OCTOBER’S 1ST MAGICAL JAZZTRAX ISLAND WEEKEND OCT. 6, 7, 8, 9
MINDI ABAIR
Unplugged Under the Stars at Descanso Beach
Thursday Night Oct. 6th
... no one and we mean No One, Sells JazzTrax Tickets like Mindi who 1st appeared on our Island Stage as a Total Nobody in 1994... She is Simply...The Full Show...So...Absolutely Everything...
By October this Beach Venue Inches From the Ocean … WILL Be … Sold Out…..Always IS . . . for Mindi. . .She Sold Out Last Fall’s Final Unplugged at the Wrigley Ranch. . . Now She Opens up The Brand New 1st Ever October Unplugged Under the Stars at Descanso Beach
…..Avalon Ballroom…looking out to SEA
UNCLE FESTIVE
Friday Night, Oct. 7th
. . . .this group of 4 were Barry Manilow's back-up players
Through the 80's including still his current keyboardist......
On their own, apart from playing "Mandy" and "I Write the Songs"
And "Weekend in New England" over and over again to huge
Venues behind Barry, they formed their own jazz band and
Came up with this name off the Uncle Fester character of The Adams Family. But as the 2011 JazzTrax Festival begins, Uncle Festive will open this the 25th anniversary of when they first Opened the very first Catalina Island Festival October 1987. They were the very first band EVER on stage for JazzTrax that very first year in the Avalon Ballroom. They'll
be the very first on stage for the 25th as well.......
THE MAX WEINBERG BAND
in the Max Weinberg Experience
Friday Night Oct. 7th
. . . .We Watched Him Musically Open the Conan O’Brian Show for what…. Well over a Decade….and Play Drums for Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band. . .a Bit Big Bandish Friday Night Flavor On Opening Night This October in the Avalon Ballroom…looking out to sea. . .
ZOÉ
Saturday Noon, Oct. 8th
Philadelphia’s exciting Splendor of Hot Smooth Jazz made their 1st West Coast Island Splash last Fall ... they Return for Another Splash but this time to the JazzTrax 1st Island Weekend.
SPYRO GYRA
Saturday Afternoon, Oct. 8th
. . .created during Jay Beckenstein's College Days in Buffalo. . . they were the First Booking Ever for the very FIRST Catalina Island Festival in 1987 and they Return to help JazzTrax Celebrate it's 25th Annual. In their heyday of the Late 70's/ early 80's they were almost Rock Stars. Still creating Brand New Tunes, but on Stage also Reliving those Glorious Tunes like "Shaker Song" and "Morning Dance" that had everyone flocking to see Spyro back "In the Day!
TRUMPETER
CINDY BRADLEY
Saturday Night, Oct. 8th
. . . .named the 2009 JazzTrax Debut Artist of the Year and Best New Artist at the American Smooth Jazz Awards. . . .even as she continued as an elementary school teacher just outside Manhatten in New Jersey she flew Red Eyes (and called in Sick) to appear at all 3 October JazzTrax Weekends as festival goers went home and pushed Her Buzz Across America. . . .a Beautiful Young Female Trumpet Player with Hot Sauce pouring forth from her performance. . . .exuding confidence as though she had been on world stages already for a lifetime. Arriving with a 2nd New CD being released in Spring 2011.
RIPPINGTONS
Saturday Night, Oct. 8th
In 1987 as the JazzTrax Festival Debutted, The Rippingtons with Russ Freeman, had just Debutted themselves earlier that year. The Rips were likely the very First Surprise Brand New band ever Popped onto the Catalina Island Audience......something that has become a Signature of this festival every year since......the audience always getting bands on the Island they'd never seen or maybe even heard of before.....an original 1st annual Band returns to help us Celebrate the JazzTrax Festival's 25th anniversary.
DOTSERO
Sunday Noon, Oct. 9th
.....2 brothers and full band who run Denver's Hottest Jazz Club and who have blazed for a couple decades with their own Jazz band named off a little mining town high up in the Colorado Rockies off Interstate 70. Led by Stephen Watts on Roaring Saxophone and his brother David Watts on Guitar. The town can be found on some of the earliest geographical train maps through the Rockies. The band Can be seen often at their Jazz @ Jacks Jazz Club. And back on the Island for a 3rd tastey and super fun appearance.
SAXOPHONIST
WARREN HILL
Sunday Afternoon, Oct. 9th
....he came from Toronto with his sound early 90’s to become one of the foremost saxophonists of the emerging U.S. smooth jazz genre.......an original member of Guitars & Saxes all stars........his early 00’s Warren Hill Cruise in the Caribbean re-ignited the idea of cruising the seas in luxury with the stars of smooth jazz that is now so Wildly popular. Now he plans to Ignite an October Sunday Afternoon with his Roaring Saxophone......Multtitude of Radio Hits....and Pervasive personality!
KEYBOARDIST
BRIAN O'NEAL
Sunday Night, Oct. 9th
....coming West to Smooth Jazz Island from Detroit, known as "Bean" to his friends. He began as a Jingles creator for such companies as McDonald's. Then joining up with bands.....Rock, Top 40, Jazz, R&B, and now touring on keys for Universal/ Motown jazz and R&B sensation KEM. Beyond Music he is Executive Director and Founder of the DO Foundation and it's mission for alleviating and ending homelessness, going so far as to having "lived" with the homeless in one of the Foundation's promotional video's. He is owner of Detroit's BCO Media, a multi-media company in business for over a decade.
SAXOPHONIST
RICHARD ELLIOT
Sunday Night, Oct. 9th
......is there anything this saxman hasn't done? Early days playing in the
Tower of Power horn section and with Huey Lewis and the News.
Solo career TOOK OFF late 80's and he's never stopped Soaring.
Even ParaSailed TWICE for his JazzTrax Festival Encore off Casino Point above the Pacific Ocean "while playing his saxophone." Most recently he Won the "Best Wind Player" award at the 2010 American Smooth Jazz Awards. His repertoire SO LOADED with No. l hit after No. l hit and a Boat Load of Tastey Album Cuts, almost A Quarter Century worth and back again on Smooth Jazz Island......and bringing Brand New Tunes to the Island as he releases His 19th solo project Summer 2011.
OCTOBER’S 2ND MAGICAL JAZZTRAX ISLAND WEEKEND OCT. 13, 14, 15, 16
GUITARIST
LEE RITENOUR
Unplugged Under the Stars at Descanso Beach
Thursday Night Oct. 13th 7:30 p.m.
....they called him Captain Fingers in the L.A. Session Scene in the 70's because he had the fastest flying fingers Of all the emerging young guitarists.......he went on to become a Staple of the contemporary jazz scene now for, well, 3 1/2 decades.....Now he comes Unplugged to the Brand New Outdoor Stage Right on the Ocean at Descanso Beach.....to do something he's Never done before.....an island unplugged gig with his own son Wesley (on drums).....this is a Can't Miss Don't Miss.......it opens Weekend 2 of the 25th annual in the coolest artist/ son island beach setting imaginable
…..Avalon Ballroom…looking out to SEA
VIOLIN & GUITAR
WILLIE & LOBO
Friday Night Oct. 14th
Willie Royal (son of an Air Force lieutenant colonel stationed in Turkey, Germany, France and Florida in Willie’s youth) and Wolfgang “Lobo” Fink (born in the Bavarian Town of Teisendorf. They met in 1983 in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, both working at Mama Mia’s restaurant who’s owner suggested they Duo Up together. Their sound is four musicians although playing only as two. Releasing their debut ‘Gypsy Boogaloo’ in 1993 and in 1996 they were actual characters in the Robert James Waller novel Puerto Vallarta Squeeze from which they created their most memorable album. Disbanding in the Mid 00’s they come together again on the Island where they displayed many an Avalon Ballroom (and Marine Room Bar) moment. Helping to bring the fabulous Past Back.
SAXOPHONIST
MARION MEADOWS
Friday Night Oct. 14th
...the King of Smooth Jazz Cool. . .Tooling Around Phoenix SouthWest Desert when He’s not Gigging...his Saxophone Simply Floats...while His Band Simply Blazes...
SWEDISH KEYBOARDIST
JONATHAN FRITZEN
Saturday Noon Oct. 15th
Swedish. . . .and still lives in Stockholm, but he's gotten himself all
mixed up the last 3 years in the U.S. Smooth Jazz scene. Making fast
friends with Denver Producer/ Saxophonist Darren Rahn. His solo debut came in 2008 and offered "tremendous promise," but with his new 'Diamonds' he comes bursting forth. Born in Stockholm to a Swedish Mom and an American Dad. Still in late 20's and bringing his Swedish Keys to the JazzTrax Island Stage for the 1st time October 2011.
CHIELI MINUCCI
and SPECIAL EFX
Saturday Afternoon Oct. 15th
Chieli Minucci and George Jinda created the Special EFX sound in the early 80's and although George has since passed, Chieli has kept it all goin'. His father having composed several of Nat King Cole's songs,
Chieli himself is also known for his television and film composing having been several times nominated for Daytime Emmy Awards and having WON 3, most recently in 2008 for his work on CBS's The Guiding Light. Hot Guitar Driven Smooth Jazz that comes Right OUTA the Heart of New York City. Right around the Corner from Madison Square Garden. All those almost 30 years of Special EFX hits comin' to the 25th celebration of JazzTrax On The Island. . .
LONDON'S
ACOUSTIC ALCHEMY
Saturday Night Oct. 15th
...JazzTrax was the Very 1st to ever Ask these Guys to Come Play a Festival in America...1988...Double Guitar Duo Backed by a very Together Band...all those Melodies They Created Over 2 Plus Decades...and Miles Gilderdale Humour...a Most Amazing Show...Every Single Time...in 2011 Arriving on Smooth Jazz Island with a Forthcoming Brand New CD...
LEGENDARY FLUTIST
TIM WEISBERG
Saturday Night Oct. 15th
...For Many He Was...the Very 1st Instrumentalist They Ever Heard...Debutting in 1970...Everyone was talking about this Dude with the Melodies on Flute...then in 1978 Striking Pure GOLD with One of the Hugest Albums of that Decade...a 1st of 2 Collaboration Albums with Dan Fogelberg...Now that Dan Has Passed On...It’s Left for Tim and His Classic Band to Replay Not Only His Great Tunes, but the Tunes of That 1978 Gold with Dan “Twin Sons of Different Mothers” that is Etched in So Many of Our Memories and Souls...
ARTIST OF THE VIOLIN
BROOKE ALFORD
Sunday Oct. 16th Noon
Native of Pinehurst, North Carolina now living in Atlanta she calls herself a “Viosocalist” as she performs as an Artist of the Violin playing in Various Styles from Contemporary Jazz to R&B. . . a violin player who soulfully sings through the violin. . . . Violin in a non-traditional way..
SAXOPHONIST
ERIC DARIUS
Sunday Afternoon Oct. 16th
....this young saxophonist was barely inside his 20’s when he exploded onto the 2004 JazzTrax Live Performance Stage here on Catalina Island......from Wesley Chapel, Florida, just outside Tampa.....he has given some of the most through the roof Ballroom performances The JazzTrax Festival has ever seen.....thriving on being live.....thrusting
himself directly into the audience ......earning himself the 2008 JazzTrax Best Live Performance of the Year Honors.
DUTCH SAXOPHONIST
CANDY DULFER
Sunday Night Oct. 16th
....since breaking onto the U.S. scene at age 19 2 decades ago this female saxophonist has been further than cutting edge. Living on a farm with animals and isolation outside Amsterdam and then taking the stage for years alongside PRINCE.
Gave us the 2007 JazzTrax Best Live Performance of the Year ...now back on the Island for 1st time in 4 Years.
LATIN GUITARIST
JOHANNES LINSTEAD
Sunday Night Oct. 16th
...Somehow Stayed Beneath the JazzTrax Radar from 1999 Solo Debut Till 2010 Island Debut...now Fully on our Screen after Blowing Last October’s Weekend 1 Audience Away...Perhaps Last Fall’s Biggest Island Surprise...From Toronto...a Sound Similar to Jesse Cook’s. . .with Complete Different “Personality”...
OCTOBER’S 3RD MAGICAL JAZZTRAX ISLAND WEEKEND OCT. 20, 21, 22, 23
GUITARIST
NORMAN BROWN
Thursday Night Oct.20th
Unplugged Under the Stars at Descanso Beach
....famed guitarist, originally from Kansas City brings one of our biggest unplugged names ever to our brand new unplugged location on the beach to kick-off October’s final and 3rd JazzTrax weekend .....always scatting....and now singing more and more...... he’s never done an unplugged before. . . .this is gonna be somethin’ really special....
…..Avalon Ballroom…looking out to SEA
LEGENDARY GUITARIST
NICK COLIONNE
Friday Night Oct. 21st
.....he is the Big Windy Cat......Chicago’s Smooth Jazz “Guitar” representative......just last October on the Unplugged Wrigley Ranch Stage he earned the JazzTrax Best Live Performance of the Year honor for 2010 as he mixed his Bluesy Guitar with his Soulful Vocals with a Humour that was that night in the middle of nowhere on the far side of the island simply unstoppable. As always Nick, an avid fisherman will arrive a couple days early to Fish the Pacific Ocean off Catalina Island......much bigger fish Than in the lakes and rivers of Illinois.....and maybe a mermaid or 2, or 3, or .........
AMERICAN VIOLINIST
KAREN BRIGGS
Friday Night Oct. 21st
.....nicknamed the Lady in Red from 1991 to 2004 serving as the Violinist for Yanni around the world. Along with her solo work she now tours extensively in a package with Chieli Minucci and Special EFX.....her stylings range through Symphonic Orchestra, Latin Orquesta, R&B, Gospel, Jazz Ensemble, even some rap, plus bits of Caribbean, Afro Latin, Pop and Middle Eastern to reach her captivating identifiable style.
DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA SAXOPHONIST
MARCUS ANDERSON
Saturday Noon Oct. 22nd
...Won the Washington D.C. Capitol JazzFest Talent Search Several Years Past...Caught Our Attention Last Year...He Electrified the Avalon Ballroom On a Friday Night...Back a 2nd Consecutive October to Blaze Away a Different Island Weekend On a Saturday Island Afternoon. . .
JAPANESE KEYBOARDIST
KEIKO MATSUI
Saturday Afternoon, Oct. 22nd
......she is perhaps the most elegant of all smooth jazz stars this Japanese Keyboardist who first played our Smooth Jazz Island
In 1989 following her 1987 solo debut when she had to be just barely inside her 20's and barely speaking a word of English. Living between Los Angeles and Tokyo now for 20 years she still speaks delicate English and yet every note from her famous keys is completely understood. With a Brand New CD released January 2011 she brings brand new tunes to one of her own personal favorite locations on Earth. The Island where she used to sail with her own Sailboat when here daughters, now grown, were mere infants.
SEXY SAXOPHONIST
MINDI ABAIR
Saturday Night Oct.22nd
...as Already Stated...No One and we mean No One Sells JazzTrax Tickets like Mindi...and Few Can Match Her Ballroom Presence ...Style...and Beauty...She Owns this Island...Used to play Summer Gigs at the Old Blue Parrot….Many Locals Consider Her Their Personal Friend...She Spends More of Her OWN TIME Here with Hubby Than Any Other Artist...
BRITISH GUITARIST
CHRIS STANDRING
Saturday Night Oct.22nd
...Scored Huge with his 2010 Stunningly Smashing‘Blue Bolero’ CD Which He Debutted at the 2009 JazzTrax Festival...6 Months Before It’s Release...A Smooth Jazz Orchestral Album Lush with Violin, Viola, Cello...His 1st No. 1 Radio Hit Ever Came From It... ”Bossa Blue”...Named the JazzTrax and Smooth Jazz Album of the Year in 2010...The Evening Combination of Chris into Mindi on Weekend 2 Was Last Fall’s Fastest Selling JazzTrax Festival Session...So We Repeat It, but on Weekend 3 This Fall...
BASSIST
JULIAN VAUGHN
Sunday Noon Oct.23rd
Bassed in the Bass Stylings of the late Wayman Tisdale he is the newest Solo Bassist to enter Smooth Jazzdom. Kansas City native his stylings came from the church there his grandfather and then pastored. Najee music though his earliest smooth jazz influence.
In High School a 6 foot, 7 inch basketball player, but unlike his teammates listening to rap on their headphones, Julian had on smooth jazz. With l album out he’s soon to debut amongst a heady field of label mates on Trippin’ N Rhythm Records.
MR. NO. 1 HITMAKER SAXOPHONIST
JACKIEM JOYNER
Sunday Afternoon Oct.23rd
...Only Jackiem Has Truly Owned the Smooth Jazz Airwaves the Past 3 Years with No. l Hit After No. l Hit...”I’m Waiting for You” ...“Take Me There”...So Quickly after being Named 2007 JazzTrax Debut Artist of the Year...No New Artist The Past Half Decade Has Taken Off Like
Jackiem...
ARTIST OF THE VIOLIN
BROOKE ALFORD
Sunday Oct. 23rd 7 p.m.
Native of Pinehurst, North Carolina now living in Atlanta she calls herself a “Viosocalist” as she performs as an Artist of the Violin playing in Various Styles from Contemporary Jazz to R&B. . . a violin player who soulfully sings through the violin. . . . Violin in a non-traditional way..
FAMED TRUMPETER
RICK BRAUN
Sunday Night Oct. 23rd
...Exploded Onto the Smooth Jazz Scene in the Mid 90’s... Becoming One of the Hugest Stars of that Entire Decade...The Man Who 1st Brought the TRUMPET Back Into the Mainstream of Smooth Jazz...Those Rick Braun Hits of the 90’s Will Be Part of Our Smooth Jazz Fabric Like a Tony Bennett Classic That Never Bores...Cept Done With a Trumpet, Instrumentally...
Each Weekend The JazzTrax After Party at Descanso Beach Club
Food, Full Bar & Dancing on the Beach with DJ Jonathan Phillips Immediately after Evening's Final Performance ... Until Last Call in the Wee Hours of Next Morning
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ARTIST PERFORMANCE SLOTS
