kikuya japanese
restaurant and jazz club says GOODBYE! kikuya japanese
restaurant and jazz club says GOODBYE!| May 23,
2005-Huntington Beach CA USA Kikuya Japanese Restaurant closed its doors permanently today May 23 2005 marking the end of one of the great music spots in Orange County California. Located at Beach and Adams in Huntington Beach, Kikuya served Japanese food and had jazz five nights a week for nearly a decade. Kikuya started jazz in 1995 with Doug McDonald and Jack Wood doing straight ahead jazz and offered varied music in the jazz vein in its small bar which would pack out by 7pm on weekend nights. Club manager Lisa Zhang told bandleader Rob Mullins today that the club had been sold and all entertainment bookings were to cease immediately. There is no information about the new ownership or whether or not they will continue with the jazz format. Kikuya during its heyday featured some of the best performers in jazz including Jeff Kashiwa, Eric Marienthal, Peter White, Greg Vail, Larry Antonino,Vail Johnson, Melvin Davis, Jeffrey Lewis, Paul Taylor, Alex Al, Scott Wilke, Richard Smith, Tony Guerrero, Jimmy Roberts, Billy Mitchell, Bobby Redfield, Kevin Krieg and many others. Rob Mullins regular Friday night gig will be replaced with shows at Steamers Jazz Cafe in Fullerton beginning with a live album recording on July 1 2005. |
Dear Jazz Fans, It is with great sadness we inform you that Restaurant Kikuya is now closed. We would like to extend our deepest appreciation to you for your loyalty and patronage during the past decade. One of the greatest losses to all of us will be the spectacular music provided by all the gifted musicians who graced our bandstand over the years. But moreso, we will miss all our wonderful customers we have come to know so well. We love you all! -Lisa Zhang and Staff |