Jazz on the Island

Words by Shelton Hull 

Les DeMerle talks fast, but he moves even faster. At 77, he shows no signs of slowing down as he enters his 21st year running the Amelia Island Jazz Festival, which runs from Sept. 29 through Oct. 6. A child prodigy and industry lifer, DeMerle’s career dates back 66 years to when he was a wee lad breaking in with Lionel Hampton. At 24, he began a decade-long run as the drummer for Harry James, replacing a guy called Buddy Rich, who you may have heard of. A brief list of legends he’s worked with includes both Brecker brothers, Alan Dawson, Jimmy Dorsey, Joe Farrell, Frank Foster, Lee Konitz, Gene Krupa, Don Menza and Lew Tabackin, as well as singers like Tony Bennett, Sammy Davis Jr., Eddie Jefferson, Wayne Newton, Mel Torme, Sarah Vaughan and one Francis Albert Sinatra.

By the 1980s, DeMerle was running his own jazz club in L.A., and that somehow led him directly to Florida with his wife, singer Bonnie Eisle. AIJF evolved out of an extended residency at the Ritz-Carlton Amelia Island, where DeMerle ran the house band from 1991 to 2001. Once the planning began, the first person he called was Wynton Marsalis, whose family has a longstanding relationship with the First Coast. “The backbone of the festival is the musicians,” said DeMerle.

Among the headliners this year are saxophonist Grace Kelly, who performs on Friday night, Oct. 4. Described by the late David Sanborn as “one of the most creative alto players today,” she’s also a member of Fearless Flyers, which is part of the mighty Vulfpeck crew, and she even played the Jacksonville Jazz Festival earlier this year. Saturday night will see the great Marcia Ball, a staple of the New Orleans scene. But they comprise just a part of the festivities, which stretch out across an entire week. 

The festival begins with a “community kick-off concert” at the Fernandina Beach Rec Center on Sept. 29, followed by an invite-only Sponsor Party at the Courtyard Amelia Island/Springhill Suites by Marriott on the 30th. That space also hosts Swing Night on Oct. 2, the Latin Jazz Concert on Oct. 3 and the Swing Jazz Brunch on Sunday morning, Oct. 6, which will close out the festivities, in addition to both headliners. 

But wait, there’s more! On Oct. 1, The Decantery is hosting a wine tasting with two sets by the “jazztet” of DeMerle and Eisle, backed by Doug Matthews, Paul Tafoya and Ajax McDonnell. Now, it wouldn’t be jazz without a jam session, and AIJF has two of them at Mocama Beer Company in Fernandina Beach that Friday and Saturday night.

It’s a tourism board’s dream, which is why the Tourism Development Council is one of the main sponsors. Jack Melvin and Keyboard Connection supply the pianos for most major event in the area, and they’ve been on board since day one. The Jacksonville Aviation Authority provides free airport advertising all month, reaching potentially hundreds of thousands of eyes. Park West Gallery is based in Southfield, Michigan, and they specialize in curating art spaces for cruise ships. After the owners caught DeMerle on one of those ships, they began picking artists to create custom art for AIJF with proceeds going to the scholarship fund.

Of course, the boss is gonna get himself a piece of the action, too. DeMerle and Eisle are hosting the sponsor party on the 30th. (Daddy eats first, as they say.) Sickos, take note of the band they’ve got opening for Marcia Ball: Don Zentz and Matt Vance on saxophones, Dennis Marks on bass and Longineu Parsons (a former “Folio” cover boy) on trumpet. Parsons will also be on hand for the brunch session with DeMerle and Eisle, along with the great Bill Prince on clarinet, Cameron Strine on trombone, Dennis Marks on bass and Mike Levine on piano.

AIJF is a non-profit organization that raises money to help send aspiring young jazz musicians to college. They’ve raised over six figures and given scholarships to 15 artists, some of whom will be on hand for this year’s festival. Great music, by great people, and it’s for a great cause. If you are unfamiliar with the area, the Amelia Island Jazz Festival offers an ideal opportunity to check out one of our fastest-growing communities — from every possible angle.