Press Release
Amelia Island Jazz Festival
Submitted by Michael Rothschild
Media Chair
October 3, 2017 2:00 p.m.
Set for a full week of jazz from October 8 – 15, The Amelia Island Jazz Festival will kick off its 14th annual edition this Sunday afternoon at 2:00 PM with a free concert in Amelia Park featuring the 21-piece University of North Florida Jazz Ensemble II, directed by Dennis Marks, to be followed by a full slate of concerts, dances shows, and jam sessions. “We’re going to start off the week swinging and have some percussion surprises planned for Amelia Park that should get everyone in the groove, up and dancing,” said the festival’s Artistic Director Les DeMerle. Dazzling singer Roseanna Vitro and multiple Grammy nominee Nestor Torres, a highly regarded flautist known for his Latin stylings, will headline the popular event on Friday, October 13 and Saturday, October 14 respectively, at the Fernandina Beach Golf Club beginning at 7:00 PM. Both headliners will be coming from New York City and making their NE Florida debuts.
Having toured the world as an esteemed performer, clinician, recording artist, vocal instructor and ambassador, Roseanna Vitro has proven herself a reigning member of the jazz community. She is a soulful communicator, who showcases a thirst for swinging hard while possessing an ear for melodic invention. Ms. Vitro’s signature energy and improvisational skills can be heard on a host of recordings for Telarc and Half Note Records. For her Friday evening show, she’ll pay tribute to the very influential Ella Fitzgerald. “I am looking forward to playing the Amelia Island Jazz Festival and have enjoyed working with Les on the concept of paying tribute to Ella, the first lady of song, in honor of her 100th birthday. So many musician friends who have played the festival have told me how wonderful the vibe, energy and audiences are,” she added, “plus they all loved the beauty of the island. I hope to make many new friends.” Opening for Vitro will be “Art Of The Trio,” with DeMerle on drums, Mike Levine, piano, and Dennis Marks, bass.
Standing on the shoulders of flute giants from worlds as diverse as James Galway in Classical Music; Richard Egues’ Cuban Charanga style; rocker Ian Anderson’s Jethro Tull; Herbie Mann and – most influential of all – Hubert Laws as pioneers of Jazz Flute, Latin Grammy Award winning Nestor Torres’ rhythmic and mellifluous flute sound remains apart in a class all by itself. His 14 recordings as a soloist for Polygram Records and Sony Latin Jazz garnered 4 Latin Grammy nominations, one Grammy nomination and one Latin Grammy Award; Additionally, Torres boasts impressive collaborations with a variety of genres and performers, including Gloria Estefan, Kenny Loggins, Dave Mathews, Herbie Hancock, Tito Puente, Michel Camilo, Paquito D’Rivera and Arturo Sandoval. Torres said, “I am very excited to present my Jazz Flute Traditions show to Amelia Island jazz fans. I will be saluting my heroes, like Herbie Mann and Hubert Laws, recreating some of their hits. Come early and stay late.” Opening for Torres will be the Les DeMerle Trio with DeMerle on drums, Mike Levine, piano, Dennis Marks, bass, and featuring special guests Bonnie Eisele, vocals and Sam Rodriguez, percussion.
Other highlights for the festival’s week include a new event, Wine Tasting and Jazz, Tuesday, October 10, at The Amelia Island Wine Company, to be hosted by DeMerle and featuring multi-instrumentalist Bill Prince and piano wizard Doug Matthews. “We’ll also have two dance oriented shows at The Sandbar and Kitchen: Wednesday’s (10/11) Jump Jive & Wail, a tribute to classic dance oriented swing music with my Little Big Band”, featuring Bonnie Eisele on vocals,” he said, and Thursday’s Latin Jazz Night (10/12) with the sizzling hot and internationally famous Trio Caliente and their inimitable blend of Flamenco, Pop, and Brazilian Jazz. Definitely bring your dancing shoes!” The always entertaining and fun late night Jazz Jams, will be hosted by saxophonist Kevin Jones and the Florida State University Jazz Ensemble and will follow the headliner sets on October 13 and 14 in “Dizzy’s Den” at Slider’s Beach Bar and Grill (upstairs). Admission to the jam sessions is free for anyone who has purchased a headliner show ticket for that evening. The festival is scheduled to end on a swinging note Sunday, October 15, with a Dixie to Swing Jazz Brunch at Horizons featuring The Spare Rib Six with trumpeter J.B. Scott, Bill Prince, clarinet, Dave Steinmeyer, trombone, Mike Levine, piano, bassist Dennis Marks , DeMerle, drums, and Bonnie Eisele, vocals, plus special guests.
In addition to online, tickets may be purchased at the UPS Store, 1417 Sadler Road, in the Island Shopping Center, or at the Amelia Island Convention & Visitors Bureau, 102 Centre Street. 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. For more information, please contact the Festival Hotline at (904) 504-4772. Or visit the website: www.ameliaislandjazzfestival.com
Email address: [email protected]
COMPLETE 2017 AMELIA ISLAND JAZZ FESTIVAL SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Sunday, October 8
JAZZ IN THE PARK
Amelia Park. 2:00 – 4:00 pm
Free concert with the 21 piece UNF Jazz Ensemble, directed by Dennis Marks.
BBQ available from Gilbert’s Underground Kitchen.
Monday, October 9
JAZZ FESTIVAL SPONSOR PARTY
Horizons Gourmet Restaurant
5472 First Coast Highway, 7:00 – 9:00 PM,
With Les DeMerle and Bonnie Eisele plus special guests.
By invitation only for Bronze Saxophone Sponsors and above.
Tuesday, October 10
WINE TASTING AND JAZZ
The Amelia Island Wine Company
4924 First Coast Highway.
Hosted by Les DeMerle with Bill Prince and Doug Matthews
5:00 – 7:00 PM
Wednesday, October 11
JUMP, JIVE & WAIL
Swingin’ Dance and Show
Featuring The Dynamic Les DeMerle 8-piece Little Big Band with vocalist Bonnie Eisele
The Sandbar and Kitchen
2910 Atlantic Avenue, 7:00 – 10:00 pm
7:00 – 10:00 PM
Thursday, October 12
LATIN JAZZ CONCERT AND DANCE
Featuring Trio Caliente,
Washington D.C. award winning Latin Band Plus Special Guests
The Sandbar and Kitchen
2910 Atlantic Avenue, 7:00 – 10:00 pm.
Friday, October 13
ROSEANNA VITRO – A TRIBUTE TO ELLA FITZGERALD
Plus Art Of The Trio with Les DeMerle, drums, Mike Levine, piano, and Dennis Marks, bass. Fernandina Beach Golf Club
2800 Bill Melton Road. 7:00 – 10:00 pm
A ticket also includes admission to Late Night Jam Session.
Saturday, October 14
NESTOR TORRES IN CONCERT
Plus Art Of The Trio with Les DeMerle, drums, Mike Levine, piano, and Dennis Marks, bass and special guests Bonnie Eisele , vocals, and Sam Rodriguez, percussion. Fernandina Beach Golf Club.
A ticket also includes admission to Late Night Jam Session
Friday/Saturday, October 13-14
LATE NIGHT JAM AT DIZZY’S DEN
10:30 PM ‘til…
Bebop, Blues and Beyond
With the FSU Jazz Ensemble with saxophonist Kevin Jones.
Sliders Beach Bar and Grill (upstairs)
1998 S. Fletcher Avenue.
Sunday, October 15
DIXIE TO SWING JAZZ BRUNCH.
The Spare Rib Six Dixieland Band with trumpeter J.B. Scott, Bill Prince, clarinet, Clarence Hines, trombone, Mike Levine, piano, bassist Dennis Marks, Les DeMerle, drums and Bonnie Eisele, vocals. First Seating: 11:00 AM – 12:30 pm
Second Seating: 1:00 – 2:30 pm
Horizons Gourmet Restaurant
5472 First Coast Highway.