Jazz guitar pioneer, Larry Coryell, and Kevin Mahogany, a masterful jazz vocalist, are set to headline the 2015 Amelia Island Jazz Festival, it was announced this week by AIJF Artistic Director Les DeMerle. A hugely influential guitar player, Coryell is a major figure in the jazz fusion movement of the 1970s and continues to turn out highly regarded recordings. He will appear on Friday, October 9, at the Omni Resorts Amelia Island Plantation. Veteran recording artist Kevin Mahogany, who will perform on Saturday, October 10 at the Omni, is a wide-ranging, spectacular singer who refines the jazz vocal legacies of Lambert, Hendricks & Ross, Eddie Jefferson and Al Jarreau into the myriad, interwoven dimensions of music – from gutbucket, the Great American Songbook, and gospel, to Charles Mingus to Motown.
Now in its 12th year, the AIJF will take place at various locations in Fernandina Beach, FL from October 4-11, and will kick off with its annual free concert in Amelia Park on Sunday, October 4, with U.S. Navy Band Southeast TGIF. A new show, Jump Jive & Wail, a tribute to classic dance oriented swing music featuring the Dynamic Les DeMerle Little Big Band and gifted vocalist Bonnie Eisele, has been added to this year’s slate of events for Wednesday, October 7, at Sandy Bottoms. Latin Jazz Night will take place in its traditional Thursday night slot, October 8, and will showcase the sizzling hot, award winning, and internationally famous Trio Caliente with their inimitable blend of Flamenco, Pop, and Brazilian Jazz, also at Sandy Bottoms. Additionally, the always entertaining and fun late night Jazz Jams, featuring the AIJF’s 2015 musicians, will follow the headliner sets on October 9 and 10 in the Omni’s Verandah Restaurant at Racquet Park. The festival is scheduled to end on a swinging note Sunday, October 11, with a Dixie to Swing Jazz Brunch, featuring DeMerle’s Jazztet plus Eisele with Former Ray Charles Saxophonist, Al Waters-Clarinet, Sax and Flute, at David’s Restaurant.
In addition to online, tickets may be purchased at the UPS Store, 1417 Sadler Road, in the Island Shopping Center, or at the AIFBY Chamber Of Commerce, Gateway to Amelia, A1A and Amelia Parkway. 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.
2015 AMELIA ISLAND JAZZ FESTIVAL SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Sunday, October 4
JAZZ IN THE PARK
Amelia Park. 2:00 - 4:00 pm
Free concert with the U.S. Navy Band Southeast, TGIF
Wednesday, October 7
JUMP, JIVE & WAIL
Swingin' Dance and Show
Featuring The Dynamic Les DeMerle 8-piece Little Big Band with vocalist Bonnie Eisele
Sandy Bottoms, 7:00 - 10:00 pm
Thursday, October 8
LATIN JAZZ CONCERT AND DANCE
Featuring Trio Caliente, AIJF Debut
Washington D.C. award winning Latin Band Plus Special Guests
Sandy Bottoms, 7:00 - 10:00 pm
Friday, October 9
LARRY CORYELL, JAZZ GUITAR LEGEND IN CONCERT
Plus the Amelia Island Jazz Festival All Stars
Two Shows, 7 pm and 9 pm
Omni Resorts Hotel and Resorts,
Includes admission to Late Night Jam Session
Saturday, October 10
KEVIN MAHOGANY, JAZZ VOCALIST EXTRAORDINAIRE IN CONCERT
Plus the Amelia Island Jazz Festival All Stars
Two Shows, 7 pm and 9 pm
Omni Hotel and Resorts
Includes admission to Late Night Jam Session
Sunday, October 11
NEW ORLEANS STYLE MARDI GRAS JAZZ BRUNCH.
Featuring the Les DeMerle Jazztet with Former Ray Charles Saxophonist, Al Waters-Clarinet, Sax and Flute; Mike Levine-Piano; Dennis Marks-Bass; Les DeMerle-Drums and Vocals; and Bonnie Eisele-featured vocals.
First Seating: 11:00 AM - 12:30 pm
Second Seating: 1:00 - 2:30 pm
David’s Restaurant
