Author: Jessica Gelzer
I was always curious to hear the artists at Red White + Bluezz, frequently passing the restaurant and jazz club as I came out of the Raymond Street Parking Garage in Old Town Pasadena. It seemed like a nice place to go on a date for some good jazz and refined food, so I made reservations for Saturday night.
One might first be attracted to the restaurant and bar on the street corner. However, if you walk a little further, past a chain link fence and into an alleyway, you find their jazz club restaurant. My boyfriend and I stepped into a room glowing in midnight blue and were greeted by a friendly host. The place had a intimate quality with wine glasses and tea lights adorning the white cloth- covered tables.
The musicians sat just a few feet away in a corner of the room. An electric violin, a six-string electric bass, an acoustic guitar and various percussion instruments made up the melodious pieces composed by Greg Porée. He has released multiple albums and has worked with renowned musicians such as Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder and Sting.
Though I am not new to music, I am new to the jazz scene, and I was deeply impressed with these musicians. They were masters of their instruments; their music seemed to come from within instead of just from notes on a page. When asked where he finds the musicians, the Red White + Bluezz owner, Andre Vener, said, “As far as finding a jazz musician in L.A., that’s easy. We are so lucky to have some of the best artists in the world living right here in L.A. That’s the fun part – picking out the ones you enjoy!”
Some of the best artists in Los Angeles were there on Saturday. The violinist, Karen Briggs, has played at venues such as Carnegie Hall and the Taj Mahal. She brought all her musical energy to this quaint space with her fiery solos.
Porée on guitar performed with mellifluous melodies and harmonies. The bassist, Keith Jones, riffed in a soulful groove. Keeping them together, the drummer, David Leach, sat atop his box drum, beating away while tapping his foot to a pedal woodblock.
From familiar jazz classics to Porée originals, the music was mesmerizing. One of my favorite jazz tunes, “Night in Tunisia”, was played with a nice twist to it because of the instrumentation and improvisation.
I enjoyed listening to some new pieces, like “Spanish Star”, from one of Porée’s older albums. The song had a catchy melody that left me humming. At the end of each piece or particularly impressive solo, patrons throughout the restaurant would erupt in deserved applause.
As opposed to a jazz club that happens to have some food, this one has food that stands on its own. The Tolucan Times, the Toluca Lake community newspaper, has rightfully deemed it “L.A.’s best tasting Jazz Club.” I wanted to reach over to try the wines and dessert cheeses being sampled at the table next to us. Fortunately, I ordered just in time to contain myself. The menu opened with a listing of their “flights”, which were samplings of thoughtfully chosen wines, cheeses, chocolates and a seasonal menu. However, being under 21, and since it was my first time at the restaurant, I stuck to the regular menu.
We started with the Crispy Smoked Gouda Mac N’ Cheese, hoping to sample some of their gourmet cheeses at work in a dish. Each bite was crunchy with a gooey center, leaving a heavenly smoky taste lingering in your mouth.
The entrée decision proved to be difficult. The owner recommended the Kobe Beef Burger and the Boneless Braised Short Ribs, but my curiosity and inner chocolate fiend got the best of me. I had to try the Godiva white chocolate beurre blanc that topped the free-range chicken breast. The chicken was moist and the sauce had the right balance of savory and sweet.
My boyfriend listened to the owner’s advice and ordered the Western Kobe beef burger. It was well worth the cost. The meat was juicy and served with a side of sweet potato fries that rivaled others we have tried. Overall, I was impressed with this nouveau American food.
I could not leave without trying the dessert and decided on a trio of cheesecakes: caramel, Grand Marnier and blueberry. Three little bites on my plate were hard and frozen. I could barely cut through them and wished I left the meal’s sweet ending for 21 Choices.
The bill ended up being a bit hefty, a clear indication that the entertainment was included in prices. Perhaps it would be more worth it just to come for a couple of drinks with friends.
Though our meal ended on a bad note, the musicians did not. Their performance made the night a perfect occasion.
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