Bayside Restaurant To Host Notable Names In OC Jazz Community

NEWPORT BEACH, CA — Get ready for food, drinks and all that jazz as local restaurant Bayside prepares to host the Irvine Barclay Theater Jazz Band for a supper club Friday, Aug. 27. Those who participate can look forward to enjoying the high-caliber food menu Bayside has to offer, as well as imaginative cocktails and live music played by some of the most familiar names in the Orange County jazz community.

Bayside Restaurant owner Marc Ghoukassian said that live music is one of the pillars of the restaurant, and Bayside has been hosting modified live music events since last summer to bring people together even in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"We are thrilled to have been able to partner with the Irvine Barclay throughout COVID, to give their artists a place to play," Ghoukassian said. "It was really important to me to get our live music program back up-and-running as soon as it was possible."

Live music and good eats aren't the only things Bayside Restaurant has to offer. The business is currently showcasing sculptures and paintings created by internationally known sculptor and painter Russell Jaques. Jaques's work can be found in museum and public art collections across the United States, Canada, Mexico, New Zealand and Holland. His most recent works are being exhibited at Bayside.

As for the Irvine Barclay Theater Jazz Band, members of the group include some of the most prominent names in the Orange County jazz community, including:

• Ron Kobayashi, keyboards
• Jerry Mandel, tenor saxophone
• Craig Springer, tenor and soprano saxophone
• Tom Bevan, guitar
• Baba Elefante, bass
• Steve Dixon, drums

Kobayashi said that he is happy to play live music with other talented musicians, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, which put a heavy strain on live performances worldwide.

"It's a great feeling to be playing live again," Kobayashi said. "Music is meant to bring people together, so when it was not possible during the peak of COVID, it was very disheartening. I only hope we can all do what's needed now to keep the numbers down so we can continue live music."

Kobayashi also said that guests who attend the supper club can expect to hear the band play American jazz tunes spanning decades.

Tickets are not needed for this event, but reservations are highly encouraged and can be made through Bayside Restaurant's website.