Gazzarri’s Ghost Jams With All-Stars

Late every Monday night, Billboard Live is channeling the ghost of Gazzarri’s, the seminal Sunset Strip rock stronghold that was torn down to make way for the new West Hollywood club.

Its new promotion, All-Star Jams, gathers a bunch of musicians to do what the name suggests. After only three weeks, the event--conceived by promoters D.K., Mark Bruser and co-hosts Lee Maen and Craig Katz--has already featured performances by Slash’s band, Richie Sambora, Nina Hagen and members of Dokken, Guns N’ Roses and Ozzy Osbourne’s band. During breaks, Hollywood’s top deejay, Mike Messex, reaches into his stash of rock to keep the dance floor moving.

Perhaps even more interesting than the musicians on stage are those mingling with the audience, including such notables as Stone Temple Pilots’ Scott Weiland and Steve Vai. Last week, Eric Clapton kept his fellow spectators guessing: Would he or wouldn’t he join the players on stage? (He declined.)

Billboard Live clearly has the juice needed to pull off this type of club, which would probably fail to attract the intended upscale crowd in a less plush venue.

* All-Star Jams, every Monday at Billboard Live, 9039 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 21 and over, $10. (310) 786-1712.

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The Buzz: They’re baaaack, the clubs that wouldn’t die: First, the China Club’s Pro-Jam makes its return on Monday at the Bev’ Center club Tempest, and hosts Jeff “Skunk” Baxter and A.K. promise opening-night performances by Rick James and members of the Temptations and a house band that features musicians from Smokey Robinson’s band and Tower of Power. . . . Saturday Night Fever, Hollywood’s long-running disco party, has relocated to that funky, funky but Korean chic Club Lingerie, and Dragonfly plans to give FM Station and the Teaszer a run for their money with its new Monday “Hair Night,” a tribute to all things metal.

* China Club Pro-Jam, (310) 659-7904. Saturday Night Fever, (213) 848-9300. Dragonfly, (213) 466-6111.