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Welcome to the
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Archive
Best of
here you can review all of the past
Best of
for any given previous year
AND NOW … ANNOUNCING
THE JAZZTRAX BEST OF 2023
This will be Presented Week Ahead of and through New Year’s Weekend
in Audio on STREAMING JazzTrax
but for the 1st Time Austin Good has turned this into a PLAYLIST ..
Listen Now
Top 10 Albums of 2023
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Album of the Year
Bob James
"Jazz Hands"
It’s LOADED .. Absolutely Loaded, Bob must have been born with Melodies in his head because they just keep on coming.
From the moment Quincy Jones discovered Bob at a 1963 jazz festival, to at age 83 when he just gave us one of our finest Fri Night Performances at the Catalina Island JazzTrax Festival including ADDING the 1920’s Al Jolson radio hit, “I Left My Heart in Avalon,” to the start of his classic song “Westchester Lady” ( hear it happen on the Catalina Island JazzTrax Radio Special at JazzTrax.com)
This newest from Bob arrived in September and it was obvious … it IS THIS YEAR’s BEST
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Top 10 Albums of the Year
2.
Keiko Matsui
"Euphoria"
Songs this lovely Japanese Pianist brought to Catalina Island this past October. See this album’s “further honor” below.
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Top 10 Albums of the Year
3.
Roberto Restuccia
"Lounge KatZ"
See Roberto’s also “further honor” below Break-Out Guitarist from the U.K. Who also made his JazzTrax Stage Debut this past October and OutSold Everybody in the JazzTrax CD Store. He’d debuted with his 1st solo album during Covid Year, but this is the one that pushes him Front & Center.
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Top 10 Albums of the Year
4.
Slim Man & his Funky Bona Fide Band
"Slim Man Bona Fide"
Songs created just down the street and over a few from the JazzTrax Studio in Palm Springs. Slimmie finally combines his vocals and funky Bona Fide instrumentals into ONE Album. Half & Half. Songs he also brought to Catalina Island where he stunningly began his show which began our festival with “The National Anthem.”
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Top 10 Albums of the Year
5.
Jonathan Butler
"Ubuntu"
Another Half & Half Album. Half JB Vocals. Half JB Instrumentals. As pleasing as they come. The violinist is …. Jonathan’s wife.
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Top 10 Albums of the Year
6.
Four 80 East
"Gonna Be Alright"
Songs crossing the Border Canada into America once again. Listening to “At the Post” almost feels like a reprise of what we consider their signature song “Last Flight to L.A.” from almost 20 years ago.
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Top 10 Albums of the Year
7.
Euge Groove
"Comfort Zone"
Hasn’t been on stage of late as he works through a few things, but never hesitant in the recording studio which he loves. It’s got guests like Candy Dulfer and Richard Elliot and contains what JazzTrax proclaims “The Prettiest Song of the Year.” Listed below.
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Top 10 Albums of the Year
8.
Lemek
"Emergence"
Already with 2 Billboard No. #1 Hits the past 12 months, but those 2 songs finally found their album home with Lemek’s “emergence.” His release of his very first album, in September, at age 24. Songs he brought to Avalon for his JazzTrax Stage Debut, with his Dad, on sax, Quintin Gerard W., & Dad’s 2 (also in the past 12 months) #1 Billboard hits as well.
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Top 10 Albums of the Year
9.
Nick Colionne
"Just Like That"
Sadly Nick’s Final Album Project We lost him 2 years ago on New Year’s Day, but he left us with a whopper, packed with songs that kept getting released, kept hitting the Billboard Charts, kept giving him #1’s clear into This Year. Nick’s Songs Live On …
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Top 10 Albums of the Year
10.
Peet Project
"Sweet Lemon"
And the Bad Boys of Budapest have just tipped us off they’ll have another new album to send across The Pond, This Summer
40 Best Songs of 2023
Listen to the JazzTrax Top 40 Songs of 2023 LIST on Youtube
CLICK HERE
Listen to the JazzTrax Top 40 Songs of 2023 on Spotify
CLICK HERE
Listen to the JazzTrax Top 40 Songs of 2023 on Apple Music
CLICK HERE
Listen Straight Through to what JazzTrax Considered to be The Best 40 Songs of This Year The JazzTrax Top 40 Songs of the Year PLAYLIST created by Austin Good
Debut Artist of 2023
Debut Artist of the Year
U.K. Break-Out Guitarist
Roberto Restuccia
Best of 2023
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AND NOW ... 2023’s JazzTrax BEST SONG
Bob James
“The Otherside”
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Best Smooth Jazz Vocal of the Year
"Love and Nothing Less"
Sung by
Lalah Hathaway
on
Keiko Matsui’s
"Euphoria"
Lalah Hathaway above and below in studio with Keiko Matsui
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JazzTrax Best Live Performance of the Year
Always the BIG Question. After a Boney James performance closing our Opening Weekend, along with a 1st by Sergio Mendes on the Island. After Craig and Keiko and Acoustic Alchemy and Gerald and a 1st everywhere anywhere live concert by the Jazz Holdouts, “how to close it all………..?”
When suddenly Art Good spotted a benefit concert early in the year Memorializing the Songs of the late great Al Jarreau. With Regina Belle adding in her theme song from the Disney movie ‘Aladdin’ “A Whole New World.” With Bobby Lyle on keys and Eric Marienthal on sax and Chris Walker who put the whole thing together, sounding so exactly like Jarreau, singing Al’s never to be forgotten songs. After All Chris had for years been Jarreau’s bassist and back-up singer. Alas, we never got Jarreau himself to our Smooth Jazz Island so this was a bit of a make-up. It was the Perfect Climax to JazzTrax 2023 26 miles across the sea.
left to right, Regina Bella, Chris Walker, back-up singer, saxophonist Eric Marienthal, keyboardist Bobby Lyle In a Musical Tribute to Al Jarreau
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JazzTrax Best Live Performance of the Year
Chris Walker’s
"A Musical Tribute to Al Jarreau"
with Regina Belle, Bobby Lyle and Eric Marienthal
Sunday Evening, Oct. 22nd
Closing Show 36th Catalina Island JazzTrax Festival
BUT
Chris Walker & Regina Belle singing 'Aladdin' from Disney's A Whole New World Avalon Ballroom Closing Night JazzTrax Festival
Chris Walker & Regina Belle Musical Tribute to Al Jarreau on Catalina Island
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JazzTrax Best Live Performance of the Year ... Part Two
Austin Good had HIS Pick for Best Live Performance
Because ya know, our Youngers Retro Music like we could never have imagined ourselves, having to find an Oldies Station in our Youngers Years unless we’d bought the Single or the Vinyl Album ourselves. Still at age 24 Austin knew Ronnie Laws great songs of the 1970’s Ronnie was The Hottest Saxman comin’ out of L.A. He kept asking, “Dad, when are you gonna book Ronnie again? It’s been 20 years.” Ronnie loves Austin for straightening his Dad out and getting him finally back to the Island. During his show, right after he’d played his all time classic song, “Always There,” Spike Lee who inexplicably showed up that day at the JazzTrax Festival jumped up on stage .. “for a moment.”
Ronnie Laws right, with Spike Lee left, joining Ronnie onstage
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JazzTrax Best Live Performance of the Year ... Part Two
Austin Good had HIS Pick for Best Live Performance
Ronnie Laws
Saturday Afternoon, Oct. 14th
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Prettiest Song of the Year
Euge Groove
“Let's Hold Hands"
On
"Comfort Zone"
JazzTrax Moment of the Year
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JazzTrax (or Art Good’s) Moment of the Year
Stand Up To Cancer
Game 4 of The World Series
Chase Field, Phoenix Arizona Oct. 31st
Arizona DiamondBacks
vs
Texas Rangers
Stand Up To Cancer Moment
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JazzTrax (or Art Good’s) Moment of the Year
Continued
The National League Champion Arizona DiamondBacks versus the American League Champion Texas Rangers Being at ANY World Series is ANY Year’s Moment of the Year
The D-Backs hardly expected to be there, but sweeping the Dodgers. Then unexpectedly taking out the much favored Phillies before running into almost a buzz saw with the Rangers who were winning their 1st World Series,……3rd trip in.
Dad, coming off a month on Catalina Island, called Son, on film festival assignment in Savanah, Georgia. “I know your Dodgers didn’t make it, but the World Series is just a 3 hour drive across the desert from Palm Springs, in Phoenix. Wanna Go?” To which Son replied,”Dad …….. is that a Question?”
Art really didn’t see IT coming.
”The Moment”
Art and Austin Good (Father & Son) at Game 4 of The World Series
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JazzTrax (or Art Good’s) Moment of the Year
Continued
He’d watched the STAND UP TO CANCER moment on television in previous World Series. In fact, it was “That Moment” in the 2017 World Series, in Houston, when the Astro’s Manager’s STAND UP TO CANCER Sign had the name Kevin Towers on it.
Kevin had been a Diamondbacks and a San Diego Padres General Manager over the course of 20 plus years and had kept his illness pretty secret until there was His Name on a STAND UP TO CANCER sign being held up by Houston’s manager at that 2017 World Series 6 years ago.
Kevin was a long time family friend of Art and Austin Good. In fact, 1 Dodger Series, Summer of 2014 that Art and Austin drove over to Phoenix for, Towers texted Art. “You guys here?” Yep we are Kevin. “Well, end of this inning, come over to your elevator and I’ll bring you down to sit in my D Backs GM’s Box for a few innings.” He did make Austin cover up his Go Dodgers t-shirt, but there we were in the GM’s Box of the Arizona DiamondBacks. Amazing moment of itself.
Kevin passed away within the year of that 2017 STAND UP TO CANCER Moment, but here Art and Austin were, at the World Series, in that same Ballpark in Phoenix, standing up and holding their own STAND UP TO CANCER signs.
"STAND UP TO CANCER"
previous World Series
(pictured)
AJ Hinch
2017 Houston Astros Manager
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JazzTrax (or Art Good’s) Moment of the Year
Continued
It wasn’t just A Moment. It was like 2 minutes, total dead silence, 50,000 fans
Holding up, many defiantly, our STAND UP TO CANCER signs. Many with the names of a loved one, or a friend, or anyone, they knew who had CANCER.
Art lost his mom to cancer at age 6. Kevin Towers had lost his battle with cancer. Art didn’t see the emotion coming ….. and then it swept over him Like a Wave. Caught his son by surprise who has rarely seen his Dad emotional, (Unless MAD at a computer or something Not Working).
Son handed Dad a tissue. An Incredibly Powerful 2 Minutes, total silence by 50,000 fans who STOOD UP TO CANCER at the World Series, and Millions More STANDING UP TO CANCER in front of their televisions or computers coast to coast at home.
Because you never know when it might be you. SO STAND UP
Art Good Stands Up To Cancer
Best of 2022
Top 10 Albums of 2022
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Album of the Year
Jessy J.
"Blue"
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Top 10 Albums of the Year
1.
Jessy J.
"Blue"
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Top 10 Albums of the Year
2.
David Benoit
"A Midnight Rendevous"
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Top 10 Albums of the Year
3.
Candy Dulfer
"We Never Stop"
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Top 10 Albums of the Year
4.
Rebecca Jade
"A Shade of Jade"
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Top 10 Albums of the Year
5.
Rick Braun
"Rick Braun"
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Top 10 Albums of the Year
6.
Boney James
"Detour"
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Top 10 Albums of the Year
7.
Chris Standring
"Simple Things"
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Top 10 Albums of the Year
8.
Paul Brown
"Promised Land"
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Top 10 Albums of the Year
9.
Najee
"Savoir Faire"
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Top 10 Albums of the Year
10.
Grant Geissman
"Blooz"
40 Best Songs of 2022
Debut Artist of 2022
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Debut Artist of the Year
Singer Rebecca Jade
From San Diego she popped onto the scene this year Big Time. Performing on Board, with “everybody,” throughout the Dave Koz Cruise through the British Isles in May. Dazzling Producer Art Good who was in attendance.
She then showed up on Catalina Island inside Eric Darius show, Closing Weekend, on a Saturday Afternoon. Dave Koz who appeared that night asking both Rebecca and Eric to stay and to join him on a number of songs in his show which was and were amazing. Even as she was on the Island her debut album, ‘A Shade of Jade’ dropped nationally.
Art Good finally was able to listen late in November after a couple of very hectic JazzTrax months. He had a couple other artists in mind for this honor but both had released their debuts in the previous year and then earlier this month had Rebecca had her 1st single “Show Me,” hit the Billboard Smooth Jazz Charts TOP 10! At the last minute it became crystal clear that Rebecca was the JazzTrax Debut Artist of 2022.
Best of 2022
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Best Song of the Year
"Lost Words"
By
Phillippe Saisse
with
Marc Antoine
‘Jarreau’s Lost Words’ as the Song was to have been Sung by Al. When he passed away before getting it recorded it became an instrumental with Marc’s guitar replacing Al Jarreau’s “Lost Words.”
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Best Smooth Jazz Vocal of the Year
“If You Believe”
Sung by
Jean Baylor
on
Yellowjackets
‘Parallel Motion’
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JazzTrax Best Live Performance of the Year
Dave Koz
Saturday Evening, Oct. 21st
35th JazzTrax Festival
in the historic 1929 Avalon Ballroom, looking out to sea, on Catalina Island
This choice was never in doubt, from Dave’s dramatic entrance from the outside verandah overlooking the Pacific Ocean to his bringing back up on stage his new friends Rebecca Jade and Eric Darius.
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JazzTrax Best Live Performance of the Year
Continued
Dave Koz
Saturday Evening, Oct. 21st
35th JazzTrax Festival
in the historic 1929 Avalon Ballroom, looking out to sea, on Catalina Island
Rebecca Jade here singing “The Promise” with Chris Walker as Dave intro-ed it saying there was No Sax on the Song so he was going down into the Front Row to watch it himself, which he did (Picture is on JazzTrax Picture Page). To having Eric Darius do David Sanborn’s record recorded part on “Side by Side” with Koz.
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JazzTrax Best Live Performance of the Year
Continued
Dave Koz
Saturday Evening, Oct. 21st
35th JazzTrax Festival
in the historic 1929 Avalon Ballroom, looking out to sea, on Catalina Island
To standing ovation after standing ovation from a Totally 100% Sold Out JazzTrax Festival Ballroom Audience. You can hear a portion of this incredulous evening on the Catalina Island JazzTrax Festival Radio Special.
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Best Song or Album Title of the Year
“Catalina Nights”
No. #1 Billboard
By
The Braxton Brothers
Come on .. what else would JazzTrax Pick Written by Wayne Braxton one romantic night with his wife in Avalon Song they claim they’d love to bring … to Avalon for a Catalina JazzTrax Night …
JazzTrax Moment of the Year
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JazzTrax (or Art Good’s) Moment of the Year
Dave Grusin
Onstage With
Art Good
When in August, just 2 months out, we were alerted that David Sanborn had to cancel his West Coast Tour. Due to health reasons he could not fly lengthy flights, we were in a quandary how to replace him at such a late stage with almost all acts having their Fall Schedules Set In Place. We found that Lee Ritenour had a brief lay-over at his home in L.A. that weekend before flying to Europe. We also noticed he had been doing dates with the legendary Dave Grusin.
Now in his late 80’s, the co-founder of the GRP Recording Company who launched the careers of so many smooth jazz stars, let alone owner of Grammy’s and Oscars, his television and movie work extending from the 60’s as Music Director of the Andy Williams Show to the 70’s “Theme from St. Elsewhere,” to the motion picture music soundtracks for the likes of ‘Tootsie,’ “On Golden Pone,’ “The Firm’ and so many more, let alone his own Solo Albums. Grusin had never ever graced the JazzTrax Live Performance Stage before so it was Art Good’s ‘Personal Moment of the Year’ when he walked up to Dave sound checking his keys in prep for Rit’s evening performance.
Dave looked up and said “Hi Art … Long Time … “ Art asked if Dave had ever, during his Hollywood music days of the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s, come to Catalina Island. Dave replied, “Once .. on (legendary film director) Sydney Pollack’s boat (yacht.) But never before in the Avalon Ballroom .. until today.” Finally at Age 88 Dave Grusin and Art Good were having a conversation .. 26 miles across the sea.
JazzTrax In Memorium 2022
-
In Memoriam
NICK COLIONNE
“The Big Windy Cat” We lost Nick unexpectedly on New Year’s Day. We’re expecting a final album from Nick on the anniversary of his passing. It’s 1st Single “What You Do To Me,” went Billboard #1 in the Spring. This was Summer of 2013 at the Big Bear JazzTrax Summer Music Festival, sitting with George Duke. It was George’s Final Ever Stage Appearance. Now it’s likely Nick and George are making music together … up there …
Best of 2021
Top 10 Albums of 2021
-
Album of the Year
Jesse Cook
"Libre"
-
Top 10 Albums of the Year
1.
Jesse Cook
"Libre"
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Top 10 Albums of the Year
2.
Andy Snitzer
"Higher"
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Top 10 Albums of the Year
3.
Randal Clark
"imaginary World"
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Top 10 Albums of the Year
4.
Jeff Lorber
"’Space-Time"
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Top 10 Albums of the Year
5.
Larry Carlton & Paul Brown
"Soul Searchin"
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Top 10 Albums of the Year
6.
Brian Simpson
"All That Matters’"
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Top 10 Albums of the Year
7.
Mark Jaimes
"Hear at Last"
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Top 10 Albums of the Year
8.
Four 80 East
"Mixed Up"
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Top 10 Albums of the Year
9.
Dave Koz & Cory Wong
"The Golden Hour"
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Top 10 Albums of the Year
TIE
10.
Vincent Ingala
"Fire and Desire"
-
Top 10 Albums of the Year
TIE
10.
Adam Hawley
"Risin’ Up"
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Top 10 Albums of the Year
TIE
10.
Richard Elliot
"Authentic Life"
Top 10 Songs of 2021
-
Song of the Year
Jazmin Ghent
"Get Ready"
-
Top 10 Songs of the Year
1.
Jazmin Ghent
"Get Ready"
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Top 10 Songs of the Year
2.
Jesse Cook
"Jaleo"
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Top 10 Songs of the Year
3.
Four 80 East
"Speak Easy"
-
Top 10 Songs of the Year
4.
Randal Clark
"Discovery"
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Top 10 Songs of the Year
5.
Larry Carlton and Paul Brown
"Aftershock"
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Top 10 Songs of the Year
6.
Jeff Kashiwa
"Saratoga"
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Top 10 Songs of the Year
7.
Andy Snitzer
"Bloom"
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Top 10 Songs of the Year
8.
Dave Koz and Cory Wong
“Getaway Car"
and
Most Dangerous Song of the Year
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Top 10 Songs of the Year
9.
Jesse Cook
“One World One Voice”
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Top 10 Songs of the Year
10.
Jeff Lorber
"Sun Princess"
Debut Artists of 2021
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Debut Artist (s) of the Year
Guitarist Mark Jaimes
"Hear At Last"
Summer 2021 Solo Debut
After years on guitar with Simply Red Lives in London with Special Guests Peter White & Rick Braun.
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Debut Artist (s) of the Year
Saxophonist Randal Clark
"Imaginary World"
Spring 2021 Solo Debut
Produced by Randy Brecker with Special Guests Jeff Lorber and Randy Brecker.
Lives in Salt Lake City.
Best of 2021
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Best Live Performance of the Year
Both at Catalina Island JazzTrax Festival
Jeffrey Osborne
Saturday Night October 16, 2021
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Best Live Performance of the Year
Larry Carlton
Saturday Night October 23, 2021
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Best Smooth Jazz Vocal
Patti Austin
On
Mark Jaimes
"Midnight Rendezvous"
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Best Song or Album Title
Four 80 East Album
"Mixed Up"
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Prettiest Song of the Year
Gregg Karukas
"Sound of Emotion"
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More Best Songs of 2021
“We’ll See”
“Midnight Rendezvous”
“Miel’s Song”
From Simply Red guitarist Mark Jaimes Summer Solo Debut
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More Best Songs of 2021
“Trailblazer”
“Times Arrow”
From Salt Lake City Saxophonist Randal Clark’s Springs Solo Debut.
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More Best Songs of 2021
“Feel the ID”
“Family Reunion”
From the Summer Collaboration by Dave Koz & Cory Wong.
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More Best Songs of 2021
“Blue Bird"
"Your Smile”
From Kenny G’s new album in 6 years … “Legacy”
Dan Siegel (2 combined songs) both featuring Rogerio Jordin
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Biggest NO.1's
On the Billboard Smooth Jazz Chart
JazzTrax Moments of the Year
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JazzTrax Moments of The Year-1
Flutist Kim Scott
On stage saying “Covid is Real. I got Covid, My husband got Covid, Our son got Covid. We lived but we were really sick. Covid is REAL. “
She then played “BELIEVE.”
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JazzTrax Moments of The Year-2
Keyboardist Nicholas Cole
who had to cancel his JazzTrax Festival performance a week out because he caught Covid.
But his band leader continued the show and Kay Ta called Nicholas on cellphone. Put phone to microphone and Nicholas greeted festival audience and then played intro to song on his piano from North Carolina. Cell phone to microphone to JazzTrax Audience.
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BUT THE REAL
JAZZTRAX MOMENT OF THE YEAR ….
We Did It.
The JazzTrax Festival Came Back.
It Happened.
We MADE IT !!!!!
JazzTrax Festivals
Ask any Questions at
JazzTrax@Live.com
611 South Palm Canyon Drive
Suite 7-458
Palm Springs, CA 92264-7402
