No-Music Future Likely With Sale of Le Cafe Restaurant

After 15 years of presenting some of the highest quality jazz in Southern California, the owners of Le Cafe announced that restaurant-nightclub will be closing. By the end of next month, the Sherman Oaks-based restaurant will become an Italian eatery, and it is doubtful that a musical policy will be continued.

“My family has sold Le Cafe, and the new owners have no experience presenting music, so, as far as I know, there will be none,” said Dale Jaffe, who owned the restaurant along with his brother, Paul Jaffe, and his parents, singer Lois Boileau and physician Jay Hodes. “But if they want to do something and need assistance, I will help.”

Jaffe said the although financial hard times had struck Le Cafe, particularly in the aftermath of the Northridge earthquake, monetary issues did not prompt the sale. “It was time for all of us to move on,” said Jaffe, who plans a career in film production. “My parents are about ready to retire, and my brother wants to pursue his computer business. So the change is positive.”

The Room Upstairs at Le Cafe, where music is presented, is a unique, living-room-like performance space that seats about 50. Such artists as Ernie Watts, Dori Caymmi, Billy Childs, Sue Raney and Larry Carlton have appeared there. As the room nears its final days, more top names will be spotlighted, said Jaffe. “Basically, every weekend will be a celebration of the people who worked here,” he said. The upcoming schedule includes Brazilian great Caymmi tonight and Saturday and saxman Brandon Fields and specials guests, March 31 and April 1.

Information: (818) 986-2662.

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Up Allen’s Alley: At first you might wonder if Steve Allen, the perennially spry comedian-songwriter-pianist, would fit in at the House of Blues, where he plays with his big band on Tuesday. But the snappy 74-year-old has a couple of quick reasons why he fits: his material, and the fact that the club wanted him. “I didn’t force my way in. They invited me,” he says. “A lot of what I play is blues. If you like Count Basie’s music, you’ll like mine. It’s the same genre.”

Allen, a self-taught pianist and composer responsible for the hit, “This Could Be the Start of Something,” says he has been a jazz fan since he was a teen-ager in Chicago. “I was drawn to it because of early conditioning and my natural good taste,” says Allen, the latter remark delivered in typically cheery tongue-in-cheek. “Jazz is a celebration of melody, and I’ve been addicted to great melodies, by such writers as Cole Porter and Jerome Kern, since I was 6.”

At the House of Blues, Allen will work with a first-rate aggregation that includes drummer Frank Capp, pianist Paul Smith (“I like someone noodling if I’m talking or singing,” Allen said), trumpeter Ron Stout, reedman Tom Kubis and trombonist Andy Martin. Frankie Randall will do additional vocals, and the evening is hosted by Mr. No Respect himself, Rodney Dangerfield.

Information: (213) 650-0476.

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Duke on Duke: When George Duke, the keenly talented keyboardist well-versed in a myriad of modern moods, plays host to “George Duke and Friends” on Saturday at the Pantages in Hollywood, the idea is something for everyone. The program, which spotlights saxman George Howard and singers Dianne Reeves, Phil Perry and Howard Hewett, goes “360 degrees,” says Duke. “We do everything from Latin and funk and R&B; to Brazilian and straight-ahead in a way where it all works. I organized it so that it really flows, and the people get a lot.”

Duke, whose latest Warner Bros. album is “Illusions,” has been involved in several “Jazz Explosion” tours, shows that are often packed with crowd-pleasing pop and funk elements. This tour--Duke and company have been on the road for a month--might be different because he handpicked a group of artists, each, he says, having something unique to offer. “I look for that strong musical identity so that everybody is not doing the same kind of music, and that definitely makes the show interesting.”

Information: (213) 480-3232.

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Date Book: Young bass giant Christian McBride makes his L.A. club debut as a leader, fronting a top- drawer quartet Tuesday through April 2 at Catalina Bar & Grill, (213) 466-2210.

Diana Krall, the fine New York-based vocalist and pianist whose just-released debut GRP recording is “Only Trust Your Heart,” holds forth Monday through Wednesday at the Jazz Bakery in Culver City, (310) 271-9039.

Singer Ernie Andrews, the splendid tenor-baritone, holds forth tonight and Saturday at Legends of Hollywood in Studio City, (818) 760-6631.

A contemporary version of Andrews might be the dynamic Dwight Tribble, whose powerful presence can be felt tonight and Saturday at the World Stage, (213) 293-245.

Boston-based keyboardist David Azarian’s ace quartet plays tonight through Sunday at La Ve Lee in Studio City, (818) 980-8158. Azarian’s band includes drum ace Bob Moses and solid saxman Rob Scheps.

One of Southern California’s better kept musical secrets is Chuck Manning, a tenorman who is steadily gaining his own, listenable voice. Manning appears tonight at the Atlas as a member of the L.A. Jazz Quartet, (213) 380-8400, then fronts a quartet on Saturday at Dodsworth’s in Pasadena, (818) 578-1344.