Press Releases
San Clemente, CA – Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens, a nonprofit southern California cultural center, is pleased to announce its 2020 Casa Jazz Club lineup, provided with support from local restaurateur Rocco Carbonara.
Thursday, September 3: Lao Tizer Quartet, a Billboard Jazz chart-topping, genre-bending ensemble fusing contemporary jazz, world beat, and pop-rock.
Friday, September 4: Gerald Clayton Duo featuring the four-time GRAMMY-nominated pianist/composer and Monterey Jazz Festival’s 2017 Artist-In-Residence.
“Every Labor Day weekend, Casa Jazz Club brings jazz musicians who have garnered international recognition for their talent into our beautiful seaside town of San Clemente,”says Executive Director Amy Behrens. Past Casa Jazz Club performers include Ravi Coltrane (GRAMMY nominee and son of the legendary John Coltrane), Bennie Maupin with Eric Revis and Nasheet Waits, John Beasley (MONK’estra), Gilbert Castellanos, Kyle Eastwood, and Gerald Clayton.
Arguably one of the most scenic musical destinations for jazz-lovers on the West Coast, Casa Romantica’s Casa Jazz Club features a pre-show sunset reception both nights on Casa Romantica’s Ocean Terrace overlooking the picturesque San Clemente Pier. Carbonara Catering (the catering arm of Rocco’s Restaurant, both of which are owned by underwriter Rocco Carbonara in San Clemente) will provide small bites and drinks. The live music takes place in Casa Romantica’s historic Courtyard, an intimate open-air venue that gives attendees up-close access to the musicians in a way that few other venues in Orange County allow.
In compliance with the orders and guidelines from the California Department of Public Health, these events will be held entirely outdoors with limited capacity — just 50 tickets will be sold per evening — and all seating will be socially distanced, with small tables accommodating 1-4 person households. Guests will have their temperature screened upon arrival, and masks will be required at all times except when guests are eating or drinking at their table.
“The safety of our guests, team, and performing artists are Casa Romantica’s top priority,” says Behrens. “We are proud to be a leader among other cultural institutions by adhering to rigorous health and safety protocols so our audiences can continue to enjoy our mission-focused high-caliber music programs.”
The 2020 Casa Jazz Club series is underwritten by Rocco’s Restaurants with support from Ryland and Amy Behrens.
Thursday, September 3: Lao Tizer Quartet featuring Eric Marienthal • $50 ($45 members)
Keyboardist and bandleader Lao Tizer is a gifted performer known for his genre-bending mix of jazz, classical, new age, and jam-oriented music. A native of Boulder, Colorado, Tizer’s first big hit in 2002 reached the Billboard top 50 songs. His band’s latest release, Songs from the Swinghouse, debuted at #8 on the Billboard Contemporary Jazz Chart.
Tizer is accompanied by GRAMMY award-winner Eric Marienthal on saxophone, GRAMMY Award-nominated Ric Fierabracci on bass, and GRAMMY Award-nominated Gene Coye on the drums.
Friday, September 4: Gerald Clayton Duo • $55 ($50 members)
Four-time GRAMMY Award-nominated jazz pianist, composer, and Blue Note artist Gerald Clayton adds subtle nuances to harmonic narratives that create a thoughtful commitment to artistic exploration, innovation, and reinvention. Along with a rich performance and recording history with many talented musicians such as Diana Krall, Roy Hargrove, John Scofield, and Terence Blanchard, Gerald has also toured and recorded with saxophone legend Charles Lloyd as well as with his father, classical bassist and jazz composer John Clayton (Clayton Hamilton Orchestra).
Clayton is the Musical Director of the Monterey Jazz Festival’s Next Generation Jazz All-stars, leading a big band of all-star high school students from around the country in performance at the Monterey Jazz Festival. Previously, he was the Musical Director of Monterey Jazz Festival on Tour, a project that featured his trio along with Ravi Coltrane, Nicholas Payton, Terence Blanchard and Raul Midón. He is the 2018 winner of the ASCAP Vanguard Award, and was the 2017 Monterey Jazz Festival Artist in Residence.
About Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens
Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens maintains a robust series of year-round programs in arts, music, history, horticulture, and literature for all ages. Casa Romantica has commissioned several critically-acclaimed works, including Casa Classic: La Serva Padrona (2020; classical music), Casa Coastal: Murals of Levi Ponce (2019; visual art), Casa Theater: The Odd-Essy (2019; theater), Casa Kinetic: Culture Shock LA Hip Hop (2019; dance); Casa Coastal: The Art of Baja California (2018; visual art), Casa Theater: A Midsummer Night’s Dream (2018; theater), Casa Kinetic: Celebrating Tap Dance Legends (2018; dance), Casa Coastal: Rebecca Louise Law (2017; visual art), Casa Kinetic: Contemporary Dance Collective (2017; contemporary dance), The Beauty of the Butterfly (2017; visual art), Casa Kinetic: Carrie Lee Riggins (2016; contemporary dance), Casa Drama: Slings & Arrows (2015; theater), and Open Casa: The Photographs of Douglas Kirkland (2015; visual art). The 2020-21 Casa Captivating season includes an expanded dance (Casa Kinetic), theater (Casa Theater), and concert series (Casa Vibes), visual and performing arts commissions, and an expanded Casa Kids education program.
Casa Romantica also hosts a variety of free arts education programs for children year-round. The institution’s annual Casa Romantica Music Festival and Academy has received critical praise for its comprehensive two-week music studies program in cello, piano, viola, and violin. Casa Romantica also offers a Summer Dance Workshop, a Spring Break Arts Week, various art, literature, and horticulture events to grades K-12, and welcomes over 6,000 children from the Capistrano Unified School District each year for STEAM-based field trips that examine the history of San Clemente and the coastal environment.
Mission Statement: Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization and is the historic home of the founder of the City of San Clemente. Casa Romantica provides programs for all ages in arts, music, history, and horticulture and is a premier Southern California cultural center.
Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens is located at 415 Avenida Granada, San Clemente, CA 92672. Hours: Tuesday—Sunday 10 am—4 pm; closed Mondays and holidays. General admission is $5; Casa Members and children under age 13 visit for FREE. For more information, call (949) 498-2139 or visit CasaRomantica.org
