Amelia Island Jazz Festival Valentineβs Big Band Bash Swings Hard! The AIJF Valentineβs 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 swinginβ 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 Shureβs hip arrangment of βCome Rain Or Come Shineβ which earned Ayanna a standing ovation from the packed house.During the bandβs 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 yearβs 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.Donβt miss a beat! Stay tuned to all the action, tickets and info at ameliaislandjazzfestival.com... See MoreSee Less
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
β° Time is running out! Act now to make this weekend unforgettable! β°Extend the magic of the Amelia Island Jazz Festival by joining us for our Recipe for Love Jazz Brunch, just 7 days away! π₯ 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:πΆ The Dynamic Les DeMerle Quintetπ€ Featuring Bonnie Eisele on vocals and Dr. Bill Prince on multi-instrumentsβ¨ 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 β make your reservations today! #ameliaislandjazzfestival#recipeforlove#BookNow πΌπ ... See MoreSee Less