A musical buffet of epic proportions!

Well no trip to LA would be complete without a visit to the seminal Jazz Mecca of Spaghettini Italian Grill and Jazz Club in Seal Beach.  My old friend Q is the musical director there, he’s traveled the world with me and whenever I get a chance I head south from the W Hotel in LA to hang!  Owners Laurie and Cary have created at true oasis there; it’s a virtual who’s who of Jazz artists for the Sunday brunch with superstar athletes, actors and musicians noshing and jamming at the restaurant bar. While I was sitting at the bar the parade started…Don Gruisin, Michael O’ Neil (George Benson’s longtime guitar ace), Nils, Andre Delano, Dave Garfield (Benson’s band), Ronnie Gutierrez, Al Williams, Vernon Neilly, Natali Rene, Ray Fuller, Larry Gittens, DW3 and Barbara Blake from 94.7 the Wave in LA broadcasting live, plus a raft of fans celebrating the amazing food and ambiance.  If you haven’t been to Spaghettini yet just plan a trip there…really.  There’s a fantastic hotel right across the street that is very reasonable and you will enjoy a weekend of world class music, wine and food. 

The entire staff at the restaurant travels as a team to experience food and cultures as far away as Italy so when they say they know their food and wine….THEY KNOW THEIR FOOD AND WINE! 

Just this past week the restaurant bar, which seats less than one hundred, has presented Lee Ritenour, David Pack, Eric Marienthal and the hottest new band anywhere called DW3.  These young men got their start on Warren Hill’s Smooth Jazz Cruise as the pool side party band but have quickly morphed into up and coming superstars. The place was buzzing with energy. This particular
Sunday, Q even had his nephews Zac and Riley in the house!

You just never know who is going to walk in the front door to jam at Spaghettini…Dave Koz, Peter White, Jonathan Butler, Rick Braun, Kirk Whalum, Chris Botti…it’s just crazy there!  Well I settled into my seat at the bar and grazed on the barbecue whole salmon, shrimp, salads of all descriptions, grilled asparagus, more desserts than I’ve ever seen and a few mimosas.  Well several mimosas.  It’s a good thing I did my on air guest thing with Barbara Blake BEFORE the mimosas started flowing!

For more information on Spaghettini just go to their website at www.spaghettini.com  and get the whole story or call them at
562 596 2199…ask for Q and tell him I sent you.  You’re in for Jazz, food, fun, wine and stars. Pretty darn cool.

Stay tuned next week for more of Cameron’s Jazz Journals.

Read last week's Jazz Journal