by rick grant rickgrant01@comcast.net
WHAT: Amelia Island Jazz Festival
WHERE: St. Peter’s Episcopal Church Courtyard
WHEN: October 7th – 14th
Master drummer Les DeMerle and his lovely wife, Bonnie Eisele, are again jazzing up Amelia Island with a swinging seven days of jazz events around town, showcasing the main event on Saturday, October 13th at the St. Peter’s Episcopal Church Courtyard. The event will bring authentic old school jazz to the resort island with the sounds of Dixieland, bebop, big band, Latin, and contemporary jazz.
The music will be performed by a number of jazz greats, including the Bill Allred Classic Jazz Band, Frank Tiberi and the Woody Herman Sax Section, tenor saxophonist Billy Ross, vocalist /trumpeter Bob Pickwood, and the Dynamic Les DeMerle Bands, including the super Big Band with 17 pieces.
To get the skinny on this big huha, I called Les at his home on Amelia Island.
EU: How did you get started with this production?
Les: Well, I always wanted to do it, but in 2001…my wife and I [Bonnie Eisele] produced the first annual Les DeMerle Amelia Island Jazz Festival. We did it again in 2002. After that we were on the road for 2003, 2004, and 2005. Then in 2006, we produced another festival. And now it’s 2007 and we have pulled it off again with a terrific lineup of top jazz artists. This year we’ve got our Section 501(c)(3) not for profit, tax-exempt status.
EU: You must get a lot of satisfaction doing this festival while continuing your busy playing schedule. How do you have the energy to keep this event going?
Les: Although it’s a lot of work, it pays off–not financially, but in many other ways. We also follow through with educational programs in the schools. It boils down to Bonnie and I getting artistic and spiritual satisfaction from producing the show in which we participate. It’s a chance for us to play with the greats of jazz, many of whom are our friends. This year we are combining the Woody Herman Sax Section with some other top players. We will have to rehearse the charts. But for the out of town players, it’s a gig at a well-known resort to jam with their friends in a relaxed atmosphere.
EU: I notice from the schedule that you will be playing at various locations around town. This will create diversity to the event. Was that your intention?
Les: Absolutely, for the kickoff event on October 7, the performance will be held at the Amelia Park Bandstand…featuring the UNF Jazz Ensemble with Dr. Marc Dickman, Director. This is sponsored by Sonny’s Real Pit Bar-B-Q. Then there will be an event at The Harbor Front Hampton Inn & Suites and jazz workshops.
On Friday, Oct. 12, we are back at the St. Peter’s Episcopal Church Courtyard with my band The Dynamic Les DeMerle 8-Piece Band featuring vocalist Bonnie Eisele, with special guests Mike Levine on piano and Billy Ross on tenor sax in a tribute to Stan Getz. Alsot Bill Allred Classic Jazz Band and the Count Basie Tribute: Big Band Grand Jam combining the Allred and DeMerle bands. Across the street at 10:30 pm we’ll have a Late Night Jam Session at the Angel’s Porch Café, 708 Centre Street. All this happens before the main event on Saturday back at St. Peter’s Courtyard.
EU: One more thing: is the entire festival free? And how did you finance the festival?
Les: No! There are some free events at the park and other paid events at the church courtyard. We financed the festival by getting sponsors, ticket sales from the paid events and selling ads in the program. We rely heavily on sponsors and ticket sales.
Of course, Les DeMerle is a major dude on drums. Les has toured with the Manhattan Transfer and appeared with such music legends as Lou Rawls, Sammy Davis Jr., Frank Sinatra, Mel Torme and Joe Williams. Les’ own band, in its various configurations, is a world-class outfit. The Dynamic Les DeMerle Band featuring Bonnie Eisele is booked in many different venues, from clubs to corporate events to big jazz festivals. Les and Bonnie are permanent residents of Amelia Island.
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