Vine St. Bar & Grill Decides to Cover the Local Scene

After 10 years of offering such artists as George Shearing, Joe Williams and Dizzy Gillespie on a consistent basis, the Vine St. Bar & Grill in Hollywood has changed its policy.

Vine St. owner Ron Berinstein, in co-sponsorship with the not-for-profit Los Angeles Jazz Society, is now presenting Los Angeles area musicians most Tuesdays through Saturdays, with no cover charge. Local players have performed there as long as the room has been open, but with cover charge, and rarely on weekends.

The club will continue to impose an entertainment charge when it occasionally presents big-name local players, or out-of-town stars such as singer Billy Eckstine, who appears Feb. 11-16.

The effects of the recession, which resulted in uneven business during 1991, forced Berinstein to re-evaluate, and ultimately shift, his policy. “I am not trying to make a million dollars with jazz, but it has to pay for itself,” he said.

The new policy means that Vine St. will have to depend entirely on revenues from the sales of food and beverage. At present no price changes are anticipated.

There are many advantages to employing area talent, Berinstein said: “In recessionary times, not only do local musicians, who are not yet famous but who may become famous, need work, it’s also an asset for the club not to take large risks with out-of-state people. It’s mutually beneficial.”

Pianist Tom Garvin’s trio initiated the new policy, and Berinstein was ecstatic. “Thursday was so-so, but Saturday we were sold out from 8 p.m. until closing and had to turn away 30 people,” he said.

Jazz Society President Teri Merrill-Aarons said the absence of a cover change made the difference.

Merrill-Aarons, with whom Berinstein has worked in the past, will be booking the room. The accent on area players is right up her organization’s alley, she said. “I’m delighted to be involved since our primary objectives are to get jobs for musicians, and to promote jazz in the community,” she said.

The schedule includes trumpeter Al Aarons, who performs tonight and Saturday; pianist Alan Broadbent, who brings in a trio Thursday through Feb.1, and reedman Ray Pizzi, who arrives Feb. 6-8. Shows begin at 9:15 p.m.

Critic’s Choice: Cathy Segal-Garcia, who has been knocking out jazz-influenced vocals around town for a decade or more, has a natural, unpretentious way with a song. Segal-Garcia--who works tonight at 8 at Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel with pianist Karen Hammack and Sunday at 3 p.m. on the Santa Monica Pier (at Ocean and Colorado avenues)--is at home with a variety of material. She can sound fresh on almost anything, from Brazilian numbers to blues and ballads.