If you're really interested in hearing about the SD scene, you can give me
a call at the Step Jazz office. If my e-mail signature is working
correctly, you can see we're based in SAn Diego. A good part of our
magazine's content is centered on what's going on here. But I haven't heard
of this band you mentioned. Perhaps you could give me some info.
Anyway, for the most part the scene here as far as "acid jazz" goes
fluctuates greatly. Sometimes it seems like it's an absolute desert, other
times the scene flourishes. We have a good number of bands including the
Greyboy Allstars, the B-Side Players, 100% Groove, MI5 (formerly called
Rollo), Gilbert Castellanos Quartet (more straight-ahead jazz), Phazz, and
a handful of pretty good DJs, including Greyboy who you may know from his
records on Ubiquity.
Concert and club venues go from pretty good to horrible. The big shows like
Spearhead, Jazzmatazz, Omar and other acts like these play at a place
called the Belly Up which is about 20 miles outside of San Diego proper.
Other people like the Roots, Ronny Jordon, Brand New Heavies, UFO, Kruder &
Dorfmeister, and DJ Takemura have all passed through here and played at
either The Green Circle Bar or Ole Madrid. In looking at it objectively
there is a relatively good scene here. If we could attract more "big" names
on a regular basis, I think the situation could become much more energetic.
Which just underlines what we're trying to do with Step Jazz magazine.
I hope this provided you with some information regarding what goes on in
San Diego. If you seek more, just let me know. I hope no one thinks this
was just a shameless plug for our humble publication....
Peace,
Gordon
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SAN DIEGO, CA 92101
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