My favorite night at the Jazz Bakery was when I went to hear Mose Allison. Allison is a national treasure. A superb pianist-singer-songwriter who writes blues-based music and clever, wry lyrics. Things like “Feel so Good, It must be Bad” and “your mind is on vacation but your mouth is working overtime.” He performed his "hits" like "Seventh Son" and "Everybody's Cryin' Mercy" and also some tunes that I hadn't hear before at the time like "Ever Since the World Ended."
I was able to sit fairly close to him, so close I even could hear the vocal grunts he makes while playing his piano solos. I was able to hear and see him with no distractions---no one was ordering dinner or trying to catch a server’s eye, no one was milling about; no one was visiting their friends’ table. People weren’t talking. They were listening.  The Jazz Bakery is more than a jazz club, it’s a mini-concert hall where serious artists can perform and be appreciated.

www.cityoftheangelsmusic.com

My favorite night at the Jazz Bakery? There have been so many -- Sam Rivers at eighty, dancing up a storm and trading instrument for instrument for instrument with his trio; Martial Solal, on his first U.S. tour in decades, tearing up the keyboard and dropping every jaw in the room; the late Tommy Flanagan, shortly before his passing, effortlessly pulling pure poetry from the concert grand... really, I could go on for hours. (Days, actually.) But if I had to choose a sole evening from the embarrassment of riches provided me by Ruth Price and the Bakery during my four-year stint at LA WEEKLY, it would be closing night of vocal legend Sheila Jordan's week-long gig, back in 2002. It was Sheila's first LA date in years, and she sang wonderfully. (Sheila always does, but there's something about the Bakery that brings out the best in the artists that play there, and Sheila was no exception.) As good as the show was, however, the night's highlight was watching Sheila and Ruth trade impromtu anecdotes for a blessed hour in the parking lot after the last set. They're two of the most joyous souls I know, and their love of the music and first-hand knowledge of its history are both second to none; standing there, listening to them together reminisce about the jazz life in the cool Culver City night, was a once-in-a-lifetime experience -- a priceless gift -- that this jazz writer will never forget.

If you live in the LA area, you know that the Jazz Bakery (www.jazzbakery.org) has temporarily closed down, and is presently looking for a new location. Owner Ruth Price has promised that the vision, commitment and feel of the Bakery will remain the same, no matter where it moves to. In its absence, I have been forced to go more often to other venues. I even saw country music at the Greek Theatre. This is getting serious!!!

Anyway, after going to all of the different clubs, I can now authoritatively say what I miss about the Bakery:

1) The theatre-style sitting. No tables, no waiters blocking your view, no clanging of forks, knives, plates and glasses.

2) Everyone in the audience is there to LISTEN. What a concept! No background chatter, no small talk to distract from the music.

3) No guys picking up on girls or schmoozing with their dates at some nearby table.

4) No Valet parking! What a ripoff at all those other places that have that!

5) Before the set, and between sets, it’s so easy to mingle with the musicians, and they’re always the nicest people. There is nothing more fun than talking to these wonderful people. I’ve seen the musicians give impromptu lessons to teenagers, discuss religion with pastors, sit down and have a nice conversation with fans ranging from kids to old timers. Where else is this happening?

6) Did I mention that no one in the audience talks during the performance?

7) Best $1.50 cup of coffee ANYWHERE! It’s gotta be 94 octane!

8) The anticipation as the lights dim, the loving monotone of the great guys in the back welcoming us to the Bakery, reminding us to turn off our cell phones, followed by Ruth’s enthusiastic introduction of the band.

9) Half price student rush, which makes it easy for younger people to get introduced to jazz. And again, no one gouging them for a $5 soft drink.

10) Best place to people watch. I’ve seen ex-Lakers, movie and TV stars, even rock stars pop in to catch the vibe. The Stones would come in when they were recording their latest disc.

11) I did mention no one talking during the music, didn’t I?

12) Love the different photos and paintings on the wall that get changed all the time.

13) Fantastic inexpensive restaurants nearby: La Dijonaise for French, La Pupseria for El Salvadorian, Howard’s Bacon and Avocado Burgers, Natalee’s Thai, Father’s Office for a beer and burger/fries, Johnny’s Pastrami, not to mention the Hoagie joint, Mexican tiendas and various other little dives. Oh, my mouth is already watering!

14) Sitting our in a chair outside waiting for the show to start, just watching the world go by, meeting someone new, or checking out who’s picking up on who at Father’s Office.

15) Copies of All About Jazz in the lobby.

16) And………NO ONE’S TALKING DURING THE MUSIC!!!

Pray this month for the Bakery to quickly come back.