Exactly Where is Catalina Island? Well .. 26 Miles Across the Sea .. off the Southern California Coastline Avalon is it’s only real town .. a tiny seaport village near the Island’s Southern Tip See that BIG White Building at the top edge of Avalon Harbor? That’s the Wrigley Casino. Never a real Casino just named that by Chewing Gum Magnate William Wrigley when he built and opened this incredible venue in 1929. The bottom inside is a 1929 State of the Art Movie Theater. The top, 6 stories high, the glorious historic Avalon Ballroom. Except for each festival Thursday’s outdoor on the beach shows, all weekend concerts are held high up inside that Ballroom.

We’ll get back to it .. but this is what the inside of the historic 1929 Avalon Ballroom looks like “during JazzTrax.” It is Mindi Abair On Stage Here, Closing Weekend, Friday Night.

But 1st each JazzTrax Festival Weekend begins … on Descanso Beach. An Unplugged Concert Under the Stars .. with the Blue Pacific Ocean rolling in .. right behind the tiny intimate on the Sand Performance Stage.This is Opening Night, Thursday, October 13th with Daniel Ho and his cello accompanist Danni Xue on stage to kick off our 35th October Festival .. Daniel has won 6 Grammy Awards and been Grammy Nominated 14 Times in the Hawaiian, Pop Instrumental and World Music Categories. But what JazzTrax Festival Goers know him for most .. he was the leader, composer, keyboardist of the very popular 1990’s band Kilauea who appeared here on the Island many times before disbanding end of the 90’s … however we’ve reunited them once …. and ….. stay tuned We always encourage all festival goers who arrive an Evening Early for our Beach concert, to spend ALL of Thursday Evening at Descanso Beach Club. Beach Bar to order food and drink opens at 5 p.m. with 2 hours of daylight left over the ocean. Do Dinner there as many of you have 2 romantically doubled up Chaise Lounges and other a Private Cabana. Take the Entire Evening There for Beach, Food, Drink, and Shows.

By 7:30 pm when Famed British Guitarist Peter White has taken the stage Darkness has Fallen over the Ocean. The Lit Up Casino reflecting across the ocean waters.

First 6 Rows in front of Peter .. romantically doubled up Chaise Lounges. Everything .. looking out .. to sea.

Saxophonist Michael Paolo always shows up with someone .. and often throughout the 2 JazzTrax Festival Weekends .. with SOMEONE’s ….

In the Merchandise, Bar and Artist Autograph Section at the Beach post show … Daniel Ho, Dannie Xue with JazzTrax Producer Art Good

Opening Night on the Beach with Peter and Daniel did SELL OUT, and well in advance. It only seats 471. One of the fun things about coming Thursday Evening? When you wake up Friday Morning … YOU’RE ALREADY HERE … ON THE ISLAND. While Two Thirds of the rest of the festival goers are still traveling in, still leaving their Southern California homes, still flying into L.A., still on Catalina Express packed out Friday Boats, still GETTING TO THE ISLAND .. If you came to Thursday’s Unplugged .. your are already here, already 26 miles across the Sea, with an entire DAY to do something Not Smooth Jazz. Perhaps an Inner Island Tour. Up to the Airport in the Sky. Past the Wrigley Ranch on the Island’s Far Side. Heck .. in the Brand New JazzTrax Jeep Gladiator, between weekends we took our short staff on a drive all the way UP to Two Harbors to watch the Padres/ Phillies NLCS play-off game at the world famous Harbor Reef Bar at the Ismus.

The tiny seaport village of Avalon so delightful with it’s quaint shops and tastey restaurants. Cruise Ships stop there several times a week. There’s also the Catalina Country Club’s 9 holes of golf where Kathrine Hepburn and Howard Hughes used to play together. Then the Stars of Smooth Jazz start stepping off Catalina Express boats all weekend long. And then it’s time to Stroll down the Ocean Front Boardwalk to the JazzTrax Festival’s Opening Night in the historic 1929 Avalon Ballroom .. looking out to sea. See those flags flying top of the Casino? Within those French Doors is the Ballroom .. 6 Stories UP. That outside verandah sweeps all the way around so before and during all the Smooth Jazz Concerts you can walk out and take in … that you are actually “on an Island.” A Smooth Jazz Island.

PEET PROJECT is led by Violinist & Singer Peter ‘Peet’ Ferencz

And now .. it’s Back to Budapest ..

Not All the Way from Europe as the Peet Project .. BUT All the Way from Florida …. Saxophonist and soon to be DR. JAZMIN GHENT .. she’s studying for IT ..

She Did Spend Some Time on Stage Too …………..

And afterwards a somewhat unusual Photo Op at the JazzTrax Artist Autograph Counter .. JazzTrax Producer Art Good showing off his new ‘Catalina Island’ Shirt to the Ghents .. Left to Right .. Mom .. Dad .. backwards Art .. Jazmin Ghent and Jazmin’s “fiance”

Our 2021 “Where Did He Come From” Performer .. Salt Lake City Saxophonist RANDAL CLARK .. so new, so good .. JazzTrax brought him back for a 2nd straight year

Again on Bass .. the Producer of Randal’s 2021 debut ‘Imaginary World,’ and his brand new 2nd project ‘Stargazer’ JIMMY HASLIP .. one of The Yellowjackets cofounders

Super Artist Manager Bud Harner (who also manages Keiko Matsui, David Benoit, and more also manages and discovered LINDSEY WEBSTER. It was Bud’s idea in 2022 to put Lindsey together with ADAM HAWLEY on stage. Vocals, hers, to Guitar, his. Some said after this Performance on the Island, Saturday, October 15th, it was The Best Afternoon Session they had ever seen, at JazzTrax.

Lindsey & Adam took it THROUGH THE ROOF. Both had made their solo debut’s in 2016, just 6 short years ago. Both have already built up a BARN of Billboard No. #1 radio hits. And they brought THEM,Together, on this Island Saturday Afternoon.

The JazzTrax Festival, since Day 1 in 1987 has ALWAYS been SESSIONS, not All Day. Rather than starting at like Noon and Concert after Concert until like 10 p.m. JazzTrax has an 2 Afternoon Sessions and 4 Evening Sessions. 2 Acts per Session. On Saturday and Sunday giving fans a 3 1/2 hour late afternoon break to do .. whatever. Rest Up a bit in your hotel room or rental house. Mostly to go out for dinner and relax, before returning to the Ballroom for the Evening’s Performances at 7 p.m.

As Dusk turns into Nighttime Saturday Night Opening Weekend British Guitarist CHRIS STANDRING makes his 1st return to the JazzTrax Live Performance Stage since 2014.

Andre Barry on Bass .. Andre show up often .. including once on bass for David Sanborn

Speaking of Sanborn, David for health reasons had to cancel his Fall West Coast Swing. We got word in August and it wasn’t easy that late in the game to find a replacement. Everyone already having their Fall Schedules Set. But the festival found a good one and more than anything else because of who LEE RITENOUR brought along with him.

In All of this Longest Running Smooth Jazz Festivals of all, 35 years never had we gotten the Legendary DAVE GRUSIN to our stage before. The man who co created the legendary smooth jazz record label, The GRP Recording Company. The man who had been Andy Williams TV Show Music Director in the 60’s. Who then won Grammy’s and Oscars scoring some of the biggest movies, “Tootsie,” “On Golden Pond,” “Tequilla Sunrise,” “The Fabulous Baker Boys.” …….. and TV shows “St. Elsewhere.”

Finally at Age 88 DAVE GRUSIN came to Catalina Island.

Actually Dave HAD come to Catalina Island once before. Producer Art Good, so honored to finally have him, walked up as their soundcheck began. Asking if Dave had EVER come to the Island before through all his movie and television music making in Hollywood of the 60’s, 70’s, 80’s. He said, “Yes, Once. On Film Director Sydney Pollack’s YACHT.”

And Now, with Guitarist LEE RITENOUR ..

DAVE GRUSIN finally FINALLY arrived on the JazzTrax Live Performance Stage on Catalina Island, Saturday Evening, October 15th

Each October JazzTrax Festival Saturday Night .. when the final notes are played in the Ballroom .. the evening ain’t over yet .. Everyone coming out of the Wrigley Casino Turns Right (instead of left back to town) . Just a short 5 minute further stroll, alongside the Pacific Ocean, to Descanso Beach Club, for the World Famous JazzTrax Saturday Night AfterParty. Dancin’ on the Beach at Midnight .. I mean, “Do You Have An Ocean At Home …?”

Full Bar and Food Service. DJ if you want to dance. Lit Fire Pits if you want to just enjoy the ocean waves. And reflect on All that Jazz…. And She Dances Too …. !!!

Even a chance for Spence and our Sound and Lights Crew to relax and let their hair down … at the Saturday Night JazzTrax Afterparties on the beach

And our crack Security Staff too …. at the Saturday Night JazzTrax After Party at Descanso Beach .. No Ticket Required ..

Even JazzTrax Producer Art Good and JazzTrax Head of Security Jack Tofelogo .. at Descanso Beach Club late Saturday Nights

Sunday Afternoon, October 16th …. this gentleman was on stage on the East Coast, in North Carolina, just 12 hours before .. Keyboardist GINO ROSARIA who caught a Red Eye .. landed at LAX at 9:30 a.m. .. caught a helicopter in Long Beach at 11 a.m. On Stage at NOON … Whew !!!

For the 1st time in Festival History we decided to do something Different and Fun on our 2 Sunday Afternoons. THROWBACK SUNDAY AFTERNOON AT JAZZTRAX. Festival Goers invited to wear their Favorite Team’s Jersey.

Chicago Bears Fans .. The O’Brien’s .. members every year of the JazzTrax 10 Day Club .. what’s the 10 Day Club. You must arrive on the Island before the 1st Note Opening Weekend and NEVER LEAVE the Island until after the Closing Note on Closing Weekend. If you go back to the Mainland between weekends, you are not a 10 day Clubber.

JazzTrax Throwback Sunday Afternoons with a gentleman who somehow is a Padres AND Dolphins fan .. oh … maybe he divorced the Chargers when they became L.A. …

JazzTrax Producer Art Good with his friend Michael wants you to know this is NOT an L.A. Chargers Jersey .. It’s a SAN DIEGO CHARGERS Jersey …

Time for Closing Night Opening Weekend, Sunday Evening October 16th and taking up the entire JazzTrax Stage, a 10 piece band all the way from New York City ..

Christian de Mesones and his 10 piecer … including a Couple Excellent Vocalists … and Lots of HORNS ..

Christian bringing his 1 year ago Billboard No. #l Radio Hit, “Hispanica” to Avalon’s historic Ballroom .. he plays Bass by the way ..

Finally to wrap UP Opening Weekend of October’s JazzTrax, 26 miles across the sea .. The Island Return of the 2018 JazzTrax Best Live Performance of the Year Honoree .. Violinist DAMIEN ESCOBAR

In the old days for a special moment like this which if we’re remembering correctly was to honor and remember those Lost to Covid .. it used to be candles or lighters .. now it’s Smart Phone flashlights ..

Damien Escobar

Damien Escobar

One particular festival goer every time always arrives on stage with a glass of Red Wine for Damien … to Her, to You, to All of Us who Made it Through Covid … and Back to LIVE ENTERTAINMENT Again …

Just how does one GET to Catalina Island .. 26 miles off the Southern California Coastline? Some bring their Floating Hotel Rooms … Yachts and Power Boats. Avalon Harbor and Descanso Bay have Moorings. Check In with the Harbor Master. There is IEX Helicopter Service 15 minutes from Long Beach. Most come on board Catalina Express who’s ports are Long Beach, San Pedro and Dana Point. About 75 minutes across. Festival Saturdays and Sundays Cat Express adds a special JazzTrax Late Boat after Final Performance so you can DayTrip over, catching all of that days performances with no need for overnight accommodations.

The festival itself keeps you pretty busy coming to concert after concert all weekend, so a growing number of festival goers add a day ahead or a couple days after the weekend so they can enjoy more of Avalon and more of the Island than just the Event itself. Especially as hotel rates drop dramatically during the week. The View from Descanso Beach Club, site of Thursdays Evening’s outdoor concerts and Saturday Night’s JazzTrax AfterParty, just a short boardwalk stroll from The Casino.

Looking the other northward direction on Descanso Beach where the Beach Bar and food service happen throughout almost every day.

The Firepits on the Sand are LIT during the JazzTrax after dark concerts and during the Saturday Night Afterparties

JazzTrax Box Office Manager Tracy Larsen finding someone In the System who left their tickets back at home.

James Pearce, behind the intimate outdoor stage, ready to Mix the Sound for Thursday Evening’s JazzTrax Unplugged Under the Stars

JazzTrax Producer Art Good with guitarist Blake Aaron, just before putting Blake on stage to Open Closing Weekend Thursday, October 20th

BLAKE AARON and bassist accompanist, right at the stroke of 6 pm on Thursdays

Blake .. to the Chaise Loungers … the Chaises for October and the Private Cabana’s you see in background sell out early in the year. Private Cabana’s can be reserved for up to 4 persons.

and then with 7:30 pm Darkness .. long-time one of Hollywood’s busiest sessionists, featured in the orchestra’s/ bands of Jay Leno’s Tonight Show and ‘American Idol’ along with his own solo career and now member of ‘Jazz Funk ‘soul,’ PAUL JACKSON JR.

Paul Jackson Jr.

Thursday Attendees wake up to THIS … Friday Morning Already Here … ready to explore the town, the Island, before the Ballroom Lights come on in the Casino Upper Right Friday Night at 7 pm Historic Chimes Tower Upper Left and usually keeps good time there days. Built around 1930. Tuna Club and Yacht Club on Left. Green Pier with Eric’s and Fish and Chips at bottom

JazzTrax Security Staff enjoying FRIDAY before going back to work that night.

Friday Evening, Oct. 21st Arrives .. An Evening of Lady Saxers Beginning with the Return of JESSY J after More Than a Decade By the way she dressed for her New 2020 fabulous album, titled ‘BLUE’

JESSY J on stage at 7 pm Friday Evening, Oct. 21st accompanied by Bassist DARYL WILLIAMS who showed up with a number of different bands, as always .. Daryl must have gotten the “BLUE MEMO”

KAYTA who also always arrives with a number of different October Bands. The guitar Go To Los Angeles Guy

Wha La .. We DID IT … and with all that ‘BLUE’

Ya Think the Audience is Ready? 9 pm Friday Night Closing Weekend Time to Bring On MINDI .. 1st time back in the Ballroom since 2016 ..

The Oh So Fabulous MINDI ABAIR .. who made her debut on the JazzTrax Stage in 1994 as a TOTAL UNKNOWN .. not unknown anymore ..

Mindi and The Boneshakers Randy Jacobs who would return the next evening in Dave Koz Band

Maybe a Future Young Lady Saxophonist Getting her First Inspiration from Mindi seated in Front Row

And She Did It Again ..

Look who’s in the crowd .. just retired 2 weeks before, after YEARS the Morning Drive Announcer for The Wave in Los Angeles, PAT PRESCOTT, adjoined on the left by her Man Reggie, and best friend on right Kathy Payne

The Beginning of a Glorious COMPLETELY SOLD OUT SATURDAY at the 35th Catalina Island JazzTrax Festival

Returning for the 1st time in 6 years .. saxophonist Eric Darius took the Roof Off the Place

One of the Finest Performances of the 2 JazzTrax Weekends. How is that Judged? After the show Eric’s Autograph line was the absolute LONGEST of the festival. His new CD, ‘Unleashed,’ sold TWICE as many as any other artist. And he brought with him ….. the Rising Star REBECCA JADE ..

Triumphant …. Truly Triumphant …

Little did we know that our bringing Eric and Rebecah that day, that Afternoon, Saturday, Oct. 22nd, would lend to the Performance hours later, that Evening, that is likely to be Named JazzTrax Best Live Performance of the Year !!!

Fill Er Up for the Next Show .. Jose behind the bar you’ll also find checking you in for 9 holes at the Catalina Country Club Golf Course

Horns? This year’s Festival had Plenty of Horns. Christian de Mesones brought a Horn Section. Norman Brown as well. And GREG ADAMS EAST BAY SOUL IS …. HORNS … !!!

GREG ADAMS led the Tower of Power Horns from their early 70’s inception till he went solo in 1999 and then he himself formed his own EAST BAY HORNS

Remember the 1st time you saw USC Professor RICHARD SMITH? Maybe in Dan Siegel’s band that brought them all down from Oregon? For sure in Richard Elliot’s 80’s/ 90’s bands. As he showed up in October within EAST BAY SOUL

JazzTrax Producer Art Good wearing one of the new Festival Sleeveless Jackets with Ms. Mermaid on her Violin Sailboat with Trumpeter GREG ADAMS at the JazzTrax Autograph Counter

Did you dine with Rib Eye Steak and Key Lime Pie during the Afternoon Break on our Closing Sold Out Saturday? Or Sand Dabs at Bluewater Grille? Or a martini at the Avalon Grille bar on what would be bartender Javier’s final October after 45 years, returning now to his beloved ranch in Guadalajara. Did you make it to The Marlin Club? The Locker Room? Luai Larry’s? Ms. Mermaid on the side of the Casino always awaiting your nighty return for more JazzTrax.

Saturday Evening, October 22nd, the Island Debut of long time SIMPLY RED guitarist MARK JAIMES

Mark shared 2021 JazzTrax Debut Artist of the Year Honors, but couldn’t make his date a year ago. U.S. Customs were still not letting Brits into America yet post Covid. But as he arrived for his first JazzTrax appearance this Fall, look who he brought with him .... on Keys …(Sir) OLI SILK They play together often at Pizza Express Jazz Club in London which is where Rick Braun talked Mark Jaimes into recording his 1st Solo album, 2021’s ‘Hear At Last’

And Then …. the KOZ MAN makes a Dramatic Ballroom entrance from the side coming in from the outside Verandah.

Told Ya The Boneshakers Randy Jacobs would be back on stage later that day this time with DAVE KOZ

Told Ya that unbeknownst to us .. JazzTrax would help make Dave Koz Saturday Evening, October 22nd Avalon Ballroom performance probably THE 2022 JAZZTRAX BEST LIVE PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR !!! As because we had Eric Darius booked earlier that day AND Eric brought Rebecca Jade, Dave took total advantage of the situation and kept them from leaving before HE could USE them both too. Rumor has it Eric might be part of Koz Summer Horns next Summer and Rebecca Jade IS on this December’s Koz Christmas Tour. Bringing them both on stage for portions of his evening show, took the Roof Right Off the Casino. And maybe helped the Ladies Room Stall Structure to Collapse. (oh, that happened earlier in the festival …. !!!! **** $$$$ .. those translate into Art Good swear words ….)

It was a HEAVENLY MOMENT when Koz brought Eric Darius back up on stage to play the “Side by Side” sax part that David Sanborn had played on Koz 2020 JazzTrax Album of the Year ‘A New Day.’ One of Koz big Billboard Radio Hits.

We had seen this pairing and this song, “The Promise” performed on the Dave Koz Cruise in the British Isles in May .. It was amazing .. Little could we imagine the pair would find themselves Together Again on the JazzTrax Stage in October doing it again. As Dave Koz introduced them he said, “There is No Sax on this Song, so I’m going to go down and sit in the Front Row and enjoy it with all of you.” And He Did. Rebecca Jade and Chris Walker …

DAVE KOZ … DID IT AGAIN ….

Spencer our Sound Engineer smiling after “mostly” keeping the arriving bands from playing too loud. One of our better “Sound Years.”

And the JazzTrax Crack Lighting Crew who make the historic 1929 Avalon Ballroom .. FABULOUS for 2 October Weekends every year

Closing Day .. the Finale of it ALL … begins with East Bay Northern California, Walnut Creek Saxophonist JEFF RYAN His 3rd JazzTrax Festival Appearance after being Named the JazzTrax 2018 Debut Artist of the Year

Mr. DAVID BENOIT re-invented himself a bit early in this year with his ‘The Midnight Rendezvous’ album. Half the album featured his new MIDNIGHT RENDEZVOUS BIG BAND. Not sure how they got “hidden” BEHIND David’s Grand Piano, but more Horns, Horns, Horns. We should have had Ms. Mermaid playing a Trumpet, a Saxophone, and a Trombone, so she could have joined them too. Bassist Roberto Vally on the Far End. (Roberto first came to JazzTrax inside Spyro Gyra our 1987 debut year)

MR. DAVID BENOIT mixing all his Benoit-ish oh so good compositions, including as always (for his wife) “Kei’s Song” with his new Big Band

We think the Story Goes .. Mrs. Wrigley around 1930 contributed the Chimes Tower to The City of Avalon. It was we think originally stationed down by Antonio’s Pizzeria on the Harbor before being moved UP above the town overlooking the Casino and Ocean so it’s On the Hour, On the Quarter Hours, would ring OUT across this tiny seaport village. For many years it wasn’t kept up and Top of the Hour would sound like at 20 minutes till …. causing departing tourists to start sprinting towards the boats thinking they were late and would miss their returns. But of late contributions and a late October Fund Raise “Bats at the Belfry” have returned these Chimes to their original glory … and “accurate times.”

Finally it was time for CLOSING NIGHT 2 WEEKENDS, 8 NIGHTS of Glorious Smooth Jazz coming to an end. With 1 of our 2 “Where Did They Come From” Artists. At just age 16, multi instrumentalist JUSTIN LEE SCHULTZ ..

It was virtually the Schultz Family Experience as Dad (pictured above) was on Guitar .. Sis, Jaime, here was on Drums .. Mom we think was backstage counting the money ..

Closing Weekend .. Closing Night .. Closing Show MR. NORMAN BROWN Complete with Horns and Back-Up Singers and HIM

The 2022 JazzTrax Festival Grand Conclusion with ….. Stormin’ Norman

And Now …Ladies and Gentleman .. Thank You for coming, from Near and Far .. Thank You for Coming Year after Year because YOU are who keep this Festival going for now approaching 4 Decades !! Have a Safe Trip back to where you live your lives and keep your stuff .. And Keep “Dreaming About Catalina Island in October All Year Long.” See you back here again next October 2023 for our 36th annual 26 miles across the sea …. in the tiny seaport village called … AVALON art good

BATS IN THE BELFRY .. The Wrigley Chimes Tower .. after all … it is OCTOBER ..