23rd Annual Seabreeze Jazz Festival

SEABREEZE presented by Visit Panama City Beach JAZZ FESTIVAL PANAMA CITY BEACH, FLORIDA ~ APRIL 20-24

By Melanie Maxwell

The Seabreeze Jazz Festival was one of the first genre events to postpone at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, and it was the first one to open its gates last year (with safety protocols in place and reduced capacity). In April, the festival is taking place full-throttle with 23 acts, two dining cruises and four after-parties throughout its five-day run. With expanded seating and the addition of a new larger food court with after-party stage area, this normally sold-out festival can now accommodate 500 additional patrons daily.

“Various areas of the park have been re-landscaped and opened up, and the capacity of the park is now 10,000. But we will be holding at 8,000, up from our previous 7,500 per day cap,” said Mark Carter, who produces the festival with his wife of 42 years, Renee’. Recently constructed hotels and a condominium tower in this popular Northwest Florida beach town should now provide enough lodging to accommodate additional festivalgoers. “Panama City Beach has a new TownePlace Suites, Homewood Suites, Radisson Hotel, a third Calypso Tower [condominiums) and, soon to open, Embassy Suites. Florida is currently in a huge growth curve due to a strong 2020 and 2021 tourist business. Plus, many newcomers are making Florida their home,” said Carter. He then added: “We have a new booking search map tool on our website, which populates the available hotels, condos and beach rentals and shows their nightly rates and location from the show. Also, a good resource is the Visit Panama City Beach website at www.visitpanamacitybeach.com.”

Seabreeze Jazz Festival featured artwork created by Stuart McClean

What hasn’t changed is the consistently stellar lineup that is booked by Carter, who also owns Destin, Florida-based WSBZ-FM 106.3 The Seabreeze radio station. “Since we use the same strategy as programming our smooth jazz radio station WSBZ, we strive to provide a great mix of music,” Carter said from his Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, studio. “Combining smooth jazz favorites currently charting on Billboard Smooth Jazz along with exciting up-and-coming new talent on the airways keeps the audience engaged, and select crossover vocals and classic R&B keep the vibe upbeat through the entire five-day event.” Carter structured this year’s lineup to include four featured Seabreeze Rising Star acts, one for each day, positioned right before the headliners. “We want to provide bigger exposure to new talent,” Carter said. “Justin-Lee Schultz is the piano prodigy from South Africa. He’s had several Top 10 Billboard hits. Randy Scott is a saxophonist from Detroit with three Billboard No. 1 smooth jazz hits. Ryan La Valette is a multi-instrumentalist from New Zealand. His first single just released is called ‘Let It Flow.’ He will be making his first appearance in the USA at Seabreeze. Mark Jaimes is a British guitar player with several Top 10 Billboard hits. He’s known for his shows at the PizzaExpress in London.” Carter said that some other fun highlights include Charlie Wilson, making his first Seabreeze Jazz Festival appearance, as are Brian Bromberg, Hiroshima, Blake Aaron and CeeLo Green, who is a special guest of saxophonist Marcus Anderson. They will all be performing in a state-of-the-art amphitheater, with a loading dock, green room and dressing rooms. The venue, which opened in 2013, also offers the conveniences jazz fans appreciate most: plenty of air-conditioned, running-water restrooms (there is rarely a long line!); free parking; 10 acres of manicured lawn; the recently expanded food court and craft market. Merchants will have art, custom jewelry, men’s and women’s clothing and other items for sale, including subscriptions to Smooth Jazz News. The food court will feature vendors offering a variety of options, including Gulf Coast cuisine, seafood, hickory-smoked Southern barbecue, New Orleans-style specialties, vegetarian and non-fried items, as well as typical festival fare and beverages. However, when the vendors close up shop each night at 9, the food court transforms into an after-party space with live music, an appetizer buffet and a no-host bar. It’s great that there are so many options because outside food and drinks are not allowed inside the venue. And, the only method

of payment for all on-site food, beverage, merchandise and other purchases must be made with the festival’s cashless system of currency contained within their wristbands. Each wristband, which also serves as a “digital wallet” and ticket to the event, contains an RFID chip encoded with each customer’s ticket order and linked to funds electronically loaded with a credit card or cash. See festival website for details. The Seabreeze Jazz Festival mobile app, which can be downloaded for free at both the Apple and Google app stores, can be used to add funds to wristbands, check balances and past purchases and also to view the festival lineup and vendor information and locations. In addition, the app has a live year-round link to The Seabreeze radio stream. However, the Seabreeze Jazz Festival provides fans the opportunity to experience the best genre stars they normally only hear on the radio, live onstage in a scenic outdoor setting. Some of those performers plan to sign CDs and meet2021 Seabreeze Jazz Festival in Panama City Beach, Florida and-greet their fans after their show at the festival’s merchandise tent. Others might still be a bit hesitant to mingle during a pandemic, and a few may need to rush to the airport to catch a flight after their set. So, the artists’ CD-signing schedule has not yet been confirmed. As for health and safety protocols during the festival, Carter said that there will not be a mask requirement to enter the venue, and that they won’t be socially-distancing seating. “We will have additional space in general admission under the adjacent shade trees for added room. And, we are again encouraging all vendors to continue the health and safety sanitation policies from 2021. Patrons have the option to wear a mask but it’s not required,” Carter explained. Whether attendees choose to mask or not, Carter said he wants everyone to enjoy a great weekend of music, “All in a fun, comfortably and yet exciting vacation destination with white-sand beaches, shopping, dining and attractions just steps away from the action onstage. A full weekend of top smooth jazz entertainment, the sea breeze blowing across the beach and good old Florida sunshine is the perfect jazz escape for everyone.” Carter encouraged festivalgoers to also enjoy the sights, sounds and experience of the Gulf Coast along with the entertainment. “We provide the landing point for the music, but don’t forget about the world-class golf, fishing, scuba diving, renowned restaurants, and, of course, the beaches when attending. Come early or stay later to really soak in the area attractions and fun.” continued on page 16

continued from page 15

Hiroshima

performing Friday, April 22

Photo: Ken Fong

Marcus Anderson

Photo: Mélisa Miranda

performing Friday, April 22

Photo: Brandon Albright, Snowdesert Productions

Gerald Albright

performing Friday, April 22

Photo: Tracy D. Spraggins

Kim Scott

performing Thursday, April 21 Brian Simpson

Photo: Bobby Guillard

performing Saturday, April 23

WHEN

April 20-24

Boney James

performing Sunday, April 24

WHERE

Aaron Bessant Park Amphitheater, 500 W. Park Dr., Panama City Beach, Florida

Photo: Describe The Fauna

GETTING THERE

Flights are available to the Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport (ECP) in Panama City Beach, and Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport (VPS) in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. The venue is approximately 10 miles from ECP and 55 miles from VPS.

STAYING THERE

Visit www.seabreezejazzfestival.com/staymap.html for available hotels, condominiums and beach rentals, along with nightly rates and locations.

PARKING

General admission parking is free at adjacent Pier Park. All reserved tickets (Gold, Premium and Ultimate Jazz Tables) include free on-site parking in a dedicated lot.

TICKETS AND INFORMATION

Wristbands, with embedded RFID technology, are issued in lieu of paper tickets, and are also the digital currency for all festival purchases inside the venue. Discounted tickets are available to military members at a variety of locations, including select military bases, which are posted on the festival website. For complete Seabreeze Jazz Festival details and more information about the cashless system, visit www.seabreezejazzfestival.com or call 850-267-3279.

LINEUP

Wednesday, April 20

*Seabreeze Dinner Cruise featuring Eric Darius, boards at 6:30 p.m., sails at 7 p.m.

Thursday, April 21

*Seabreeze Jazzy Brunch Cruise featuring Chris Standring, boards at 8:30 a.m., sails at 9 a.m. *Dining cruises are separately ticketed events aboard the Solaris entertainment yacht, sailing around St. Andrews Bay. Boarding at the Lighthouse Marina, 5325 N. Lagoon Dr., Panama City Beach, Florida.

On festival grounds (gates open at 10 a.m.)

Blake Aaron .................................................................................... noon Jazz in Pink featuring Gail Jhonson, Kim Scott, Paula Atherton, Chelsey Green and Josie Aiello .............................................. 1:35 p.m. Marion Meadows and Alex Bugnon ........................................ 3:15 p.m. Spyro Gyra............................................................................... 5:15 p.m. Justin-Lee Schultz (Seabreeze Rising Star) .............................. 7:15 p.m. Charlie Wilson ......................................................................... 8:30 p.m.

After-Party stage on festival grounds at Aaron Bessant Park

After-Party featuring Down to the Bone (separately ticketed event) .................................................... 10:30 p.m.

Friday, April 22 On festival grounds (gates open at 10 a.m.)

Hiroshima ....................................................................................... noon Eric Darius featuring Rebecca Jade......................................... 1:35 p.m. Cindy Bradley .......................................................................... 3:15 p.m. Marcus Anderson with special guest CeeLo Green................. 5:15 p.m. Randy Scott (Seabreeze Rising Star) ........................................ 7:15 p.m. Sheila E. and Damien Escobar................................................. 8:30 p.m.

After-Party stage on festival grounds at Aaron Bessant Park

After-Party featuring Gerald Albright (separately ticketed event) .................................................... 10:30 p.m.

Saturday, April 23 On festival grounds (gates open at 10 a.m.)

Lin Rountree ................................................................................... noon Brian Simpson with Jessy J and Jackiem Joyner..................... 1:35 p.m. Ken Ford.................................................................................. 3:15 p.m. Brian Bromberg and His Unapologetically Funky Big Bombastic Band featuring Everette Harp ............... 5:15 p.m. Ryan La Valette (Seabreeze Rising Star) .................................. 7:15 p.m. Ruben Sings Luther featuring Ruben Studdard ....................... 8:30 p.m.

After-Party stage on festival grounds at Aaron Bessant Park

After-Party featuring Lindsey Webster and Adam Hawley (separately ticketed event) .................................................... 10:30 p.m.

Sunday, April 24 On festival grounds (gates open at 10 a.m.)

Kayla Waters and Kim Waters......................................................... noon Four80East featuring JJ Sansaverino ...................................... 1:45 p.m. Peabo Bryson and Keiko Matsui.............................................. 3:30 p.m. Mark Jaimes (Seabreeze Rising Star).......................................... 5:30 p.m. Boney James ........................................................................... 6:45 p.m.

After-Party stage on festival grounds at Aaron Bessant Park

After-Party featuring Norman Brown (separately ticketed event) ........................................................... 9 p.m.