A Smooth Jazz Lifestyle – Ten Years in the Making
In 2009 my wife and I attended our first jazz festival. Our biggest dilemma prior to deciding to go, could we stomach 3 days of jazz? I had a history of peaks and valleys in my jazz listening habits and collected and listened to jazz since high school. At one point, I was even trying to collect George Benson’s albums. To my surprise with my every two-week trip to the record store, I discovered another couple of albums I wasn’t even aware existed. I digress, my point, I’ve been a jazz fan for eons, but in 2009 I turned into a jazz lover. The three-day festival featured one of my favorite basketball players turned bass player extraordinaire, Wayman Tisdale. My wife looked at me dumbfounded as I danced in the grass arena in the night breeze and Wayman Tisdale jammed. Despite losing his leg to cancer in 2008, Wayman continued to enjoy his first love, playing music and we saw him live with his giant persona and great bass skills. After the long Smooth Jazz weekend, I was on a quest to buy every Tisdale project I could find. Just as I was beginning to really embrace my Smooth Jazz roots, Wayman died unexpectedly a few short weeks later, his show in Florida was one of his very last.
Although I have yet to learn how to play an instrument, I have developed a true love of all jazz. We have traveled from Texas to New York, enjoyed a 7-day Blue Note Jazz Cruise with Marcus Miller and an all-star cast, and took a leap of faith to begin promoting shows, all in the name of Smooth Jazz. Jay Smooth and I, along with family and friends, spend a week each year on the beach attending a jazz festival and travel to a few shows each year to see artists we heard about but have yet to see live. The Smooth Jazz Lifestyle, laid back, but full of action. Come as you are, whether shorts and flip flops, linen and loafers, or dressed to the nines. No matter how you are dressed, you will have a great time. Great people, great music always makes for a great time. Each event opens the doors for a new acquaintance or more than likely a new relationship. Destin Smooth Jazz is focused on building longterm relationships with jazz fans.
Our goal at Destin Smooth Jazz is to bring great new and emerging artists right to your back door. There are several superstars in Smooth Jazz, but we have discovered there are many more emerging artists who give the superstars a run for their money. Each week I’m discovering new artists with exceptional skills. Jay Smooth is one of the best jazz aficionados who can provide a quick rundown on Smooth Jazz artists and helps to make us a winning team. Stay tuned because we are bringing great musicians who are reaching out to Destin Smooth Jazz because of your support. We will satisfy your Smooth Jazz appetite because it’s been ten years in the making. We thank you for the growth of the Destin Smooth Jazz Family. #FloridaJazzCentral #DestinSmoothJazz
