Club Scene : New Place, New Crowd--Same Hot Jazz

Kind of blue, kind of cool, a little old-fashioned but at the same time hip, Legends of Hollywood is one of the newest additions to the Studio City / NoHo jazz scene. Legends spent its first eight years over the hill in Hollywood, but moved last year to its Ventura Boulevard location just a couple of weeks before Hollywood Boulevard sank as a result of subway construction. Owner Bob Marks, himself a veteran jazz percussionist, said he has noticed that, since the relocation, his clientele has changed considerably from young, neon-haired “weirdos” to an older, “more affluent” crowd. But the young’uns still show up, said Marks, leaving empty two-ounce liquor bottles on the floor. Also, because Legends is a restaurant, it is open to all ages.

THE MUSIC: Clearly, the reason to come to Legends is the great jazz it has to offer. One night, you might check out a set by “The Elders,” a foursome of veteran artists playing with mesmerizing smoothness. Another night, you could stumble onto the 10-piece swing ensemble of Eric Ekstrand. Ekstrand’s band plays swing and what is called “jump-boogie blues,” the 1940s-era precursor to rhythm and blues.

THE SCENE: No doubt, the majority of Legends’ current crowd leans toward the over-40 population. But there’s always a couple of hard-core, 20-something jazz enthusiasts there to check out the top-notch talent Legends draws.

The club’s exterior is covered with ivy, and the inside has an East Coast feel: dark, cozy, maybe a little cramped. Dinner, made up of dishes such as shrimp scampi and prime rib, is a little pricey when added to the cover charge, but it’s certainly apropos for a special romantic evening.

TIP: Legends is one of the stops on the KLON Jazz Caravan on April 27, which, for $10 in advance or $15 at the door, lets you wander into a whole host of Los Angeles jazz clubs and offers free bus transportation between all of them.

THE GOOD: Legends is a pretty restaurant, where you can sip your gin and tonics elbow to elbow with musicians and longtime jazz fans while listening to a variety of good, solid live jazz music.

THE BAD: There’s no dance floor, which is a real shame considering the upbeat swing bands that play at Legends, and some of the seating arrangements are a little awkward. A good amount of the seating for non-diners forces you to sit with your back to the musicians.

Legends of Hollywood, 11720 Ventura Blvd., Studio City. Club hours: Music plays nightly at 8:30, 10 and 11:30. Cover charge from $3 to $10 (depending on the night and the band), plus two-drink minimum or dinner. (818) 760-6631.