The lights in the Avalon Ballroom...looking out to Sea have now gone out till next October, but only after 30 full-length, smashing, incredible concerts as star after star of Smooth Jazz stepped off boats arriving from the one hour crossing to the Island from the Mainland. Beginning with Peter White Unplugged at the Wrigley Ranch, Thursday Night, October 1st. Concluding with what many consider to be amongst perhaps the Top 10 concerts EVER on the JazzTrax Live Performance Stage... George Duke Sunday Night, Oct. 18th.
I view things on Smooth Jazz Island a bit different than the thousands of you who arrived for a weekend of Smooth Jazz Splendor, or in some cases for 10 straight days encompassing 2 consecutive Island weekends. I'm the Creator of the event, now 23 years old. I'm the producer. I keep just a little bit busy. But here were my Top Moments.
I drive the Unplugged Artist across the top of the Island for each Thursday Night at the Wrigley Ranch. Since Keiko Matsui was solo, our ride was just her and I. As she has begun spending more and more time throughout the year on the Island as it is her favorite getaway, we've become good friends. So after her captivating performance Under the Stars at the Ranch, she and I are chasing the Tour Buses (filled with you) back to Avalon when suddenly I see something and say, "Keiko... oh my god... you won't believe it. Look... 8 eyes in the darkness up ahead." Now Keiko and I speak different languages, but she got it immediately. It was 4 Buffalo, which the Island Interior is famous for, sitting right on the side of the road. Before I saw them, I saw 8 EYES in the darkness and I knew exactly what they were. We pulled up, right along side them. After all we were in an SUV. As we drove away I jokingly leaned out the window and said. Okay guys, you can take those costumes off. Keiko and I will see you at the Marlin Club for Slippery Nipples. That's what she and I drink on the Island. Ask your bartender.
The signature of this festival is giving you someone on stage who you've not only never seen before, but never heard of before... and who I've never heard of when the year began. I went a little more out of my way on that this year giving you a smashing Gail Jhonson Sunday Show the final weekend (she is Norman Brown's keyboardist) A dazzling final evening performance on guitar by an east coast unknown named Drew Davidsen. A dentist on saxophonist from the D.C. area named Phillip "DOC" Martin. All were incredible moments, but my moment was when Debut Female Trumpeter Cindy Bradley after stealing the show Weekend One, then repeating it Weekends Two & Three told the crowd as I listened that she was an elementary school music teacher in New Jersey. And that she was calling in sick each week to fly West to dazzle the JazzTrax Island audience.
I won't even mention having to return to Palm Springs before and after every festival weekend to wrap up my three- year divorce mess... that was the furthest thing on my mind when George Duke took the JazzTrax Stage to wrap everything up. It was his first ever appearance on a JazzTrax Stage and in my introduction I flogged myself for, well, what was I thinking. After 23 years having never brought the godfather of Smooth Jazz to Avalon. You all have different vantage points within the 80 year old Avalon Ballroom. Those of you who didn't lose everything in the financial meltdown have Front Row Seats where the Stars are literally in your lap. Or a Table in Table Sections that literally circle the eight decade old Ballroom that sits six stories high overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Or you are somewhere on the Ballroom floor.
I normally sit in the back behind the soundboard for quick in and out and so I can see everything that's going on, but (and don't tell anybody), I also keep a little table by the French Doors towards Descanso Beach and for one reason... the sound on the side is so phenomenal and it's the absolute best place to take in the surround beauty of the ballroom... the people... the chandelier above.. the stage... the entire lighting and ambiance of the Avalon Ballroom. I slip over there when I really want to HEAR the show and SEE the entirety of the room and that's where I always go for the final show, closing night of every October's JazzTrax extravaganza. There, Sunday Night October 18th , as George Duke went for nearly two hours (after I'd told his road manager we control the late boat's departure, tell George to Play Away).
I reflected on, although attendance was down during our lifetime's worst recession, the show had still gone on. All 3 weekends. Amazing concert after amazing concert... and how you had told me how happy it had all made you. How about one-third of the audiences all 3 weekends were 'first timers' to the Island which was astounding. How, for the Final Weekend's After Party at Descanso Beach, you so packed it... the beach kitchen literally ran out of food! It was the perfect JazzTrax ending to - as Bobby Caldwell sang about live on our 2005 October Stage - 'Perfect Island Nights'.
From the bottom of my heart, I thank you. For while giving up a whole lot of other things in this economy, not giving up your 'Perfect Island Nights' in the Avalon Ballroom... looking out to Sea. Trust me, I'm already working on the 2010 30 Artist Line-Up, but also in full production on Thanksgiving Weekend's Catalina Island JazzTrax Festival Radio Special. The Concerts from Catalina as recorded in October on the JazzTrax Live Performance Stage. Listen on your local radio station, or on-line at JazzTrax.com. While you chomp on your turkey.
Pre-Ticket Orders need to be mailed by this weekend. Tickets for October 2010 The 24th Annual Catalina Island JazzTrax Festival, go on sale to the general public Thanksgiving Weekend. We begin announcing the line-up in January. Hey... I'm working on it.