Opening Night: Scat Jazz Lounge
by Steve Smith
Ricki Derek couldn’t stand still. He moved around from table to bar, chatting with guests, bussing glasses, checking with the staff. All the while, he was working his chewing gum. He’s a seasoned performer who is more than at home on any stage, but you could tell he was a little nervous this time.
This time was a little different. This was opening night at his place — the Scat Jazz Lounge. And he wanted it to be perfect.
On the outside, he was as tailored, starched and pressed as the Chairman of the Board himself on his best day. But he was working that gum.
He stopped by the booth near the back of the room where the West and Clear posse was ensconced. He sat and chatted about the last-minute headaches endured as he pulled together opening night. I joked with him that I expected it to be like Goodfellas where they walked through the kitchen to get to the table. He laughed.
“We’re having a Frank Sinatra birthday party on the 12th,” he said. “We got Jack Daniels to sponsor it. We even got a cake. Can you believe it?”
Believe it. Jazz is back in downtown Fort Worth. And Ricki Derek has done it right.
He’s nailed the 1940’s cool vibe with an old school neon sign in the alley and a speakeasy entrance. Inside the club, the lights are low, there a sumptuous round booths and empty spots on the walls where the black-and-white photos of those who play at the club will soon hang. Just sitting there, you are thinking the Copa, the Sands, the Brown Derby. It’s what would be in your mind’s eye if you imagined a jazz club.
But if you are worried that this is some sort of jazz Disneyland where people will hang out in fedoras (no offense, Kevin) and drink Gibsons while doing their best Jimmy Cagney, I assure you that ain’t what’s going on. The sound is first rate and whole milieu is just right. It isn’t overdone, it’s not anachronistic — it’s contemporary and sophisticated.
Even before he took the stage for the first time around 9:30, the club was packed. It was standing room only. If you wanted a table, you should have been there early. Ricki’s combo — including Fort Worth jazz bassist Paul Unger — warmed up the crowd for about 20 minutes before Ricki took to the stage and launched into They Can’t Take That Away from Me. The man was smooth as 30-year-old scotch. And for the record, Ricki did scat as he channeled the ghost of Cab Calloway.
After Ricki finished his set, legendary Texas sax man (and one of the club’s sound designers) Johnny Reno took to the stage with a rendition of Mack The Knife that had you thinking Bobby Darin was standing right there.
About that time, Tom Huckabee dropped in to catch Johnny’s set. Then Ricki stopped by our table again. “Is there a dead spot back here?” No, the sound’s fine. “OK.” And off he went.
And on the night went, with loud music, the clink of glasses, the buzz and laughter of the crowd and the whirl of dancers. As openings go, it was a grand slam for Ricki Derek and his crew. But it was also a grand slam for Fort Worth.
We need more of this downtown — people putting their money and their sweat into building unique local businesses in the city center, bringing their own brand of cool and writing another chapter into the story of Fort Worth.
Welcome to Fort Worth, Ricki Derek. We’re glad to have you here. Feel free to stay a while. And relax a little. You nailed it.
Tags: jazz, Johnny Reno, Music, Ricki Derek, scat jazz lounge
15 Comments, Comments or Pings
Steve-O
I wanted to say thank you to Suzette and Martin and Linda for coming out and saying hello. We love getting to meet our readers. You helped make our night! Thanks for your kind words and we hope to see you again soon!
Dec 7th, 2007
Dan
Sounds like a cool place, I will need to check it out when I am back in FW this month.
Dec 7th, 2007
George Welch
Dear Derek:
Congratulations on your rousing success, tremendous write-up and an incredible opening night. A well deserved success and all your hard work is paying off. Could not be happier.
Love
Yorgo
Dec 7th, 2007
Mr. B
Had a great time Ricki, a much needed addition to the Fort Worth night scene.
Mr. B
Dec 7th, 2007
JW Richard
Wow. Glad to see that vibe available in Fort Worth again. Now while the opening night seemed all classic jazz, I do hope it’s not going to be just a “standards” jazz place. Time will tell.
Dec 8th, 2007
Bernie
Ricki- Like Steve-o said, you nailed it. Your club had more cool on opening night than many clubs see in their lifespans… welcome to Panther City!
I can’t wait for Sinatra’s birthday.
Dec 8th, 2007
Steve-O
Interesting comment, JW. I like the standards-type of jazz, but I also hope their will be a place for classic and even contemporary jazz there — not the Kenny G quiet storm crap — but real jazz. And I think it will just take time to see how the club gets its footing.
Dec 8th, 2007
Juniper
Dude, Pete….your pictures are awesome….I want the martini glass one on my wall at home. You all are going an amazing job with this website….
Dec 9th, 2007
KC
Steve-O,
Your Ricki Derek Q&A prompted my initial interest in Scat. So, thanks for the story idea. The video I shot at the grand opening can be found here.
Dec 10th, 2007
Ricki
Can someone have Pete get a hold of me? I tried to find the website of his and no luck. I wanted to chat about the photos.
Cheers,
RD
Dec 14th, 2007
Bernie
petegeniella.com is PeteG’s site, or you can email him at peteg “at” westandclear.com
Dec 14th, 2007
Cheryl Wiles
I’m once again impressed! Kudos! Wishing you many years of success Derek! Cheryl Wiles
Dec 15th, 2007
Anonymous
Jan 11th, 2008
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