Each October, smooth jazz fans from around the country converge on Santa Catalina Island. With two weekends and more than dozen world-class musicians, JazzTrax on Catalina is one of the most popular island events for both residents and visitors alike.
Art Good, the festival’s organizer, brings together internationally renowned performers for a series of concerts in the Casino Ballroom. Featuring great acoustics, classic art deco décor and spectacular views of Avalon and the Pacific Ocean, the ballroom is an unforgettable venue for any event – and JazzTrax is truly an extraordinary event.
Each weekend features different concerts – an unplugged concert at Descanso Beach and indoors concerts in the Casino Ballroom. Ballroom performances take place at 7 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings and at noon on Saturday and Sunday. There will also be plenty of jam sessions and impromptu performances. All of which adds up to a dream festival for jazz fans. With two weekends of great concerts, many attendees choose to make a vacation of it and book a 10-day stay on Catalina Island.
This year’s lineup includes Jeffrey Osborne, Gerald Albright, Peter White & Euge Groove during the first weekend, Oct. 14-17, 2021. Performances during the second weekend, Oct 21-24, 2021. Including Najee, Mindi Abair, Larry Carlton and Rick Braun.