Jazz Comes Early to Amelia Island at Festival Preview
By Krista Harris, The Brunswick News, Ga.
Jul. 25–If you area in search of some great jazz music, look no farther than Amelia Island.
The picturesque Florida beach town just across the St. Marys River from Cumberland Island hosts the Les DeMerle Amelia Island Jazz Festival each October.
This year’s festival is Oct. 5-12 and features a diverse group of jazz artists, including The Bill Allred Classic Jazz Band, Jeff Rupert with vocalist Michelle Amato, Harry Allen and the 19-piece U.S. Navy Big Band of the Southeast.
You don’t have to wait until October to hear some swinging jazz. A preview concert for the 2008 festival will presented from 7 to 9 p.m. Aug. 14 at the historic Palace Saloon in Fernandina Beach.
The feature group will be The Dynamic Les DeMerle Band with vocalist Bonnie Eisele, and very special guest multi-instrumentalist Dr. Bill Prince, professor emeritus of music at the University of North Florida.
“Jazz at The Palace is the kickoff event for the festival and takes place at the historic Palace Saloon in downtown Fernandina Beach,” said Michael Rothschild, publicity chairman. “Primarily this show helps fund the overall festival in October along with its jazz scholarship program.”
It is not only a night of great music, but the festival’s 2008 poster will be unveiled at the show. The poster was created by award-winning graphic artist Keith Gold, whose company has worked with Time Life Music, the Biltmore Estate and the Jacksonville Jazz Festival.
“We are honored that Mr. Gold agreed to design the 2008 poster,” said Les DeMerle, the festival’s creative artistic director. “His work is well known throughout the world, and he has garnered literally hundreds of awards and accolades throughout his accomplished career.”
As exciting as the unveiling will be, the Aug. 14 event is all about the music and funds raised to continue the music.
The Dynamic Les DeMerle Orchestra calls itself party power with panache, blending the melodious sounds of piano, bass, drums, saxophone, trumpet or guitar.
For special events, the band can grow or shrink in size depending on what the occasion calls for. At its maximum, it becomes a 17-piece orchestra.
They delight guests, says Rothschild, with a variety of music from Broadway show-stoppers to Motown to romantic ballads. It is sure to get you on your feet.
“The Palace is an intimate venue with wonderful acoustics, and it is an ideal place to see and hear music,” said Rothschild. “The Dynamic Les DeMerle Band plays a traditional and modern jazz that swings, and the group is certainly appealing to a wide range of music lovers.”
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