JazzTrax for the Weekend of February 6th-7th 2010

Wintertime is often the perfect time to piano-based albums. We didn't really time it this way, but the timing was pretty good for four straight weeks of JazzTrax guests who rattle the keys for their melodies. Joe Sample and Alex Bugnon will be in the JazzTrax Studio later in February. David Lanz was here last weekend. Pianist Jim Brickman is this weekend's JazzTrax guest. As we spoke, Jim had just been nominated for a Grammy for his 2008 'Faith' CD in the New Age Category. In late 2009 he'd already released another. So it's a late JazzTrax Debut of 'Beautiful World' and Jim Brickman fits right in as Valentine week begins. Remember his big hit with Martina McBride called 'Valentine'? So more piano melodies it is, but for our Archives Album spotlight we go guitar. Pulling Chuck Loeb's 'All There Is' CD from the 2002 JazzTrax Archives. The title track sung again by Chuck's lovely wife Carmen Cuesta. Now, throughout this week's JazzTrax, you may feel as though you're in the year 2004 and have Kerry/ Edwards or Bush/ Cheney flashbacks... or try and remember some positives from six years past in time. Like when your real estate was still "bubbling". Just for the fun of it, we've pulled the 2004 JazzTrax Top 10 Songs and scattered them throughout the show. Remember Fourplay's 'Play Around It'? Gerald Albright's remake of John Mayer's 'Why Georgia', Norman Brown's 'Let's Play', George Benson's 'Cell Phone', Remember the one time flash in the pan British Saxophonist James Vargas and the JazzTrax 2004 Song of the Year, 'Ocean Beach' by the Black Mighty Orchestra. It all airs across America this weekend on the JazzTrax syndicated airwaves but on-line you can listen to this coming weekend's JazzTrax Show right now! The full 5 hours. And on your time, or real time. Start the program and it'll run straight through for 5 hours. And if you hear a song you like, move the show backwards and listen to the song again. Hey, look at this. This Labor Day weekend, The JazzTrax Showcase of the Absolute Newest hit's it's 25th year mark, airing each weekend across America.

Okay, here's the scoop on June's upcoming Big Bear Lake, JazzTrax Summer Music Festival - June 18th, 19th, 20th - Father's Day Weekend. Here's who's coming to perform on our floating stage right on top of the water of Big Bear Lake. Mindi Abair. Euge Groove. Nick Colionne. Jackiem Joyner. Alex Bugnon. Cindy Bradley. Tickets go on sale Friday, February 12th. On-line at JazzTrax.com or by phone 866-Trax-Tix, 866-872-9849. We're working now to have Hotel Packages set by early next week so you, who faithfully receive and read this weekly e-mail will have first crack at the Hotel Rooms that are literally right at the Venue! Two hotels are literally overlooking the venue... you can see the stage from your hotel room!

It's a "ski in, ski out" summertime JazzTrax festival. You won't be on skiis cause it'll be 75 to 80 degrees and after the massive snow of this winter all melts... the lake will be completely covered with sailboats and powerboats and water skiers and kayakers all over it. The host hotels are all either at the festival site or within close walking distance and the JazzTrax Festival now not only right on the Lake, but in the Village of Big Bear Lake. Simply walk up Pine Knot Ave. into the Village for restaurants and shops. Next Week is the week you can get the best seats and a hotel room right in the middle of it all!

We are also ever so close to announcing much of October's Catalina Island JazzTrax Festival Line-Up. Tickets for which are on sale almost year round. Full Series tickets for October's three island weekends and all three Unplugged at the Wrigley Ranch performances each Thursday evening on the far side of the island are already on sale. on-line without waiting for an operator and able to select exact seat, table, or ranch bale of hay at JazzTrax.com or call 866-Trax-Tix. Let me whet your appetite. Mindi Abair, Everette Harp, Eric Darius, Euge Groove, Greg Adams East Bay Soul, Swiss Keyboardist Alex Bugnon are all comin' "26 miles across the sea" to the Avalon Balloom... looking out to sea. As always, there will be 30 different performances over 3 consecutive island weekends..

Listen right now to Jim Brickman with me in the JazzTrax Studio and watch for next week's big JazzTrax e-mail for.