All That Jazz Closes Its Doors; Poor Attendance Is Blamed

All That Jazz, the Rancho Bernardo club that opened Oct. 26 with a performance by jazz guitar legend Barney Kessel, has gone the way of the Bella Via, Diego’s Loft and other jazz clubs before it.

After last weekend’s poorly attended shows by saxophonist Rod Cradit on Friday night, and pianist Jimmy Rowles and daughter Stacy on trumpet Saturday night, owner Lee Hendrickson closed the club and canceled all remaining concerts, including this weekend’s scheduled appearances Friday night by Lori Bell and Dave Mackay and Saturday night by Randy Porter and Bill Cantos.

Hendrickson said the jazz club used up all of her financial reserves, including equity in her home. She has also closed the adjacent Wall St. Cafe, and said she plans to file personal bankruptcy. Only about 30 people showed up for each of the club’s last two nights. Hendrickson said she needed at least 60 people per night to break even. Hendrickson still hopes to present jazz elsewhere.