Since 1st being spotted by Art Good in a La Jolla Jazz Club one night in 1991 Arriving for the 1st time on Catalina Island in 1994 Arriving in Jonathan Butler’s Band in 1998 Debuting Solo in 2003 she appeared on the JazzTrax Performance Stage almost every year through 2016. Returning in 2021, this will be Mindi’s 5th Consecutive October On the Island .. this time .. BACK UNDER THE STARS ON THE BEACH OPENING WEEKEND

Don’t Miss MINDI ABAIR OPENING WEEKEND .. Thursday Evening of this Fall’s 38th Catalina Island JazzTrax Festival Unplugged Under the Stars on Descanso Beach

This his latest, a 2024 3 Song EP has already scored the title track on the Billboard Smooth Jazz Charts 3 Weeks at Number #1 last Summer. A 2nd Single “G Funk” featuring Trombone Shorty hit the Charts as 2025 began

A true Angelino, born and raised in Los Angeles, but now long having escaped to Colorado, just outside Denver. Everyone knows Gerald as Mr. Saxman, but he’s as accomplished on Bass Guitar. With Patrice Rushen straight out of University of Redlands, on the east end of the L.A. sprawl. Playing both bass and sax for the likes of Anita Baker, Ray Parker Jr., Atlantic Starr, The Temptations, Maurice White, Teena Marie, The Winans, Whitney Houston, Quincy Jones. In our realm Sax for Lee Ritenour early 90’s. Featured Instrumentalist on a Phil Collins World Tour.

As well beginning his own Solo Career as “Smooth Jazz” was just beginning to spread outa San Diego through L.A. and S.F. back to N.Y. with his debut album in 1987 ‘Just Between Us.’

He’s album collaborated with Norman Brown and with Will Downing, has 2 Grammy’s on his Colorado Wall. 2012 and 2014 and 2 more Grammy Nominations, 2008 and 2009.

Toured in Smooth Jazz All Star Combinations like Guitars & Saxes, Groovin’ for Grover, Jazz Explosion and the Dave Koz Summer Horns. Such a perennial favorite JazzTrax tries to bring him back every other year, alternating weekends

And his wife with her own career

Even more interesting and distinguishable Gerald’s saxophone appears in the PlayStation video game ‘Castlevania: Symphony of the Night’ in its theme song, “I Am the Wind.” (also with keyboardist Jeff Lorber)

In September 2021 Gerald received the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award from President Joe Biden.

SPYRO GYRA

OPENING WEEKEND

Well before Kenny G crossed over onto the Pop Charts in the mid 80’s this Band crossed over to the Pop Charts, mid 70’s with “SHAKER SONG” off their very 1st album.

And continued with several more before we even got into the hot smooth jazz 80’s.

Now, go pull out some old pictures of YOU from the late 70’s Cause believe it or not, that’s the same Jay Beckenstein on sax and the same Tom Schuman on keys, almost 50 years past in time.

Chet Catello’s guitar has long become Julio Fernandez Scott Ambush is now on bass The original percussionist long gone, even Dave Samuels long gone from the band Lionel Cordew now on drums But still always Jay on sax and Tom on keys

In 2019 Jay and the Band did something almost unimaginable by Spyro Gyra Standards. They’d long ago broken their Only Instrumentals standards when Basia contributed a song and Alex Ligertwood broke that barrier on a couple of 1992 tunes but 6 years ago, an Album of Covers. Spyro Blasphemy. But Art Good called it The Best Instrumental Album of Covers JazzTrax had ever heard. (their PR person RAN with Art’s quote)

A very young Eric Darius made his Catalina Island Debut 2 Decades ago. October 2004. Nobody has worked harder at turning himself into a Smooth Jazz Superstar and muchly of his Electric Live Performance. Now having earned many years on the Dave Koz Cruise and on Dave Koz Summer Horns and Dave Koz Christmas Tours. His latest came in 2022.

NYC electric violinist who broke loudly into the scene in 2017. Named the 2017 JazzTrax Debut Artist of the Year So Powerful in his Catalina Island 2018 JazzTrax Debut The Festival brought him back for BOTH 2019 Weekends This Marks Damien’s 5th Appearance 26 miles across the sea

His latest album, ‘Gemini’ came out last June.

This October will be Damien’s 5th Appearance on the JazzTrax Live Performance Stage His first in 2018 got him the JazzTrax Best Live Performance Honor of the Year Thus BRINGING HIM BACK in 2019 When he did something so rare .. Playing BOTH 2019 JazzTrax Weekends SO EVERYBODY COULD SEE HIM.

Don’t Miss electric violinist DAMIEN ESCOBAR CLOSING WEEKEND of this Fall’s 38th Catalina Island JazzTrax Festival.

Arriving, from Houston, in Los Angeles in 1971, he originally latched on to Hugh Masekela and then Ronnie was the original saxophonist of Earth, Wind & Fire when they broke out in 1972, but Ronnie broke loose to do his own solo career after just a couple years. He was the Red Hot Solo Saxophonist of the 70’s, long before Kenny G. By his 3rd album, ‘Fever,’ in 1977 he went certified GOLD.

But his Signature Song that lives on, “Always There” came from his 1975 debut. When he played it, stretched it, on our October stage in 2023, one of the audience members, SPIKE LEE, who just happened to be on the Island for god only knows what reason, hearing Ronnie was performing, bought a ticket, came up, and went up on stage, inspiring an even LONGER stretch out of “Always There.”

Don’t Miss Ronnie doing the LONG INCREDIBLE LIVE Version of ‘ALWAYS THERE” on the JazzTrax Live Performance Stage This October 2025

Performance Info

Closing Weekend

Performance Info

Closing Weekend

PURCHASE TICKETS RIGHT NOW to BE THERE for BOB JAMES PURCHASE FULL WEEKEND TICKETS IN THE HISTORIC 1929 AVALON BALLROOM .. looking out to sea