Venice’s Stage for Jazz, Ethnic Music Won’t Shut After Landlord Settlement

Venice’s Comeback Inn, a popular forum for ethnic music and jazz since 1973, will not close soon as originally was believed.

Will Raabe, owner of the club/restaurant, said a compromise agreement was hammered out with his landlord to keep it open. In exchange for a 15-year lease on the property and lower rent charges, Raabe will spend $50,000 to remodel the club.

“I was against fixing up the property,” Raabe said, “but we were deadlocked, and it looked like the club would have to shut down, and I didn’t want that.”

With the property dispute settled, Raabe can now concentrate on the promotion and distribution of a new album, “Alive in Venice,” featuring ethnic music taped during shows at the club. Raabe released the album through his own label, Doron Intercontinental.

Raabe recorded two members of Arco Iris, a jazz group from Argentina, and Bulgarian pianist Milcho Leviev. They have each performed regularly at the club for the last decade.

After taping four performances, Raabe said he brought the musicians into the studio to add different tracks. The final product, he says, represents the true purpose of his club.

“We want to provide music from all over the world and incorporate them under the umbrella of jazz,” Raabe said. “This kind of music helps build bridges between cultures.”

Other regular groups at the Comeback Inn include Dusan Bogdanovic from Yugoslavia, and Huayucaltia, whose members come from various parts of South America. Artists from India and Asia are also booked regularly.

Raabe said he will soon turn over the daily responsibilities of the restaurant so he can focus on the album.

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Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Famer Bo Diddley will perform at Trancas in Malibu on June 9. Diddley, 60, continues to tour frequently.

Throughout the late 1950s and early ‘60s, Diddley (his real name is Ellas Bates McDaniel; a bo diddley is an African single-string guitar) achieved minor chart success with songs like “I’m a Man” and “Who Do You Love.”

But outside of a single Top 40 hit--”Say Man” in 1959, Diddley didn’t reach the level of fame afforded many of his contemporaries. He even gave up music entirely in the ‘70s to serve as sheriff of Los Lunas, N.M.

Yet as nostalgia for rock ‘n’ roll’s early years peaked, Diddley’s popularity grew. He was inducted into the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame in 1987.

Diddley will perform two shows, at 9:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. Tickets are $13.50 and can be obtained at Trancas.

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“Hollywood Night,” the weekly Thursday night heavy metal show at the Country Club in Reseda, has ended its five-month run.

Jason Lord, the show’s promoter and head of Jungle Productions in Sylmar, said it signals another setback for heavy metal fans in the San Fernando Valley. Until it lost its liquor license last November, the Country Club used to feature heavy metal music frequently.

“Now there’s no longer a consistent scene every Thursday,” Lord said, “But I was too busy, and trying to pick good bands takes a lot of time.”

Without the Thursday scene, fans who want to hear heavy metal in the Valley must now wait for occasional concerts at the Country Club, and weekend shows at Michael Fell’s Industry in Canoga Park.

Scott Hurowitz, general manager of the Country Club, said promoter Vince Bartold, head of After Dark Productions, has taken over the club’s Thursday night schedule. Bartold said he will focus on hard rock entertainment. The first show was last Thursday and featured Kuczer, LAPD, 17 and The Kingdom.

In addition, Hurowitz said, the club will start a weekly Wednesday night show, to be promoted by Entertainment International in Reseda. Pop and rock ‘n’ roll will be the regular attractions.

“It’s another night when the club will be active,” Hurowitz said. “Maybe the bands will only play before 100 people or so, but it’s a chance for someone from a record label to see them, and a chance for them to play.”