The JazzTrax Festival on Catalina Island draws visitors from all over the country who come to see an impressive lineup of Grammy and Billboard magazine winners. The word “soft” is not in the name of the festival, but it could be, given the heavy emphasis on soft jazz. That’s the sound that focuses on instrumental music arrangements and lyrics and often features a saxophone or guitar.
There couldn’t be a better combination than listening to relaxing music in your Southern California go-to place for a while away from the hustle and bustle of city life.
Festival founder and jazz radio host Art Good says three things make JazzTrax unique: “The first is the magic of the island. The second is the Avalon’s Casino Ballroom, and the third is soft jazz music. ” With that perfect storm, it’s no wonder the festival has been going on for over 30 years.
What you need to know about JazzTrax
Jazztrax is popular with jazz music fans across the country, and it is common to meet visitors who have traveled to the other side of the world to attend. It takes place on Thursday and Friday nights and in the afternoon and evening on Saturdays and Sundays. It takes place two consecutive weekends in October.
Unplugged concerts are held outdoors on Descanso Beach on Thursday nights. Seats are on comfortable loungers or folding chairs. You can order drinks and snacks to enjoy during the show, or get a full dinner. Disconnected concerts can only seat 470 people and sometimes sell out in late summer.
Other concerts are at the Avalon Ballroom in the Casino Building, which seats approximately 1,000 people. Dating back to the 1920s, it is so beautiful that its details could distract you from the artists. However, the seats can be less than comfortable.
Concerts are held in the afternoon and evening, giving you time to explore the island during the day. Try some of these ten things to do on Catalina Island for ideas.
Advice
To get the best seats and to avoid disappointment, buy your tickets online as far in advance as possible. You can buy tickets for individual sessions, by the day or for an entire weekend.
See the list of artists on the Jazztrax website. Deciding which artists to see can be the hardest part of your day. A quick look at their concert reviews can help you identify the people who put on the best show. JazzTrax regulars who also please the audience include English guitarist Peter White, Keiko Matsui and Boney James.
After identifying the musicians you would like to hear, review the times to choose a weekend to attend.
You will have to spend the night on the island because the boat service stops before the concerts end. Book early before they sell out. To find a place to stay, see the recommendations in the Catalina weekend getaway guide. You also have some options for camping in Catalina.
To get to Catalina from the mainland , most people take a ferry to Catalina Island. The trip lasts one or two hours, depending on which port you depart from. If the idea of ocean travel makes you nauseous, you can fly to the island by helicopter Island Express. Private pilots can fly to the airport in the sky and take a shuttle from there to the city.
If you want to hear concert performances that you can’t attend, or if you can’t get to Catalina and still want to hear the music, you can listen to JazzTrax broadcasts online.
Average highs and lows on Catalina Island in October are a high of 67 ° F and a low of 52 ° F. Take layers of clothing to avoid the uncomfortable cold after the sun goes down. But just because it’s cool, don’t forget the sunscreen.
Bring a warm jacket if you plan to go out at night. A small flashlight is also useful to help see your balance when you go out.
The basics
You can get more information, current lineups, artist profiles, and more on the JazzTrax Festival website.
If you can’t make it to the festival in Catalina, JazzTrax also hosts a summer concert in Big Bear Lake. Or you can enjoy one of the other major jazz festivals in California including the legendary Monterey Jazz Festival.
