A Message From Les DeMerle
Artistic Director, Amelia Island Jazz Festival

The Amelia Island Jazz Festival concerts explode with exciting, swinging jazz played with passion, expertise and soul by many of today’s leading jazz artists. Each year’s talent roster is the best line-up we can assemble. Headliners of the festival have included Ramsey Lewis, David Sanborn, Christian Tamburr, Harry Allen, Marcus Printup, Richie Cole, Frank Tiberi and the Woody Herman Sax Section, the Bill Allred Classic Jazz Band, the 19-piece US Navy Big Band Southeast, and the Dynamic Les DeMerle Band featuring vocalist Bonnie Eisele.

The 2011 Festival was one of our best and we were proud to welcome several more jazz greats including Grammy Award-winning talent, Buckwheat Zydeco plus Nicole Henry and Doug Cameron and many more.

So don’t miss a beat! Stay tuned the 2012 Headliners will be anounced soon!

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Les DeMerle launched his career as drummer for jazz vibraphone great, Lionel Hampton. He then toured for 12 years with jazz trumpet master, Harry James, recording three albums with him including the Grammy-winning King James Version. Les followed this achievement with the formation of his own jazz-rock/fusion band, Transfusion, which produced five award-winning recordings. He has also toured with Manhattan Transfer, and appeared with such musical greats as Lou Rawls, Sammy Davis, Jr., Frank Sinatra, Mel Tormé, and Joe Williams. A resident of Amelia Island since 1991, Les continues to perform at concerts and festivals with his trio, quartet, and the Dynamic Les DeMerle Big Band Orchestra featuring Bonnie Eisele, which has recorded eleven CDs.