The Amelia Island Jazz Festival is pleased to announce that multiple Grammy award-winning vocal group The Manhattan Transfer will appear for its 2023 festival on Thursday, October 5 at the First Baptist Church, 1600 South 8th Street in Fernandina Beach. The Manhattan Transfer is marking their 50th anniversary with an international tour and the release of a new studio album, FIFTY, on September 23.

The group’s legacy includes ten Grammy Awards, from 20 nominations, and induction into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame. Their music has been featured extensively in major films and TV shows and they’ve collaborated with such giants as Tony Bennett, Bette Midler, Smokey Robinson, Phil Collins, Joe Zawinul, Stéphane Grappelli, Chick Corea, and Dizzy Gillespie.

AIJF Artistic Director Les DeMerle, who toured and recorded with The Manhattan Transfer as their drummer earlier in his career is delighted to welcome original members Alan Paul, Janis Siegel, and Cheryl Bentyne, along with Trist Curless who replaced deceased co-founder Tim Hauser in 2014. “They’ve been great for over 50 years, and it’s a tremendous honor to host them for this year’s festival,” he said.

The Amelia Island Jazz Festival, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary, will kick off on Sunday October 1 with a free community big band show at the Atlantic Rec Center plus a Jazz & Wine Tasting event with two seatings at the Decantery, and will present shows each night through October 8. Headliners include jazz flautist Néstor Torres on October 6 and the Tierney Sutton Band on October 7.