33rd Annual Catalina Island JazzTrax Festival

OCT. 10-13 AND 17-20 33rd Annual Catalina Island JazzTrax Festival

Avalon, California

Avalon Harbor on Catalina Island

By Melanie Maxwell

This year’s Catalina Island JazzTrax Festival expands its alluring vibe

by adding after-show CD-release parties and artist meet-and-greets at one of Avalon’s newest restaurants, Toyon Grill, on Thursday and Friday nights. During their featured nights, with their latest CDs playing, Rick Braun, Keiko Matsui, Peter White and David Benoit (who is making a special trip to the island even though he isn’t performing at the festival) will mingle with fans, sign autographs and snap selfies. Located near the Cabrillo Mole, where the Catalina Express ferries dock, this venue offers sweeping views of Avalon Harbor from the second floor of Trailhead, Catalina Island Conservancy’s recently constructed, three-story flagship facility.

The celebration of smooth jazz accompanies a notable date—the 100th anniversary of chewing gum magnate William Wrigley Jr.’s purchase of the Catalina Island Co. Ten years after his acquisition, the island’s landmark Catalina Casino opened, attracting movie studio moguls to its elegant ground-floor Avalon Theatre with hand-painted murals and a Page pipe organ (which is still played before movies on Friday and Saturday nights). Back then, visitors traveled by steamship to also twirl and jitterbug their hearts out to the sounds of the big bands in the top-floor ballroom adorned in a lavish medley of rose-hued walls, gold and silver leaf accents, art deco reliefs, an arching 50-foot ceiling with five Tiffany-esque chandeliers and French doors connecting it to the “Romance Promenade” (aka veranda) encircling the 12-story-tall building. However, smooth jazz purists need not fret. In addition to Braun, White and Matsui, there are plenty of great genre stars heading 26 miles across the sea to perform at this 33rd annual event, including Boney James, Euge Groove and Acoustic Alchemy, along with emerging solo artists such as saxophonist Marqueal Jordan, bassist Michael Manson and trumpeter Johnny Britt. Plus, the Saturday night after-parties are still happening at Descanso Beach, and this year, DJ LexaKhan will be spinning the dance tunes till after midnight. So, you can still get your jazz groove on, island style, with festival favorites, a taste of the future and a splash from the past.

Daniel Ho and Peter White performing at the 2018 Catalina Island JazzTrax Festival’s “Unplugged” concert at Descanso Beach

In the spirit of the 90th anniversary of the Catalina Casino, JazzTrax festival producer Art Good is paying homage to the big-band era with some of the acts he booked. “Of course, the big theme this year is the 90th and 100th anniversaries. We celebrate opening weekend with The Legendary Count Basie Orchestra, then Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band closing weekend,” said Good. “It’s also apparently the island debut of The Legendary Count Basie Orchestra. I’ve Googled and Googled and can’t find any record of Basie playing in the Catalina Ballroom during the ’30s and ’40s big-band era. Their manager can’t find any record of it either.” Multi-genre violin sensation Damien Escobar is returning to the island, but this time for both weekends. “We’ve never had the same Saturday night headliner both weekends before,” said Good. “But the closing weekend audience demanded him back, and opening weekend hasn’t seen him yet.”

WHEN

Oct. 10-13 and Oct. 17-20

WHERE

Friday-Sunday performances are held in the Catalina Casino Ballroom, 1 Casino Way, Avalon, California. Thursday night “Unplugged Under the Stars” concerts and the Saturday evening after-parties happen at Descanso Beach. CD-Release and Artist Meet-and-Greet parties (with recorded music) will be held at Toyon Grill, 708 Crescent Ave., on Thursday and Friday nights after the concerts. GETTING THERE

Catalina Express offers 30 daily departures from ports in Long Beach, San Pedro and Dana Point, California. Special, after-performance boat departures at 11:45 p.m. from Avalon back to Long Beach are available after JazzTrax festival shows on Saturday and Sunday. If flying into the Los Angeles-Orange County areas, flights are available into John Wayne Airport, Orange County (SNA), Long Beach Airport (LGB) and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). Shuttles and taxis are available from these airports to cross-channel transportation operators. Distance to Catalina Express’ Long Beach terminal is approximately 11 miles from LGB, 22 miles from LAX and 29 miles from SNA. If driving, parking is available at the terminal for a fee.

For reservations or information, visit www.CatalinaExpress. com or call 800-995-4386.

STAYING THERE

These properties offer special “JazzTrax” packages (based on availability). Hermosa Hotel, a dog-friendly economy hotel located in the heart of Avalon, at 131 Metropole St. For reservations or information,

visit www.HermosaHotel.com or call 310-510-1010.

Hotel Catalina and Courtyard Garden Suites are both located steps from the bay, at 129 Whittley Ave. and 108 Marilla Ave., respectively. Guests receive a 10 percent discount at Antonio’s Pizzeria & Cabaret and Original Jack’s Country Kitchen. For reservations or informa-

tion, visit www.hotelcatalina.com or call 800-540-0184.

TICKETS AND INFORMATION

www.jazztrax.com, 866-872-9849

LINEUP

Thursday, Oct. 10

Unplugged Under the Stars at Descanso Beach featuring Nick Colionne, with Blake Aaron as the opening act............6 p.m. David Benoit CD-Release Party (David Benoit and Friends) at Toyon Grill..........................................................................9 p.m. continued on page 12