JAZZ : There’s Still Plenty of Room to Jam on Catalina

After his rousing set to close the first of two Catalina JazzTrax Festival weekends last Sunday night, saxophonist Grover Washington Jr. was too pumped up to sleep. So he hauled his horn down to the tiny Blue Parrot bar in Avalon and jammed with his band mates until closing time.

Catalina is that kind of place.

“It’s a different atmosphere,” said Washington Jr., who played the festival for the first time last weekend. “There is no pace here; everybody’s really relaxed, really receptive to the music.”

Now in its fifth year, the Catalina Island JazzTrax Festival--which continues this Friday, Saturday and Sunday--is the pet progeny of Art Good, the San Diego radio personality who helped introduce light jazz to America through his nationally syndicated “JazzTrax” radio program, beginning in 1986.

Good, easily recognizable to FM listeners for a mellow voice that sounds like one of those New Age relaxation tapes, conceived the festival in early 1987 while visiting the island for the annual birthday party he hosts for himself.

“I got a tour of the Casino Ballroom, and the second I went in, I thought: ‘This is a great spot for a jazz festival!’ ” Good said. “And I realized I wouldn’t need advertising because I could announce it on my syndicated show. Just this year, we’ve gotten incredible support from KIFM (98.1 in San Diego) and the Wave (KTWV, 94.7, Los Angeles).”

The initial 1987 weekend festival featured Al Di Meola, Spyro Gyra, Earl Klugh, Andy Narell and other acts. This year, the event expanded to two weekends for the first time, and Good expects 2,500 to 3,000 people to attend. Some 1,900 fans showed up for the first weekend alone.

This weekend’s schedule is identical to last weekend’s: singer Kevyn Lettau and guitarists Strunz & Farah perform Friday night; guitarist Grant Geissman and the band Windows on Saturday afternoon, saxophonist Dave Koz and singer Bobby Caldwell Saturday night; guitarist Peter White and the band Dotsero Sunday afternoon, and Acoustic Alchemy and Washington Jr. close the festival on Sunday night.

There are still tickets available for all three days of music.

“As far as I know, we’re the only totally contemporary jazz festival,” Good said, distinguishing his festival from others that include traditional, straight-ahead jazz. “When I put the lineups together, I look for one strong, powerful name to build around. This year, it’s Grover. Then I go for the people with the hottest albums--this year, it’s Dave Koz and Acoustic Alchemy.”

Acoustic Alchemy, the British guitar duo, is enjoying the rapid rise of its new album, “Back on the Case,” which hit No. 1 on Radio & Records “New Adult Contemporary” chart a mere three weeks after its Aug. 6 release. The album is still at No. 1.

Saxophonist Koz’s debut album, released last year, has already sold more than 250,000 copies.

As a final touch, Good likes to include young artists who appear headed for big things.

This year, that would be Los Angeles singer Lettau, whose debut album, released earlier this year, is winning critical praise if not Koz-like sales, and guitarist Peter White, a regular member of Al Stewart’s band who is making his first solo concert appearances at Catalina this year.

Like many of the artists, Lettau is impressed with the island setting.

“In New York, you do a concert, leave the venue, and maybe there’s a few people standing around who want an autograph, then you go to dinner. Here, you’re on an island; everyone who was at the concert is here. After our show last Friday, we went out to eat, and there were a bunch of people in the restaurant that had seen our concert, asking for autographs.”

Good said there are still tickets available for this weekend (from Tele-Seat, 1 800-876-SEAT). The cost of all five shows over three days is $100. You can also buy tickets for a single day of music ($50) or a single show ($25).

A limited number of hotel rooms are available (call the Catalina Chamber of Commerce, (213) 510-1520). Most people get to island aboard either the Catalina Flyer out of Newport’s Balboa Island (714-673-5245) or Catalina Express boats (213-519-1212), departing from Long Beach and San Pedro.