Boy, did I have a G R E A T time. this was my first time in Catalina for the festival. I am California native from Berkeley. In high school I heard Catalina was the place to go. I’ve been there on cruises but, just made it there for a fantastic 4 days.
Ok, so I put together a small group of 6 ladies. I was the common denominator. Only 2 of the ladies truly knew one another. We shared a 3 bedroom condo at Hamilton Cove. Can you imagine – 6 women living in the same apartment and NO ONE cooked and we all got along, no hassles. It was a good feeling and we had F U N !!!
A little about the condo at Hamilton Cove. Nothing to write home about – doable. However, we all decided we would prefer to be in the mist of the happenings. So, next year we will rent closer to the Casino (functions now as a concert hall). Hamilton Cove is way up the hill away from everything. Our apartment came with a golf cart that sat only 4. It was ok because the only time we all traveled at the same time was when we got there and when we left.
NOTE: if you are a electronic freak, Catalina Island, aka Avalon, is NOT for you. Yes, there is internet service and WiFi but, intermittently, if at all. The island is truly for you to de-frag and detach from your electronics. I like that idea.
The condo had a great outdoor Jacuzzi/ hot tub. We used it almost everyday. The weather was mild – 68-73 degrees. There are tennis courts. I did not scout the property – too hilly and no time for that. There are plenty of units, tho, they covered the hillside. The only vehicles that I saw on the island were service vehicles. Everyone uses golf carts and the rules of the road apply.
Our first cab driver suggested the Lobster Trap for our first meal. They had a wonderful menu – lots of choices. I enjoyed calamari and a salad. I ordered New England clam chowder – just ok – way to creamy and rather bland. Those that ordered fried fish enjoyed their meal. Those that didn’t – didn’t. I was willing to go back there because of the menu choices but, the group said no. So much for the Lobster Trap. We had dinner for 2 nights at Steve’s Steakhouse. Good food – surf and turf. I give them a 4 star rating. The clam chowder was a disappointment – not bad but not good, just ok. Dinner runs about $60-70 per person with NO alcohol, no sodas. I would think for those prices they could, at least, have a mixed green salad with some dark green leafy greens. But, no, they use iceberg lettuce – NO nutritional value whatsoever. A shame. Great service. Our waiter was very attentive and must have been a stand up comic. He was delightful.
Unfortunately for me, I lost a sweater somewhere between the cab drop off point and Steve’s. It could have been lost at Steve’s. None the less, it’s a goner. I literally cried. That sweater was a souvenir from last years Super Cruise and Arnez J had signed it. I was ready to come home. I was totally crushed. I forced myself to join my friends in the concert. After all, music makes me feel better.
Ok, the pavilion is known as “The Casino.” That’s what it used to be “back in the day, 20’s, 30’s & 40’s. Catalina Island has great history. William Wrigley of Wrigley Spearmint gum owned the island for many years. His mansion still overlooks the island. It was the quick runaway place to the Hollywood Stars. Google it. The Casino is a 10-15 minute walk to the beach in one direction and 10-15 minute walk to the busy area of town in the other direction. A nice walking path has been carved out for both directions. with benches about every 20 feet and it’s right on the water. The temperature is moderate year round.
We arrived via Catalina Express ferry about 5pm. Jazz on the Beach party started at 7pm. We all bought tickets for this and didn’t go. We docked and it took us about 45 minutes to get a taxi and get to the condo. 45 minutes because there were a lot of people at the port seeking a taxi ride. There were 6 of us and very few taxi vans/suvs. We made it to the condo and decided to go back down the hill to get provisions for the weekend.; thus, no beach party. The next day, Friday half of my roomies went into town and the rest of us stayed at the condo chillin’ and using the outdoor Jacuzzi/hot tub. The show started at 7pm. We were there with bells on.
I can’t remember who came on first nor last but it was all a blast. Many of the entertainers I did not know. I picked up a new talent – Roman Street. WOW, were they great. They were the “savings Grace” for the entire festival. They play acoustic flamenco guitars, with a violin player and Afro-Latin drums. Quite a mix, since these people were straight from Alabama. I HAD to buy their CD. they told me they have played at Yoshi’s in Oakland. I have requested of Yoshi’s to get them back. I absolutely love their music.
Cindy Abair was another good talent. She “wretched” back in her bag of goodies and bought forth an ole timer from “back in the day,” ole what’s his name. whoever he was I had never heard of him. However, he appeared in a red suit with a super fly shirt and a cool red fedora. He probably had been a background singer for some blues group. NOTE: my own conjecture. Anyway, Bro Man is newly re-discovered by a young white woman who happens to play a mean sax and has her own band. He is a BMW (Black man working). I’m not mad at him.
I suppose these young white musicians may need to valid their presence in the jazz and funk world so, find ole bee-bop singers from the 60’s-70’s, give them a spot on their bill and fly with it. Some work, some don’t. Brian Culbertson funked out. He brought forth a Flava-Flav wanna be to sing in his group. Brian wants to be the “funk master.” Timing is everything. He did a lot of the original funk masters stuff – James Brown and George Clinton (Funkadelics). There were others that he played BUT the boy was T O O loud and he had a crazy light show going on. Culbertson needs an outside venue. Many people walked out on Culbetston, as I did. Too loud and no original music. He did announce he was going for the funk. That’s it, that’s all. He can be a good musician but he was either W A Y too high or just stupid. He wanted the sound up louder than what the equipment could go and louder than what the building would take. I met several of the sound techs – one that worked for him and 2 others that worked for the building. All of them said the same thing. The “Casino” or Pavilion is one of the hardest places in the country for good sound. The ceiling is too low for what Culbertson wanted. Anyway, I was through.
Pieces of a Dream were good. I like their music and ended up buying the same CD that I bought from another jazz show they were playing. Cecil Ramirez – who ever that is- was just ok. Nice music but he could have been anybody. Some young dude who was a first winner of some “People Got Talent show” sang. I missed his performance but bought his CD. It’s nice but not my style.
One of the big hits was the AFTER PARTY on the beach. they had a disco jockey who knew how to get a party started and keep it going. the real party people along with some of the “no name ” musicians hung out and we had a ball. I was on my walking cane with my foot in a boot and dance my butt off until 1:30am. My roomie and I closed the joint down. Great fun and a lot of fun people.
The roomies and I have decided we will do Catalina Jazz Fest next year (2017). Our dilemma is which weekend? we went the first weekend this year only to find out we all would have preferred the second weekend. They can’t give you a detailed entertainment itinerary until around June or sometime. That makes me antsy. I like to get my arrangements done early so I have the best choices. they claimed the event was sold out but there were FAR too many empty seats for that to be true. I still don’t feel comfortable with waiting until June. And, what about accommodations? We liked where were BUT would like to be closer in the mix with people. We’ll see.
I highly recommend The Catalina Jazz Festival. Many people rent condos in Hamilton Cove. there are many other accommodation options.
MarshaAG0-G0 is gone.
