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:"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
"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
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
"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
"What a magical place!Β Amazing energy in the room.Β Love it!"
Jamil Sharif 2019 AIJF Headliner
"It was an honor to finally perform at the Amelia Island Jazz Festival. What a magical night it was!"
Janis Siegel 2018 AIJF Headliner
"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
"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
"... 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
"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
"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
"... 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
"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
"This Festival rocks! Β You've got something really good going here. Β I hope to be back soon...."
Mindi Abair 2013 AIJF Headliner
"...the Amelia Island Jazz Festival rocks. We had an amazing time here...."
Spyra Gyra Bandleader - Jay Beckenstein 2012 AIJF Headliner
"... what a great audience and an amazing place to have a Festival..."
David Benoit 2012 AIJF Headliner
"... 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
"We had a ball! This Festival was so much fun.... Great place and great people!"
Buckwheat Zydeco 2011 AIJF Headliner
"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
"A great swingin' festival in a beautiful setting. I had a ball and hope to be back soon."
Harry Allen 2009 AIJF Headliner
"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
"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