Since opening its doors, first in soft opening fashion and now in full flower, the new venue known as The Grand on State has already generated a sizable buzz. Here is an actual jazz-based venue, founded and run by keyboard master Brian Mann (with ample grand piano and accordion aplomb) and his wife, Jenna Berg, in a prominent spot on State Street, next to The Granada Theatre.
Can it work? So far, so good. They built it, and people are coming, and listening … and eating fine cuisine. And on Saturday, May 23, things bump up in cultural profile with a late-breaking booking of the notable jazz artists Tom Scott , saxophone, and pianist Roger Kellaway in duo.
Kellaway, a versatile and respected player who made noise with his unique classical-cum-jazz project Cello Quartet in the ’70s, has long been an Ojai resident and occasionally comes out to play in the 805. One memorable “local” appearance was at the Ventura Theater, leading the band for a live performance of Kevin Spacey’s Bobby Darin project, Beyond the Sea (before Spacey became a persona non grata).