a brand new day

There was a... dare I say cool sea breeze when we boarded the dinner cruise kicking off the 2021 Seabreeze Jazz Festival. Peter White was completing his soundcheck while the sun was starting to set. If you were lucky enough to have a ticket you would have just boarded and sat down with a refreshing beverage awaiting cast off. Everyone was meeting other guests and saying hello to friends they haven’t seen since the last festival in 2019. The last few folks rush to get aboard before the captain departed the marina. Dinner is served, then dessert, the music starts, and it plays into the night. Eric Darius hosted the lunch cruise the following day and his energy has everyone dancing. Even the dolphins came to check out all the excitement plus a few passing powerboats enjoyed the music. Eric always brings his best and we are looking forward to his others performances this weekend! Earlier Thursday morning the smooth jazz lovers were already sitting in line at the main entrance to make sure they got their favorite spot at the festival. Sitting in their chairs drinking coffee and being social at a distance. The food vendors were busy prepping meals and art vendors inished up their inal

display touches. Aaron Bessant Park gates opened at 10:30 for 2020 wristband holders followed by 2021 wristband holders at noon. Being the irst Smooth Jazz Festival to be back

since Covid, 3P America provided the festival FDA Certiied and EPA approved services

to keep festival guests safe. Temperature checks were made, masks were required, and wristband veriications were made at the

entrances before admittance every day. The festival live music began at 3 pm with the emcee Becky Taylor welcoming the crowd and introducing the musicians. Her announcements included a heartfelt enthusiasm to be back on stage and some housekeeping details that had changed from years before. Mark and Renee Carter plus the folks that make the festival great was relieved it was inally happening. It truly is a brand new

day at the Seabreeze Jazz Festival.

... at the Seabreeze Jazz Festival.

With thousands of smooth jazz fans returning and new ones here for their irst

time, the ultimate smooth jazz vacation is again a reality on Panama City Beach. Memories are being made and the process of meeting soon-to-be new friends has begun. Everyone settles into their spots, greets their new neighbors, inds the sunscreen,

downloads the festival App., and starts going through the festival guide to ind out more

about who is playing and when. You could feel the excitement and see the smiles as

everyone enters the ield.

Returning saxophonist Michael J. Thomas from just down the street in Destin performed irst. He had the crowd on their feet dancing

with his Michael Jackson covers and others. Next was Nick Colionne, one of the best-dressed musicians at the festival. His white suit made his blue guitar look as good as it sounded when Nick played it. And to make things even better Maysa brought her beautiful self and voice to the stage. Peter White couldn’t just go on and play the Seabreeze dinner cruise and leave. I bet he got a good night’s sleep, walked on the beach, maybe had some seafood to eat, and then headed to the stage again today. Peter on guitar was perfectly matched with Vincent Ingala on sax to perform their hits as well as to share their sense of humor. You may already know we consider you part of the Seabreeze Smooth Jazz Family once we have met you? But you are real party people when you get up and dance with us like you did when The Family Stone performed. When you “Dance to the Music” “All Night Long” like “Everyday People” and “Sing a Simple Song” it’s “Hot Fun in the Summertime”. Sorry, I had to do that but it was awesome... yeah, yeah, yeah! But it’s not over, not for those of you that are still ready to party and have a ticket to double your fun at the after-parties. As folks headed to the parking lot others got their tickets out and headed to the new food court stage. Thursday night after-parties got kicked off by Najee, who some of us have been listening to since our college days. His music could help take the chill off of any relationship if you know what I mean? Najee was followed by Rick Braun bringing the music into the next morning. Both of these talented horn players as well as established musicians welcomed other artists to join in and share the stage. Friday started with some of you being introduced to Nick Colionne’s newest CD and if you haven’t heard him say. “CDs are for sale in the back and I don’t want to carry them back home on the plane, so help a brother out”. A fun-illed Seabreeze CD Release Party

with food and drinks happened today. Back at Aaron Bessant Park, the Guitar Force was inishing their soundcheck as the

crowds headed back into their seats for day two. Tim Bowman, Nils, and Steve Oliver brought the triple threat of guitars to the stage and rocked it smoothly.

S E A B R E E Z EJ A Z ZF E S T I VA L.C O M V I S I T F O R 2 0 2 2 T I C K E T S

najee

S E A B R E E Z EJ A Z ZF E S T I VA L.C O M V I S I T F O R 2 0 2 2 T I C K E T S

eric

Najee proved that he could still party all night long and still make it happen on the main stage in the late afternoon. I don’t know if you also wondered where he got that cool purple patterned shirt but I want one. And if you weren’t there you missed one of the longest notes ever. I know it went for at least three minutes and it’s posted on the Seabreeze Jazz Festival’s Instagram page. Both Lindsey Webster and Adam Hawley can share the stage anytime in my book. Lindsey’s voice and lyrics hit you inside your heart and soul. Adam can make his guitar sing and compliment whoever he is playing with. Individually they are both great but put them together and you have an awesome show. Who doesn’t need a little R&R? You’re on vacation enjoying smooth jazz at the beach and R&R comes to you. Rick Braun and Richard Elliot challenge each other with hit after smooth jazz hits. It was the perfect ending for a Friday night! Friday night after-parties continued at the Food Court Stage with Damien Escobar and Nick Colionne. Lindsey Webster sat in to sing a few songs and other artists performed with the band. I went to sleep early but I think I heard Nick say “I got you covered”. Saturday was going to be the nail-biting day with the possibility of storms. The 2021 Seabreeze Rising Star Marqueal Jordan was right on time and brought the star’s shining talent to the stage. Looking forward to seeing many more performances from this sax player. Speaking of sax players... one of the coolest, saxiest players, two-time GRAMMY nominee Mindi Abair took the stage next with her band of creative musicians and singers. Mindi has been one of the festival’s favorites and will continue to be one of mine too. Jazz Funk Soul with Jeff Lorber, Everette Harp, and Paul Jackson, Jr. proved that three things can come together and make music magic happen. The temperature was rising and the humidity was too but sweat was not going to stop these guys from being cool. Paul Taylor, Michael Lington, and Vincent Ingala hit the stage as Sax to the Max. Sax times three... three different styles, three different grooves, and three different smooth jazz personalities. Can you woo woo woo? Yes, we can! Jeffery Osborne inspired everyone to sing and we did. You couldn’t help it we knew most of the words to all the songs. I hope he joins us again in 2022. Looks like we are going to get lucky with the rain because most of it is north of us. Visitors were telling me that we are like weather forecasters always watching the radar. I told them it’s what we do, ha, ha, ha. Norman Brown and Marion Meadows topped the night with smooth guitar and mellow horns. We shared many laughs with Norman and sat back with our “groove on” listening to Marion. These gentlemen know what it means to be artists, showmen, and great smooth jazz musicians.

kirk

S E A B R E E Z EJ A Z ZF E S T I VA L.C O M V I S I T F O R 2 0 2 2 T I C K E T S

The rain did come after all but only lasted about two minutes before the double afterparties featuring Eric Darius and Mindi Abair. And if you know them it's going to take a lot more than that to stop the show. Eric's soundcheck probably pushed the rain north. I've called him one of the hardest guys to photograph in the smooth jazz genre. Why? Because he is everywhere while performing and I learned a long way back that you needed to know his music to capture the good shots of him. Mindi and Eric have been Seabreeze fan favorites for years. I'll always remember shooting her when it was ifty degrees outside

and the wind was blowing like crazy with a drizzle. She played through it and her fans loved her even more for it. Sunday morning the fans and I are moving a bit slower but still excited about one more day of enjoying great music. Mobile Alabama band Roman Street formed by brothers Noah and Josh Thompson began our last day. We all enjoyed the Latin vibes of their contemporary jazz sound. Plus I received a bonus of also getting to hear my drummer friend Bryan Morris playing with them too. Elegant Soul featuring Althea Rene and Jazmin Ghent was the perfect music for our smooth jazz Sunday brunch. Both artists projected love and happiness with their music and the smiles on their faces. After lunch, Eric Darius wasn't going to let us take a nap. He had the whole audience clapping their hands, tapping their feet, and dancing with each other in and out of their seats. Eric's energy was transferred throughout the crowd even while he played his sax escorted by security. This was the time of day where the sun makes it way through the back of the stage and the smoke machine makes it funky cool. Damien Escobar already had his cool with him when he took the stage. He made a toast to everyone with a glass of wine and got real with us. Sharing his thoughts and music allowed us to get to know him better. Songs of love from Kirk Whalum's newest album Humanité was a colorful, creative, and collaborative gift to us. Musicians from almost all over the world came together to create it under Kirk's direction. The artists on stage with him sang and played from their hearts. When I saw this weekend’s last act a few years back before he blew up the music scene I knew I wanted to and would see him perform again. Yes, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue brought the New Orleans Party vibes to close the 2021 Seabreeze Jazz Festival. When you see two drum sets you know it's going to be a booming good time. Add a few horns, bass, keyboards, guitar, great vocals, and a tambourine to the mix then you got a New Orleans Jazz Party! After an hour and a half of dancing in place, joining in the parade line through the crowd, enjoying the show, listening to the music, and no one wanted it to ever end. And with that, it ends the Ultimate Weekend of Smooth Jazz!

THE 2021 SEABREEZE JAZZ FESTIVAL SCHEDULE AND LINE-UP WAS TRULY AN AWESOME ONE!

Wednesday, April 21 Peter White Dinner Cruise

Thursday, April 22 Eric Darius Jazzy Lunch Cruise, Michael J. Thomas, Nick Colionne featuring Maysa, Peter White and Vincent Ingala, and The Family Stone. After-Party Jam featuring Najee and

After-Party featuring Rick Braun.

Friday, April 23 Guitar G Force featuring Tim Bowman, Nils & Steve Oliver, Najee, Lindsey Webster and Adam Hawley, R&R featuring Rick Braun and Richard Elliot. After-Party featuring Damien Escobar, and After-Party featuring Nick Colionne.

Saturday, April 24 Marqueal Jordan - Seabreeze Rising Star, Mindi Abair, Jazz Funk Soul with Jeff Lorber, Everette

Harp, and Paul Jackson, Jr., Sax To The Max featuring Paul Taylor, Michael Lington, and Vincent Ingala, Jeffery Osborne, Norman Brown and Marion Meadows. After-Party featuring Eric

Darius and After-Party featuring Mini Abair.

Sunday, April 25 Roman Street, Elegant Soul featuring Althea Rene and Jazmin Ghent, Eric Darius, Damien Escobar, Kirk Whalum, and Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue.

S E A B R E E Z EJ A Z ZF E S T I VA L.C O M V I S I T F O R 2 0 2 2 T I C K E T S

until next year

April 20-24th 2022 seabreeze.fm ...listen 24/7

S E A B R E E Z E J A Z Z F E S T I VA L . C O M V I S I T F O R 2 0 2 2 T I C K E T S

Lindsey Webster

"Singing is a thing that has come naturally to me for as long as I can remember. It is who I am. There isn’t a time I can remember that there wasn’t a song running through my head...or a lyric. Singing is a gift that was given to me, and all I know how to do is use it. Looking at people when they experience a show is a beautiful thing. You can see their energies raise from our energy. It’s life at its greatest!"