PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. – The 23rd Annual Seabreeze Jazz Festival, The “Ultimate Weekend of Smooth Jazz,” returns to the beautiful Gulf Coast in April with an incredible lineup of more than 40 smooth jazz musicians.
All main performances take place April 21-24 at the Aaron Bessant Park Amphitheater adjacent to Pier Park in Panama City Beach. Gates open at 10 a.m. and the show begins at 12 noon each day.
Top national saxophonist Boney James will headline the show along with contemporary jazz icons Spyro Gyra, Norman Brown, Gerald Albright, Marion Meadows, Lindsey Webster, Eric Darius, Cindy Bradley, Kim Waters, Brian Simpson, Four 80 East, Damien Escobar, Chris Standring, Keiko Matsui, Adam Hawley and more, according to organizers.
The 2022 Seabreeze Jazz Festival also features select vocal performers including Billboard #1 Selling R&B artist Charlie Wilson (making his first appearance), top singer and Latin percussionist Sheila E, and Grammy award-winning vocalist Peabo Bryson are also included.
Saxophonist Marcus Anderson will be featuring top vocalist Ceelo Green as a special guest in his exciting performance as well. And –as a tribute to the iconic music of the legendary vocalist Luther Vandross — singer Ruben Studdard presents a special tribute to Luther with “Ruben Sings Luther.”
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Other artists performing include Alex Bugnon, Brian Bromberg featuring saxophonist Everette Harp, Jazz In Pink featuring Paula Atherton, Kim Scott, and Chelsey Green and others, Jackeim Joyner, Jessy J, Hiroshima, Blake Aaron, Ken Ford, Kayla Waters, and Lin Rountree.
A big part of the 2022 event is the unveiling of the “Seabreeze Rising Stars” — four special performers selected for their talent and current hit record movement up the Billboard Smooth Jazz charts.
This year’s “Seabreeze Rising Stars” include 16-year-old Justin Lee Shultz (a contemporary jazz piano prodigy from South Africa), Ryan La Valette (an inspiring young multi-instrumentalist from New Zealand), Randy Scott (a talented saxophonist from Detroit, MI with three recent #1 Billboard Smooth Jazz singles), and Mark Jaimes (a London-based guitarist with several Top 10 smooth jazz single releases).
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This year’s Seabreeze Jazz Festival marks the first USA appearance by newcomer Ryan La Valette, recently signed by Trippn’N’ Rhythm Records. His current single “Let It Flow” is quickly climbing up the Billboard Smooth Jazz Charts.
Another new element is the expansion of the nightly Seabreeze After Party Shows with a second stage on the amphitheater grounds for each night’s “After Party Late Show” right after the main performances.
The Seabreeze After Party Stage is set in a cozy, cool, corner of the festival footprint surrounded by woods with some tables under tents, concert-style seating and cocktail tables all with jazz bistro lighting for a true intimate jazz club feel.
Each evening’s After Show features a full show from a top national artist including guitarist Norman Brown, saxophonist Gerald Albright, the U.K.-based group Down to the Bone, and the combination of #1 selling vocalist Lindsey Webster with guitarist Adam Hawley.
After Party performances are ticketed separately or included with a festival Single Day Pass. Four Day Pass holders can easily add-on any of the After Party performances with an add-on ticket available on the festival website.
Four-day general admission passes for all performances on the main amphitheater stage for Thursday-Sunday are $325 each, with single-day tickets which include the nightly after party show priced at $200 each.
Each nightly after party show can also be purchased individually for $80 each. The after party performance includes an appetizer buffet.
For complete details on event schedules, list of performers, and tickets — go to https://www.seabreezejazzfestival.com.
Discounted military tickets are available at three area military bases including Tyndall Air Force Base Tickets and Travel, Eglin Air Force Base Tickets and Travel, and Naval Air Station Pensacola NWR Office.
Each base is offering discounted Four Day General Admission Passes and can ship to military patrons outside the local area with proof of military ID.
For details on military tickets: https://www.seabreezejazzfestival.com/military.html
The 2022 Seabreeze Jazz Festival is presented by Visit Panama City Beach and is also sponsored by WSBZ Seabreeze 106.3 FM.
