Les DeMerle Quintet🎀 Featuring Bonnie Eisele on vocals and Dr. Bill Prince on multi-instruments✨ Plus special guest appearances that will leave you mesmerized!Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity to immerse yourself in a weekend of love and music. Visit www.ameliaislandjazzfestival.com to grab your tickets and learn more about the special hotel rates. Time is of the essence – make your reservations today! #ameliaislandjazzfestival #recipeforlove #BookNow πŸŽΌπŸ’• ... See MoreSee Less
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