The 2008 Les DeMerle Amelia Island Jazz Festival features an outstanding lineup of performers who will deliver swinging music to this normally quiet seaside village October 5-12. World-renowned tenor saxophonist and Swing Bros. recording artist Harry Allen will highlight the performances during the weeklong festival, where fans will enjoy a kaleidoscope of styles ranging from traditional New Orleans jazz and big band swing to Latin and blues. Additional acts include the popular Bill Allred Classic Jazz Band, Brazilian sounds from Jeff Rupert & Dirty Martini with vocalist Michelle Amato, the 19-piece U.S. Navy Big Band Southeast, and The Dynamic Les DeMerle Band, featuring Bonnie Eisele.

A not-for-profit 501-C3 corporation, the 2008 festival will also distribute proceeds towards a scholarship program to fund college educations for aspiring jazz musicians. And as it has done in previous years, the event will schedule educational programs and workshops at area schools and senior centers throughout the week.

Bill Allred Classic Jazz Band
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 "The festival concept," said Creative Director Les DeMerle, "is to bring great jazz talent to Amelia Island, and this year we are excited about establishing our scholarship program, which will complement the educational forums already in place." Increasingly, the festival has attracted tourists to this quiet north Florida beach town.

U.S. Navy Big Band Southeast
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"We're very excited about the lineup for this year's Jazz Festival," said Gil Langley, Managing Director of the Amelia Island Tourist Development Council. "The festival is a major event for the island. Each year it gets better, offering both educational opportunities for young people and unsurpassed entertainment for jazz fans."

The festival kicks off with a free concert by the University of North Florida Jazz Ensemble on Sunday, October 5, at the Amelia Park Bandstand.

For more information, including a complete performance schedule and ticket information, please contact the Festival Hotline at (904) 504-4772 or go to www.ameliaislandjazzfestival.com.