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| Seabreeze Jazz Festival WSBZ Radio presents the 2008 Seabreeze Jazz Festival coming April 16-20th to the Gulf Place Outdoor Amphitheater just east of Destin, Fl. Named by JazzIZ Magazine as one of the “Top 10 Jazz Festivals in the USA," this year's event is a 10th Anniversary Celebration including performances from some of the top names in contemporary jazz. Artists scheduled to perform include Dave Koz, Rick Braun, Brian Culbertson, Richard Elliot, Norman Brown, Waymon Tisdale, Euge Groove, Joyce Cooling, Jeff Kashiwa, Four 80 East, Kim Waters, Paul Taylor, Alex Bugnon, Chante Moore, Nick Collione, Steve Cole, The Groove Boutique featuring Rafe Gomez, Shilts from Down To The Bone, Nayee Moses, Matt Marchek, Bonafide featuring Slim Man, Jones and Company, and others. Additional local and regional talent will also be featured as part of this year's star-studded lineup. The highlight of the 2008 event marks the first Gulf Coast performance of saxophonist Dave Koz. In a career spanning nearly two decades, Dave Koz has established himself as a platinum-selling artist with four Grammy nominations. The list of artists who Koz has played with bears testament to his talent and includes such musical luminaries as Burt Bacharach, Ray Charles, Natalie Cole, Celine Dion, Rod Stewart, U2, and Michael McDonald. One new exciting feature of this year's festival is a FREE Thursday Evening All-Star Jam Show to celebrate the event's 10th Anniversary. Hosted by smooth jazz guitarist Nick Colionne, the evening will feature montage of national and local jazz talent in a first-ever All-Star Jam Show"--WSBZ Radio's way of showing appreciation for 10 years of community support. Special smooth jazz guests will join on the stage for a “once-in-a-lifetime jazz jam like no other! “It's our way of showing 'thanks" to the Emerald Coast for supporting us and smooth jazz," says Mark Carter, President and General Manager of WSBZ 106.3-The Seabreeze. “The All-Star Jam show is going to be a cool and exiting addition to commemorate 10 years of great performances, and we are so happy to offer it free of charge to the local community!" Other events this year include a Smooth Jazz Dinner Cruise aboard the entertainment yacht The Solaris at Baytowne Wharf, The Seabreeze Scramble--a Smooth Jazz Golf Tournament at the Santa Rosa Golf Club, and a cool “Chill Jazz" After Party overlooking the Gulf of Mexico. The five-day long jazz event concludes with jazz band clinics for high school band students in Okaloosa and Walton Counties. The Seabreeze Jazz Festival itself has become a phenomenon. Beginning in 1999 at Seaside with just a handful of participants, the event now has grown to attract over 5000 jazz attendees per day from all over the United States, Canada, Europe, and South America. Many come just for the music, while others enjoy the beautiful beaches, upscale shopping, and fine dining the Beaches of South Walton area has to offer. Positioned just east of Destin, Fl in the chic Scenic Highway 30-A area, the Seabreeze Jazz Festival has been recognized as one of the top jazz festivals in the country, as well as “Best Event" and “Best Place To Be Seen" by the readers of Emerald Coast Magazine. “We never believed people would travel thousands of miles to attend our event," stated Mark Carter of Seabreeze Radio. “What has become so amazing is the success of our event is really due to the nature of the 'Smooth Jazz Lifestyle'-- where fine art, travel, and smooth jazz have become a passion for the upscale 30 to 54 year old demographic." The economic impact of the Seabreeze Jazz Festival was made evident with a recent study by the HAAS Center at the University of West Florida. With visitors traveling from all over the USA and ready to spend substantial dollars for lodging, fine dining, clothing, and even luxury automobiles--the Seabreeze Jazz Festival was noted as one of the Emerald Coast's most lucrative events in realtion to the customer it appeals to. write your comments about the article :: © 2008 Jazz News :: home page |