True Blue Jazz Fest goes ‘Deep Blue’ in memory of DeFrancesco

The 10th Annual True Blue Jazz Festival will hit town from Wednesday to Sunday, Oct. 12 to 16, in Rehoboth Beach and Lewes, with five days of real live musicianship as only TBJ can deliver. Find complete details about the annual offering of dozens of free and ticketed shows at truebluejazz.org.

True Blue Jazz Festival has been successfully bringing the best in real jazz to the Mid-Atlantic and the Cape Region for 10 years, and that’s certainly something to celebrate in high style! The festival has been recognized by Fodor’s Travel Guide as one of the top 10 reasons to visit Rehoboth Beach in the off-season.

While there will be much to celebrate, True Blue Jazz and the entire jazz community worldwide are still reeling from the sudden loss of jazz organ legend Joey DeFrancesco, who had been slated as the festival’s Saturday night headliner. Producer Eddie Sherman said, “There will be a dramatic and poignant aspect to our events and festivities during this 10th anniversary as we reflect and remember an extraordinary life in jazz. This year’s festival will honor the legacy of Joey DeFrancesco. That’s why we will become the True ‘Deep Blue’ Jazz Festival for 2022, in honor of the all-too-soon passing of this jazz great.”

Co-Producer Peggy Raley added, “As human beings caught in the throes of grieving a loss of this magnitude, all we can do is keep bringing the jazz, to keep the jazz playing.”

She shared a quote from Joey DeFrancesco himself: “More music is what’s needed to create positivity and wellness for everybody, regardless of what’s happening in the world. Music just solves a lot of problems. So more live music, more original music – just more music. Without that, we’re in big trouble.”

In keeping with that sentiment, 2022’s True ‘Deep Blue’ Jazz Festival has a full slate of great jazz acts to satisfy the palate of each and every fan who rolls into Rehoboth Beach and Lewes this October.

Events and venues range from the now-famous swinging patio jazz party at The Blue Hen Restaurant next to The Avenue Inn, to the cool jazz scene happening at Port 251, and from the festival kickoff party celebrating the TBJ Youth Jazz Programs at Bethany Blues Lewes to the best jazz hangouts around at Nassau Valley Vineyards Winery, Aqua, Blackwall at the Beach, The Ocean Glass Inn and more.

Firehouse Jazz will be bigger than ever, with a big band marathon from 12 to 6 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 15, featuring Cape Henlopen High School band members kicking off the show. All proceeds of the day benefit the Rehoboth Beach Volunteer Fire Company. New this year are three explosive nights of great live jazz right there in Rehoboth Beach Fire Station 1 on Rehoboth Avenue: Nat Adderley Jr. Quartet Oct. 13; Minas Quintet - the Music of Stan Getz & João Gilberto Oct. 14; and jazz drummer extraordinaire Webb Thomas & His Superband Oct. 15.

Headliner shows will be held Thursday to Sunday at The Boardwalk Plaza Hotel featuring the Emmet Cohen Trio Oct. 13; The Cookers, aka America’s Hard Bop Super Group, Oct. 14; and in lieu of the concert appearance by the Joey DeFrancesco Trio, 2022’s True ’Deep Blue’ Jazz Festival will present a Saturday, Oct. 15 Evening of Musical Memory & Tribute to this incredible modern-day giant of the jazz world, Joey DeFrancesco, by his band members.

Eddie Sherman and Peggy Raley will perform for the 10th Anniversary True ‘Deep Blue’ Festival Brunch Party Sunday, Oct. 16, also at The Boardwalk Plaza Hotel.

Visit truebluejazz.org for complete event details and ticket purchases.