A Jazzy Introduction to A Weekend of Smooth Music

Thursday afternoon at Pier Park’s Border’s Bookstore, I listened to a sample of the artists performing at the Seabreeze Jazz Festival. And if this weekend’s entrée is anything like the appetizer, this beach will never be the same. I witnessed first-hand Nick Colionne, Eric Darius, Shilts, Matt Marshak, and Jackeim Joyner transform a normally quiet bookstore into a raucous jazz club. Honestly, I’ve never experienced a bookstore as exciting as Border’s was on April 17th.

Jackeim Joyner started things off with a silky saxophone that swayed heads and rocked shoulders throughout the building. Shilts, then Matt Marshak followed, working the crowd with one of the best jazz guitars I have ever heard. All this before Eric Darius got into the crowd, literally, as he saxed his way through cheering fans, electrifying the entire bookstore. Quite the showman, internationally acclaimed guitarist Nick Colionne came afterward and smoothed things over with a guitar for the ages.

By the time the show was over, the CD’s were sold out and waves of people danced their way back into Pier Park for shopping and dining excited about the night’s festivities.

Trust me, if you don’t do anything this busy PCB weekend, go see one of these bands. The jazz is absolutely amazing and the artists are the most talented in the country. PCBDaily will be covering the whole event so if you see us, give us a shout and let us know what you think about what’s sure to be an annual treat for residents and tourists alike.

No Spring Break. No Summer. No Problem.

The next three weeks on Panama City Beach should be awesome.

For years PCB’s tourism paradox, which is the last three weeks of April, has bewildered businesses all around the beach. After the Spring Break season is over and before the summer season crowds the shores, there has always existed a perennial lag. During this time hotels are still operating at full staff, so are the restaurants and attractions when, frankly, business has slowed enough to validate a winter-like hibernation. There just isn’t a season and no reason for people to visit the beach.

Well that was then and fun is now.

The TDC and private sectors have put together a string of events for the next three weeks that will keep our beach so packed it should provide a seamless segueway into summer.

This is what’s coming up on Panama City Beach:

April 17 – 19^th – The 11th Annual Zap Pro/Am Skim Jam

April 16 – 19^th – Seabreeze Jazz Festival

April 22 – 25^th – The 11^th annual Gulf Coast Charity Horse Show and Music Festival

April 30 – May 3^rd – Thunder Beach Spring Rally

I hope the beach is ready because these upcoming events are bound to have the beach rocking. In fact, most accommodations around Pier Park are already sold out while others are starting to see the benefits of the efforts. If you’re a vacationer, now is the time to get your best value on accommodations and dining. If you’re a resident you should definitely get out while the weather’s great and traffic is loose to enjoy the activities.

This post is somewhat of a tip-of-the-hat to everyone who put in the effort to keep the business flowing on the beach. If we keep this up before you know it we’ll have a whole new season. Question is, what should we call it? Any suggestions?

Two Great Events This Weekend in Panama City Beach – Video!

This weekend, if you aren’t down here in Panama City Beach, you ought to be, or come down tomorrow. There are two really classy events that are HUGE happening and the weather is slated to be perfect.

The Seabreeze Jazz Festival kicks off a weekend of jazz and excitement with a meet and greet with the performing artists at Borders Books and Music tomorrow at 3 pm. Artists scheduled to appear include Nick Colionne, Eric Darius, Shilts, Matt Marshak, and Jackeim Joyner. Fans will get the chance to meet the artists and get autographs, then enjoy a special sneak peek performance from each artist.

http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=4188287&server=vimeo.com&show_title=0&show_byline=0&show_portrait=0&color=00ADEF&fullscreen=1
PCBDaily.com – Seabreeze and Skim Jam from Jason Koertge on Vimeo.

This weekend there are some very awesome events happening in Panama City Beach. Between the Seabreeze Jazz Festival in Pier Park and the 11th Annual Zap Pro/Am Skim Competition that will be at Edgewater Beach Resort, you need to be down here to see all the action.

That night, performances will begin at the Pier Park Amphitheater at 6 pm and will go past 10:30 pm. The schedule will pick right back up Saturday and Sunday morning at 10 am and play all day long both days.

The 11th Annual Zap Pro/Am Skim Jam Competition is hosted at Edgewater Beach Resort this year with the action starting Friday morning with a Skim Camp all day with Morgan Just from Laguna Beach California. Just was the Skim USA 2008 Champion.

Total Event Schedule for This Weekend:

Seabreeze Jazz Festival

Friday, April 17

3 p.m. Meet and Greet at Border Books and Music in Pier Park

(Gates open at 5 p.m.)

6 – 7:45 p.m. Urban Jazz Coalition

8:30 p.m. Smooth Jazz All-Star Jam

10:30 p.m. Jazz Under the Stars Party

With Urban Jazz Coalition and friends

(Pier Park Special Club Location)

Sponsored by Smooth Lounge dot com

Saturday, April 18

(Gates open at 9 a.m. – VIP early entry at 8:30 a.m.)

10 a.m. – 11 a.m. Althea Rene

11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. Eric Darius

1:30 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. The Seabreeze Groove Project

Featuring Four 80 East, Shilts and Matt Marshak

Sponsored by Smooth Lounge dot com

3:15 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. Joyce Cooling

5 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. Will Downing

7 p.m. – 9 p.m. Wayman Tisdale

9:30 p.m. Jazz Under the Stars Party

With Four 80 East, Shilts, Matt Marshak and friends

(Pier Park Special Club Location)

Sponsored by Smooth Lounge dot com

Sunday, April 19

(Gates open at 9 a.m. – VIP early entry at 8:30 a.m.)

10 a.m. – 11 a.m. Jones and Company

11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Roman Street

1 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. Brian Simpson / Nils / Jackiem Joyner

3 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. Warren Hill

5 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. Nick Colionne

7 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Boney James

11th Annual Zap Pro/Am Skim Jam Competition

Friday April 17th (Day 1)
– Mr. Surf’s & ZAP’s OPEN Expression Session: Noon Pre-skim meet (sound check) at Edgewater Beach resort on the beach.

– Global Surf Industries & Surf Tech Surf & Stand-up Paddle Board Demo & Regatta

– Come meet all the pros & fellow skimmers (pre-check-in)

Saturday April 18th (Day 2) SKIM COMPETITION

– 11h Annual Zap Pro/Am Spring Skim Jam 8:30a-4p

– Global Surf Industries & Surf Tech Surf & Stand-Up paddle Board Demo

– Panama Jack’s Lil’ Sandiggers Treasure Hunt 1p

– Other family fun-filled activities on the beach

– Location: Edgewater Beach Resort on the beach

Sunday April 19th (Day 3)

– Church On The Beach: a Sunday morning non-denominational Praise & Worship Service 7:30a-8:30a

– 11th Annual Zap Pro/Am Spring Skim Jam FINALS 9:00a-?

– Other family fun-filled activities on the beach

– AWARDS CEREMONY: Location: Edgewater Beach Resort on the beach

Seabreeze Jazz Festival at Pier Park

A full lineup of award-winning artists are ready to hit the stage in Panama City Beach, Fla., the new home of the Gulf Coast’s annual Seabreeze Jazz Festival. Panama City Beach’s Pier Park sets the stage for a jazzy, all-star weekend, April 16 – 19, expected to draw music lovers near and far. The lineup includes nationally acclaimed smooth jazz artists: Boney James, Wayman Tisdale, Will Downing, Nick Colionne, Warren Hill, Joyce Cooling, and more.

“We’re proud to be the new home of the Seabreeze Jazz Festival,” said Dan Rowe, president and CEO of the Panama City Beach Convention and Visitors Bureau. “Overlooking the Gulf of Mexico, Pier Park provides the perfect setting for this nationally recognized event.”

The weekend kicks off Thurs., April 16, 7:00 p.m., with the three-hour Smooth Jazz Dinner Cruise on beautiful St. Andrew’s Bay presented by the Bay Point Marriott Resort and Spa. Enjoy the upbeat, funky-style performance of the renowned jazz keyboardist Alex Bugnon aboard the Solaris, a 125-foot yacht known for exceptional cuisine.

Friday begins with a performance by the Urban Jazz Coalition, 6:00 p.m., followed by The Smooth Jazz All-Star Jam Show featuring festival host Nick Colionne, Four80East, Alex Bugnon, Brian Simpson, Shilts, Nils, Matt Marshak, Althea Rene and Jackiem Joyner. The evening concludes with dancing and revelry at the Jazz Under the Stars party at Pier Park’s Reggae J’s.

Great performances continue all day Saturday, starting 10:00 a.m., with high-energy artists and ending with another Jazz Under the Stars party that will send all your blues away. Saturday’s performers include Wayman Tisdale, Will Downing, Joyce Cooling, Four 80 East, Eric Darius, Althea Rene’ and more. The weekend finale is a day of live entertainment, Sunday, beginning 9:30 a.m., with performances throughout the day and evening by Boney James, Warren Hill, Nick Colionne, Brian Simpson, Nils, Jackeim Joyner, Roman Street, and Jones and Company.

“With expanded on-site parking, great beaches, extensive shopping and dining options at Pier Park, plus an abundance of hotel and condos nearby, the 2009 Seabreeze Jazz Festival will have it all,” says Mark Carter, the event’s organizer. “The weekend brings together a collection of great artists and people who love contemporary smooth jazz.”

TDC Meeting Agenda for 4/8/2008

On Tuesday, the main line items are:

Discuss and Consider for Approval CVB/TDC Financial Statements Dated February 29, 2008, Mr. Dan Rowe, President
Discuss and Consider for Approval TDC Visitor Information Center Brochure Display Racks Policy, Mr. Dan Rowe, President
Discuss and Consider for Approval Funding Request, Seabreeze Jazz Festival, Mr. Dan Rowe, President
Discuss and Consider for Approval Board Resolution in Support of the Recreational and Local Charter Fishing Industry, Mr. Dan Rowe, President
Discuss and Consider for Approval Board Resolution on Visual Blight Created by Inactive Development Projects on Panama City Beach, Mr. Andy Phillips, Chairman
Discuss and Consider for Approval Coastal Planning & Engineering Invoice #80274-R, and Invoice #80347, Mrs. Lisa Armbruster, Sustainable Beaches, LLC
Discuss and Consider Florida Department of Environmental Protection Grant 05BA2, Modification #2, Mrs. Lisa Armbruster, Sustainable Beaches, LLC

View or download the entire agenda by clicking below.

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Notes from the April 2, 2008 TDC/CVB Marketing Committee Meeting

9 of the 11 committee members were present. Absent was Debi Knight and Paul Wohlford.

Indian Summer Festival

Two organizations interested in taking over operation of the festival made presentations. Both proposals are for Columbus Day Weekend, October 10-12, 2008.
Jeffrey Wolfe, from Multimedia Publishing, Inc. (http://www.multimediapp.com), would like to provide a “Family oriented food and entertainment venue, which focuses on wholesome family fun.” The festival would remain at Frank Brown Park and retain the name Indian Summer Seafood Festival. Wolfe’s vision includes a cooking demonstration stage, a kid-oriented stage that would include the involvement of Bay County Schools, and a music stage. The music stage would have a unique music theme each day, such as margaritiville, country, and big band. Although the possibility of a Jimmy Buffett concert was subsequently reported by WJHG, it is my understanding that Wolfe is only proposing a margaritiville-style concert. Multimedia listed their affiliations with the Niceville Mullet Festival, the Seabreeze Jazz Festival, and Blue Angels events in Pensacola; however, I believe that they only provided services to these events rather than acting as event promoter. The presentation was silent as to what financial support they would be requesting from the TDC/CVB; however, their handout did refer to “seed money” being used for operations. Although and exception was made recently for the FSU Flying Circus, it is TDC/CVB policy to only provide advertising support to special events. Wolfe anticipates a total attendance of 18,000.

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