KLON Fund-Raiser Offers Night of Club-Caravaning

Call it a jazz cruise on wheels.

It’s Tuesday’s Holiday Jazz Club Caravan, a fund-raising event for KLON, the non-commercial Long Beach jazz station. The caravan offers jazz fans a chance to hit as many as 12 Los Angeles clubs in a single evening.

On the Caravan, which runs from 8 p.m. until 1:30 a.m., participants will go by bus to such clubs as the Vine St. Bar & Grill and the Cinegrill in Hollywood, the Moonlight Tango Cafe in Sherman Oaks, the Jazz Bakery in Culver City and Chadney’s in Burbank. The clubs will neither charge an admission fee nor enforce a drink minimum to Caravan participants, who purchase a pass for $10.

Other clubs taking part in the program include Legends of Hollywood, the Club Brasserie in West Hollywood, Jax in Glendale, Lunaria and Stage 2 in West Los Angeles, La Ve Lee in Studio City and Lighthouse Beach at Gladstone’s on the Universal CityWalk.

Among the artists appearing are singer Ernie Andrews at the Cinegrill, saxman Doug Webb at Legends of Hollywood, drummer Earl Palmer’s trio at Chadney’s, saxophonist Dale Fielder and guitarist Eric Johnson at the Club Brasserie and guitarist Scott Henderson at La Ve Lee.

KLON’s Ken Poston, who is producing the event, said if things go well, the station, the clubs and the fans will all benefit. “It’s a basic fund-raiser for KLON, but it does do a lot to help the local jazz community,” he said. “Ideally, the Caravan will attract a wide variety of people, including some people who wouldn’t go to clubs, and regular club-goers as well, who get exposed to clubs they wouldn’t normally go to. Plus local bands get exposure.”

Poston said he hopes to raise about $10,000 on this event.

To take part in the Caravan, simply go to one of the clubs participating in the event, and purchase a pass. Passes are on sale beginning at 6:30 p.m. Shuttle buses arrive at each club every 15 minutes.

Information: (310) 985-5566.

A Winner Comes to Town: Pianist Jacky Terrason, first-prize winner of the recent Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz competition in Washington, makes his L.A. debut when he appears with Betty Carter at Catalina Bar & Grill Tuesday through next Sunday. The 27-year-old Frenchman, who has recorded with drummer Art Taylor, caught the veteran singer’s ear a year ago. Then Carter spotlighted him on Jazz Ahead ‘94, a program for youthful musicians held in Brooklyn last April.

“He had something I liked, though I can’t really put my finger on it,” said Carter.

For more than 20 years, the singer has featured young musicians in her bands, and some of the pianists who have gone on to greater fame after working with her include Mulgrew Miller and Benny Green. “The enthusiasm and energy I get from working with younger players keeps me thinking, keeps my music fresh,” said Carter, a spry 63. “Also young players bring in a young audience and without that young audience, jazz will not last. When young people see young musicians and an old person making something work, that turns them on.”

Anniversary Party: Reed artist Buddy Collette will highlight Catalina’s seventh anniversary celebration on Sunday, 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. There’s no cover for the party.