Last October was a record year for JazzTrax on Catalina Island. The 20th October the Stars of Smooth Jazz dazzled on the Avalon Ballroom Stage, total sales broke all previous records by a mile. The magic is working. From the 1 hour boat or 13 minute helicopter ocean crossing from the Southern California Mainland to the tiny seaport village of Avalon, that makes it really feel Like an Island. To the enchanting walk along-side the sea, down the boardwalk to the Casino. The 6 ramps up to a ballroom William Wrigley designed in 1929 to literally sit above his grand old movie theater. Then entering the Ballroom itself, or excusing yourself from performance to wander out the French Doors, to the encircling verandah to look down on the Blue Pacific, Descanso Beach and Avalon Harbor.

The magic is magnified by all the exotic shops and quaint restaurants of Avalon. Breakfast at Sally’s Waffle Shop. Lunch at the Country Club where once the Chicago Cubs spring trained each year for a quarter century. Dinner at Armstrong’s Fresh Fish, Steve’s Steakhouse or Ristorante Portofino, eating perhaps some swordfish caught off the Island just that morning.

Dancing at midnight on the beach at the festival After Party at Descanso Beach Club. The Ocean Air. The Sea Breezes. The Island Romance. Even sitting on a bale of hay At the Wrigley’s Private Ranch on the far side of the Island, after a full on barbecue Dinner, under the stars watching a Star of Smooth Jazz (like Peter White, or Mindi Abair, or Ray parker Jr.) performing Unplugged, Under the Stars.