Gold Coast Jazz Society Band, formed in 1994 by Lee Amlie and jazz guitarist Simon Salz, embodies the best in traditional and classic jazz. Comprised of South Florida resident musicians, many with international reputations and credits, the band’s musicians share in their desire to perform and preserve America’s musical heritage of jazz.
For over twenty years, the band has been featured on the Gold Coast Jazz mainstage concert series at the Broward Center in Ft. Lauderdale. They have performed for audiences from Sarasota to Miami, with such jazz greats as Dick Hyman, Howard Alden, Frank Vignola, Bucky Pizzarelli, Richie Cole and Bob Wilbur. The band has performed at the Kravis Center, the Broward Performing Arts Center, the Bonnet House JazzFest, the Fort Lauderdale Historical Society’s Seafood Festival and annually at the Fort Lauderdale SunTrust Sunday Jazz Brunch. They have also been the featured entertainment for area concert series, festivals, fairs, special events and corporate events. In addition, the Gold Coast Jazz Society Band performs several jazz education concerts for children as a part of the Broward County Public School SEAS Program and in area schools, libraries and museums for other outreach and education programs.
Martin Hand
Music Director, Gold Coast Jazz Society Band
Guitarist and vocalist Martin Hand was appointed in 2013 to lead the Gold Coast Jazz Society Band. Martin has extensive experience working with national and international artists including Dizzy Gillespie, Warren Vache’, Harry Allen, Dave Valentin, Peter Nero, Nell Carter, Eddie Harris, Henry Mancini, Darius Rucker, Bernadette Peters, Andrea McCardle, Trini Lopez, Burt Bacharach, Barbara McNair, Julie Budd, Blackstone, Jack Jones, Al Martino, The Lettermen, The Fifth Dimension, Eartha Kitt, Destino, Vic Damone, Dinah Shore, Maureen McGovern, Melissa Manchester, Maria Osmond, Monica Mancini, Patti Austin, Robert Klein, Michael Feinstein, Ann Hampton Calloway, Arturo Sandoval, David Benoit, Jeff Kashua, The Supremes, The Platters, Sam and Dave, Little Anthony and the Imperials, Rupert Holmes, Roy Clark, Tommy Tune, Joel Gray, Joe Piscopo, Tommy Mitchell and Doc Severinson.
His affiliation with numerous shows and musical productions include “Storyville” for the Miami Shores Theater, “The Spitfire Grill’, “The Last Five Years” for the Stage Door Theatre, “The Alter Boyz” at Parker Playhouse, “Fiddler on the Roof” at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts, “Vices” at The Caldwell Theatre, “The Lion King” and “The Carbonnell Awards” at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts and “Copa Cabana” at the Jackie Gleason Theatre.
Martin’s orchestral affiliations include the New World Symphony, the Symphonic Pops of Boca Raton, the Palm Beach Pops, the Florida Philharmonic, the Naples Philharmonic, the Philadelphia Pops, the Peter Graves Orchestra and the Sunshine Pops.
As a band leader, conductor and/or musical director Martin has worked with Joe Piscopo, Andrea McCardle, The Supremes, Sam and Dave, The Tommy Mitchell Band, The Peter Graves Orchestra, The Platters, Dana Paul and the Nantucket Sound.
Martin was born in England in the late 50’s. His early musical influences were the Beatles, Rolling Stones, The Yardbirds and many skiffle artists of the time. In 1967 he immigrated to the United States Where he was exposed to “Motown,” the emerging rock scene, standards and show tunes. After high school, he attended Berklee School of Music in Boston, MA and later move to south Florida where he has been an active musician for the past several years.