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Terence Love’s iconic Fullerton Jazz Club, Steamers, will close its doors for the last time tomorrow night (July 30) after a five-hour jam session. He has posted the news on Facebook:
Steamers Jazz Club has been sold and is closing its doors. The final night is Thursday July 30th. I’m co-hosting the All-Star Jam Session with Tony Guerrero. ALL alumni musicians and vocalists are invited to come, bring their instruments, and say goodbye to our home club. Reservations MUST be made by calling 714-871-8800. All other inquires (how you can be more involved, or contribute to thank you gifts, decorations, memorials, etc…) please email SteamersFinalNight@gmail.com
This will be a farewell party like no other. Join us as we say goodbye in true jazz form. The house band that final evening will include: Mark S Massey – Piano Peter Buck – Drums Edmund Velasco – Saxophone Tony Guerrero – Trumpet Chris Williams – Vocals
We don’t know what venue will replace Steamers — whether it will be a jazz club, a music venue of any kind, or maybe just another college-kid-oriented bar — but we can say this: people generally didn’t drive from Los Angeles to Fullerton to go to most of the establishments in Fullerton Downtown. But they did make appointments with friends to come see shows at Steamers. However profitable the business ultimately was, it made an impact even beyond the Orange Curtain. It closes down this week with a proud legacy, even if one now confined to memories.
If you want to reserve a ticket for a whopping $10 entry fee, you’ll find the instructions above. Your memories of the joint — and thoughts about this change to OC’s music scene — are welcome below.
A tap room for a local brewery is going in.
I wonder what’ll happen to their nice grand piano.
Throwback Thursday gratuitous tasteless Steamers mention from 2008:
http://www.orangejuiceblog.com/2008/04/enjoy-free-fun-at-faces-of-fullerton-today/comment-page-1/#comment-43318
You should ask.
Ah… I used to play there back in 99, 2000, 2001, with my Savage Jazz Quintet (or sextet) The Vern Nelson Problem. But Terence Love didn’t like paying more than $180, so I never got anything and my guys didn’t get much. And then when I tried playing as just a trio so we could each get 60 bucks at least, Terence bitched about that.
I miss the Sunday night jam sessions there. Terence said that nobody bought anything those nights though, and that’s probably true.
Yeah. No cover, no profit.
I was there back in 1992 or so when Terry and his partner came before Fullerton’s god-awful Redevelopment Design Review Committee to get the usual BS treatment from the interior decorators on the committee.
Too bad. The place became iconic, as you note.
Fortunately there is going to be plenty of opportunity in the Fullerton Rail District for good music – jazz, and dare I hope? classical.
Oh yeah? I’ll play the fuck out of some classical music at the Rail District. I’ll write a Rail District Concerto!
Cool! And I’ll rail against something!