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2012 Seabreeze Jazz FestivalOcean Reef Resorts is offering a special Rent Three Nights, Get A Fourth Night Free to all of our friends and guests in commemoration of the superlative Seabreeze Jazz Festival which begins Thursday afternoon on April 19, 2012. This awesome musical event is celebrating its fourteenth year of featuring renowned accomplished artists from all over the nation. In fact Jazz Magazine lists this four day concert as being “One of the Top Ten Jazz Festivals” in the entire nation and lucky us, it is held at Pier Park in Panama City Beach along the Emerald Coast. This event was founded by Mike and Renee' Carter, owners of the popular radio station known as Seabreeze WSBZ at 106.3 FM. The concerts will be hosted by the entertaining comedian Alonzo Bodden who will act as emcee. The kick off actually begins at 3:00 pm April 19th with a special party at Margaritaville with the Urban Jazz Coalition. Afterward, the concert begins in earnest on the main stage when gates open at 5:00 pm at the Pier Park Amphitheater. At 6:00 pm the music begins with the Seabreeze Groove Project which includes musical performing artists Four80east, Matt Marshak and Shilts. At 8:00 pm the crowd will be grooving to the tremendous trumpet/saxophone sounds of Rick Braun and Richard Elliot. On Friday, April 20th at 6:00 pm Seabreeze rising stars Chris Geith and Vincent Ingala will be performing. At 7:15 pm the exciting sounds of the Urban Jazz Coalition begins followed by popular performing artist Brian Culbertson at 8:30 pm. On Saturday April 21st the gates open at 10:00 am with an all day jazz concert that begins on the main stage at 11:30 with Down to the Bone kicking things off. At 1:30 a special ensemble of artists will be performing titled “Jazz in Pink.” This collection of artists will feature Mariea Antionette, Cindy Bradley, Karen Briggs, Gail Jhonson and Alethea Rene. They will be followed by Nick Colionne at 3:30. Another ensemble of musicians billed as the “Smooth Jazz All Stars” begins at 5:30 and will feature artists Eric Darius, Mayasa, Phil Perry and Brian Simpson. They are followed by Fourplay at 8:30 pm.
It is interesting to note that VIP tickets which cost in excess of $575 for the four day concert as well as other special tickets for a dinner cruise with Brian Culbertson and a couple of after parties with certain artists have already sold out. The main concert event still has tickets available which run $200 for all four days, $150 for three days and $80 each for individual days. They may be purchased by calling 800.653-7519. It is our pleasure here at Ocean Reef Resorts to keep all of our visiting guests abreast of exciting events along the Emerald Coast such as the Seabreeze Jazz Festival. Don't forget that we are offering fine private beach house and luxury condo rentals at the special “Rent Three Nights, Get A Fourth Night Free” rate. Our friendly reservation staff will be more than happy to make rental arrangements for you and yours. Enjoy! |
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Fabulous featured musical artists listed in alphabetical order include: Mindy Abair, Mariea Antionette, Cindy Bradley, Rick Braun, Karen Briggs, Nick Colionne, Brian Culbertson, Eric Darius, Down to the Bone, Richard Elliot, Four80East, Fourplay, Chris Geith, Jeff Golub, Vincent Ingala, Gail Johnson, Dave Koz, Jeff Lorber, Matt Marshak, Mayasa, David Pack, Phil Perry, Alethea Rene, Shilts, Trombone Shorty, Brian Simpson, Street Corner Renaissance, Urban Jazz Coalition and Alexander Zonjic. The venue at Pier Park is perfect since this relatively new development includes a pedestrian friendly boulevard that extends from Highway 98 all the way down to the pier that juts out into the gulf on Front Beach Road. Retail shops, restaurants and bars line each side all the way to the southern end which is anchored near the beach by Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville Restaurant. This is located just one mile east of the Highway 98 and Route 79 intersection on Pier Park Drive on the south side.
The final delightful day of jazz starts on Sunday morning at 11:30 but gates will be open again at 10:00. Jeff Lorber and Alexander Zonjic will get things hopping followed by Street Corner Renaissance at 1:00 pm. The beautiful Mindi Abair hits the stage at 2:00 pm along with Jeff Golub and David Pack. The amazing Trombone Shorty plays at 4:00 pm with his band Orleans Avenue. The concert concludes with Dave Koz who will begin his set at 6:00 pm.
