You can't really say we're winding down after two consecutive JazzTrax Festival Weekends on Catalina Island, when this the third and Final Weekend will see the biggest crowds of all in the Avalon Ballroom... looking out to sea. You may have your suitcase packed. Your boat tickets in hand. Or you may have already attended this October's JazzTrax Island Extravaganza. All of you can be in the Ballroom this weekend without evening leaving the comfort of your living rooms. From anywhere in the World, you can tune in on-line to all ten concerts this weekend  and watch on the Live Webcam. From Eric Darius as the Weekend opens Friday night to George Duke when it closes on Sunday Night including this year's Huge Surprise winner,  debut female trumpet player Cindy Bradley who has stolen the show. But there's been a lot of stealing going on. Matt Marshak ripped it up and most did not know him. Jesse Cook burned a hole in the roof. And if you missed it, you still haven't missed it because Thanksgiving Weekend we'll present the Catalina Island JazzTrax Festival Radio Special on the JazzTrax Syndicated Airwaves, including on-line at JazzTrax.com where you can listen right now to Benson debuting his Brand New.

The Southern California weather dipped a bit this past weekend. Still Summer here, but it got a day of rain and a bit cooler. Al Roker says that's ending on Thursday when it gets HOT again on Friday and Saturday. Meaning the Island should be sitting in the Upper 70's. But as always, with Cool Ocean Breezes wafting in through the French Doors into our 1929, 80 year old Avalon Ballroom. Come if you can. The recession knocked our attendance back just a tiny bit, so there will be tickets available at the door for all sessions. The new JazzTrax Festival T-shirts, Hats and Fleeces are lookin' really good on all of your Smooth Jazz Bodies. Keiko Matsui, who may spend the whole weekend as a guest of JazzTrax, begins our Finale Weekend of Island JazzTrax, Thursday Night, Unplugged at the Wrigley Ranch. I even went on a tour bus last week, stopping at the world famous Airport in the Sky for Buffalo Wings and a cold beverage. There are fewer than 50 tickets left for Keiko under the stars. Come on out to the Island. 26 miles off the Southern California Coastline. Or listen in. Make the finale of the JazzTrax Festival part of your upcoming weekend either by computer...or in person.

Don't miss the boat!

 

JazzTrax Producer/Creator

JazzTrax Guest

George Benson's 'Songs and Stories'
 

When George Benson releases something brand new, it's time to bring out the champagne and pop the cork. No matter the economy because with a full CD of new Benson at least the musical part of the recession is over. Benson is in the JazzTrax Studio with Art Good this weekend debuting Fall's new 'Songs and Stories' on which he redoes some old James Taylor, has one song collaborations with Norman Brown and Lalah Hathaway and mixes it up between his vocals and scatting instrumentals.

Archive Album

2005 Bobby Caldwell "Perfect Island Nights"
 

As the Final Weekend of the 2009 Catalina Island JazzTrax Festival arrives, Art has pulled the 2005 Bobby Caldwell CD 'Perfect Island Nights' from the archives of four years ago. Bobby sang those songs brand new in the Avalon Ballroom at JazzTrax that fall. Perfect Island Nights pretty much sums up three weeks of JazzTrax on Smooth Jazz Island.