As a card-carrying member of the club that believes the world — and certainly the West Coast — is in dire need of strong, dedicated jazz clubs, I was excited about the buzz around the club Libretto in Paso Robles. Here, in an elegantly appointed entry in the classic basement jazz club tradition, an impressive roster of jazz artists, some of household name renown, perform in a pristine setting before a respectful listening crowd.
All the pieces are in place in this modest but welcoming jazz haven, founded by intrepid music loving entrepreneur and pianist Corey Jordan — born and raised in Paso and returned after a 10-year Los Angeles stint with his wife, Kate.
To back up: What's this, a model jazz club in the center of Paso Robles? The city was once characterized as a cowboy town, an unfair and incomplete stereotype. In the comforting embrace of the Libretto, the closest encounter to cowboy culture might be if a musician opted to channel Sonny Rollins's version of “I'm an Old Cow Hand.”