Guitarist Sid Jacobs Finds a New Job and an Identity Crisis : Since becoming artistic director at the Bel Age hotel, he says, to his chagrin, more people know him as a booker than as a musician.

Until about a year ago, guitarist Sid Jacobs was just another talented artist trying to establish himself in Southern California’s very competitive jazz marketplace.

Then last March, Jacobs was hired as artistic director by the Bel Age hotel in West Hollywood to book the jazz acts for its Club Brasserie room. Since that time, he says, his profile has changed and, to his chagrin, more people know him as a booker than as a musician.

“It rubs me the wrong way when someone introduces me as the guy who books the room,” says Jacobs, whose debut release, “It’s Not Goodnight,” came out last year on Best Records. “I feel so bad. It even happened once when my album was playing over the sound system.”

Jacobs is trying to overcome his new identity crisis by informing more customers--and musicians--that he’s a player, and by booking himself into the Club Brasserie once or twice a month. The fluent, often adventurous, guitarist appears Tuesday, leading a quartet that features pianist John Beasley, “Tonight Show” band bassist Bob Hurst and drummer Ralph Penland.

One advantage of booking talent is that he gets to hear top-flight musicians on a regular basis, Jacobs says. “That’s inspiring and it’s helped bring my playing to a new level,” says the musician who moved here from his native Miami five years ago and who now lives in Hollywood with his wife, Edie, and their daughter, India. “It’s important to listen to live music. Often the room will be filled with musicians, not wanting to sit in but just hang out.”

The policy at the Club Brasserie, where there is no cover charge, shifted in November from “accessible jazz” three nights a week to “creative jazz” five nights a week, says Jacobs. “The management discovered that jazz didn’t have to be polite, didn’t have to be accessible, in order to have an audience and that people will turn out for music that’s creative, that’s on the edge,” he says.

On tap at the Club Brasserie in the coming week are renowned alto saxophonist Charles McPherson tonight and Saturday, pianist Kenny Kirkland on Wednesday, trumpeter Sal Marquez on Thursday and tenor sax giant Teddy Edwards Jan. 15-16.

Club Crawl: The Baked Potato, ensconced for more than 20 years in a shoe-box-sized space on Cahuenga Boulevard in North Hollywood, has opened a new, 150-seat sister venue in Pasadena (downstairs at 26 E. Colorado Blvd.). Along with Tra Fiori, Inn Arty’s and the Dodsworth and Holly Street bar and grills, the Baked Potato gives the Old Town district of Pasadena a distinctive jazz presence, with five clubs within walking distance of each other.

The schedule at the Baked Potato Old Town mixes traditional and contemporary jazz. This week, you can catch harmonica player Lee Oskar tonight, saxman Michael Paulo on Saturday owner-pianist Don Randi on Sunday and Wednesday, saxophonist Ron Brown’s band on Monday, guitarist Bennett Brandeis on Tuesday, Cecilia Noel on Thursday and trumpeter-comedian Jack Sheldon, Jan. 15-16. Performances begin at 9 p.m. Cover charge, $10.

Information: (818) 564-1122)

A jazz policy has been added at 5th St. Dick’s Coffee Company, a recently opened establishment in the Crenshaw district (3347 1/2 43rd Place). Owned by Richard Fullerton, the room, which seats 55 and is open daily from 10 a.m. to midnight, is presenting music Fridays through Mondays.

Among the upcoming artists: saxophonist Dale Fielder, tonight and Saturday, 10 p.m. to 2 a.m.; and drummer Willie Jones III, Monday, 8 p.m. to midnight. Sunday, Fullerton is hosting a special event with four bands: Guitarist Ron Muldrow 1 to 4 p.m.; bassist Mark Shelby’s trio, 4:30 to 7 p.m.; the Peyton-Smith band, 7:30 to 10 p.m.; and the Degan Street Gang, 10 p.m. to midnight. 5th St. Dick’s occasionally charges a $2 cover.

Information: (213) 296-3970.