Founded In 1996 By Dorian L. Gilmer...
the Atlantic City Jazz Foundation has taken up as its Mission the presentation, promotion, perpetuation, awareness, enjoyment and appreciation of Jazz music, with a particular focus on “Bringing Back The Jazz” to mid-town Atlantic City. The ACJF is seeking to re-invent, re-create and re-invigorate the Atlantic City Jazz scene, and thereby spark a “renaissance” of the presence of live Jazz music in the resort city whose popularity and prosperity was once fueled by Jazz music in most of its nightclubs, ballrooms and piers.
The fulfillment of this on-going mission has been persued through a number of nightclub concerts and family-friendly festivals in various venues and locations both inside and outside of the confines of Atlantic City.
IN THE SHORT TIME SINCE ITS INCEPTION...ACJF has amassed an impressive catalogue of contacts with hundreds of Jazz & Blues artists “and growing”, representing the USA and more than a dozen foreign nations(including France, England, Italy, Poland, Brazil, Jamaica, Canada, Bulgaria, Sweden, South Africa and others) and every style of the genre, as well as a handful of respected managers and agencies.
ACJF has worked with a wide range of artists, from emerging student ensembles (such as David Treut, Cold Fusion, Phrenzie) to nationally and internationally acclaimed standard bearers (such as Ralph Peterson, Ken Navarro, Alfonzo Blackwell, Roy Ayers), and have many others waiting to take their place in “Bringing Back The Jazz”.
A significant level of interest continues to be evident by the regular influx of both telephone and e-mail inquiries, as well as recordings and press kits received weekly in the mail.
CHRONOLOGICAL HISTORY OF ACJF:
1996: May 24; “CLUB JAZZ” concert at Surfside nightclub in Atlantic City, featuring saxophonist Hassan Abdullah & Friends.
1997: August 30; “LABOR DAY DISCO-JAZZ JAM-FEST” at historic All-Wars Memorial Bldg. in Atlantic City. 2 floors of entertainment, featuring live Jazz by drummer Tim Kelly & Friends(downstairs) and a disco party with live guest entertainers(upstairs).
1998: March 22; “CLUB JAZZ” concert at Deja Vu nightclub in Atlantic City, featuring the debut concert of Smooth Jazz saxophonist Howard Isaacson.
May 4; “CLUB JAZZ” concert at Jamaica-Jamaica restaurant in Atlantic City, featuring saxophonist Hassan Abdullah & Friends and guest Ralph Peterson. Jr.
May 26; “CLUB JAZZ” concert at Jamaica-Jamaica restaurant in Atlantic City, featuring drummer Ralph Peterson, Jr.'s “Fotet”.
1999: July 30: “JAZZ ZONE LIVE” concert at Sweet Cheeks Nightclub & Sports Bar, featuring the Renaissance Jazz Quintet.
2000: January 16: “JAZZ ZONE LIVE” concert at Sweet Cheeks Nightclub & Sports Bar, featuring saxophonist Alfonzo Blackwell.
February 11: “SMOOTH JAZZ VALENTINE” concert at Sweet Cheeks Nightclub & Sports Bar, featuring guitarist Ken Navarro.
Third Weekend In July: “SMITHVILLE JAZZ WEEKEND” at Historic Smithville & The Village Greene in Galloway Twp. 2 days of outdoor and indoor Jazz performances, featuring 10 bands on 6 stages.
August 21: “SUNSET JAZZ ON THE BEACH” concert on historic Chicken Bone Beach(Missouri Avenue Beach) in Atlantic City, featuring vibraphonist Roy Ayers & Ubiquity. Produced in conjunction with the Chicken Bone Beach Historic Foundation.
2001: Third Weekend In July; “SMITHVILLE JAZZ WEEKEND” at Historic Smithville & The Village Greene in Galloway Twp. 2 days of outdoor and indoor Jazz performances, featuring 13 bands on 7 stages, plus a “Tap Jam” and a children's percussion workshop.
Sept.-Oct. 2005: JAM-AID CONCERTS TO BENEFIT HURRICANE DISASTER RELIEF.
Sept. 23: 6pm-2am. Proud Mary's Sports Bar & Grill, Fairmount & Sovereign Avenues, Atlantic City 609-348-3322 *$10. donation*/3 bands/free food.
Oct. 8-10: 12noon-8pm. ROCK-TOBERFEST. Brighton Park & Amphitheater, Boardwalk between Indiana & Park Place, Atlantic City 609-204-9466 *FREE & OPEN TO THE PUBLIC* /12 bands on outdoor stage /Donations taken by Red Cross volunteers.
Oct. 29-30: 12noon-8pm. JAZZ-TOBERFEST. Brighton Park & Amphitheater, Boardwalk between Indiana & Park Place, Atlantic City 609-204-9466 *FREE & OPEN TO THE PUBLIC* /8 bands on outdoor stage /Donations taken by Red Cross volunteers.
2006 and beyond:
(proposed) Weekly/start dates to be determined; “CLUB JAZZ” & “THE JAZZ ZONE”; re-emergence of ACJF's signature showcases of local, regional and national emerging and recognizable Jazz & Blues artists in a upscale nightclub or theatrical atmosphere of mature & classy sophistication. Complimentary appetizers, top-flight performances and a strictly enforced dress code will be the standards that will make “CLUB JAZZ” & “THE JAZZ ZONE” stand out as THE places for Jazz.
(proposed) Seasonal-Selected Sundays/dates to be determined; “AC BEATS & EATS JAZZ & BLUES FEST”; city-wide nod to Atlantic City's legendary nigtclub/speakeasy scene with over-12-hour explosion of local, regional and national emerging and recognizable Jazz & Blues artists at an outdoor festival site and up to a dozen mid-town venues. Just steps from the casinos and Boardwalk, “AC BEATS & EATS” will become a frenetic nightclub-hopping atmosphere of Jazz and Blues lovers and bring back some semblance of the hub-bub that made the Queen Of Resorts one of the coolest destinations of “Jazz Age”. A diversity of top-flight performances, warm and friendly hospitality and a variety of dining choices will be the standards that will make “AC BEATS & EATS JAZZ & BLUES FEST” stand out as A NEW MECCA for Jazz and Blues lovers in Atlantic City.
ACJF is seeking visionary sponsors and investors to help launch these projects, which will have a huge social, cultural and economic impact.
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