Jazz with Craig Chaquico

    Just in time to motivate you to get up to the first snow of the season, the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway is presenting the very first sit-down, reserve seat concert of live music in Mountain Station history. For $45, 150 lucky people will get a tram ride, unlimited hors d'oevres and wine, plus the joyous sounds of Craig Chaquico's unique guitar. With a view of the valley from 8,516 feet as a background, the evening promises to be a visual and aural delight.

    The event is the brainchild of local jazz disk jockey Jim Fitzgerald of KJJZ, who puts on live shows every Thursday night at the Blue Tatoo in Rancho Mirage. "The concert sold out almost immediately after I mentioned it on the air," said Fitzgerald, who will be hosting the concert. "Afterwards we'll have a meet and greet, where the audience can get autographs for their CDs."

    "We've had honky-tonk, blues, and dixieland bands play at the bar for everybody," said Ken Lyons, manager of the Mountain Station restaurant, "but this is going to be different." A section of the restaurant near the fireplace will be cordoned off for the crowd, but the guitar sounds will fill the station, making it a worthwhile trip even for those without reserved seats. Though the 150 seats to the concert are sold out, the Upper Tramway Station can easily hold a thousand. The bar will be available to everybody and the cafeteria will be open. The music should fill the place, unless the Rangers decide it's too loud. There's no disturbing the wildlife.

    After the show, Chaquico's fans can get signatures not only on his four solo CDs, but on vintage Jefferson Starship albums. Chaquico joined the Starship right out of high school, but since then he's joined the panthion of legendary jazz guitarists.

    Like B.B. King, whose guitar Lucille gives him his trademark sound, Chaquico has designed his own signature series of Washburn guitars that give him a sound like no other guitarist. With something like the funky metallic twang of an electric reverb dobro, he plays smooth melodic jazz that's uniquely joyous.

    His 1993 debut album, "Acoustic Highway," was named as Billboard magazine's Top New Age Indie Album, and he won guitar Player Magazine's most recent reader's award for "Best Pop Instrumental Guitarist of the Year."

    Chaquico is also an active environmentalist who takes his planet saving activities quite seriously. Among other things, his deal with Washburn Guitars requires that a tree be planted for every guitar made.

    The setting seems prime for the musician. "I like to think we always give our best performance," he explained, "but there's no doubt we get inspiration from nature. We just played on the shore at Lake Tahoe, and our music really reflected the beauty of the environment"

    With a forty degree change of temperature from the bottom to the top, the fourteen minute tramway trip is the geological equivalent of a drive from Mexico to Alaska. From the Upper Tramway Terminal, it's a short walk down a cement ramp to over 54 miles of hiking trails through spectacular mountain streams and forests. Those in shape can take a right and climb 5.5 miles to the peak of San Jacinto. The rest can take a left and do the shorter Desert View and Nature trails, which are perfect for children. With the new snow, you can bring a trash can lid or a shower curtian for instant sledding.

    Chaquico's guitar playing is as pristine as new fallen snow. This concert is a unique opportunity to experience both at the same time.

    "I've never taken the tramway, and I'm really grateful for the chance to play up there," said Chaquico, who is no stranger to playing music in odd places. He developed his musical skills recovering from an accident at the age of 12. Since then he's worked with the American Music Therapy Association doing hospital concerts, particularly for those suffering from head injuries. "For thousands of years, music has been used to heal," explained Chaquico. "At first people are skeptical, but patients definitely find it calming. It's better than drugs."