Jazz Night at Nick's
By Lindsay Norcott
Staff Writer

In a small town, down a quiet alley, lies a sleepy café that wakes itself weekly to the soulful sounds of jazz. On Sunday nights, from 9 p.m. until the music dies, a motley mix of musicians plays at Nick's Café in Claremont, located between Heroes restaurant and Powell's hardware. They rarely draw a crowd, just the regulars and some pleasantly surprised new customers, but all consider Nick's a sanctuary and a staple of Claremont.

"It's a true underground treasure…a great place to either end or start your week," according to Nick Villalon '04, who occasionally plays bass in a jazz quartet.

The core of the quartet consists of Mike Bennett on the drums, Ryan Pryor on the keyboard, Antonio Medrano, a Harvey Mudd alumnus, on the bass, and Bob Keller, a Harvey Mudd professor, on the trumpet.

Every Sunday is different for them. The artists not only try out new tunes, but new and different musicians from the Claremont area join them every week. Sometimes a sax, maybe another trumpet, or occasionally a member of the audience who feels like singing joins the quartet on stage to make their addition to this weekly tradition.

Bringing a bit of yourself and contributing to the atmosphere is what Nick's Café is all about. The art on the walls changes weekly with the music as new artists ask to display their work in an environment that is friendly towards experimentation. When live music isn't filling the room the stereo system plays a refreshing variety of demo tapes and indie music.

The roommate of the voice on the stereo was working behind the counter the last time I was in Nick's and commented that artistic touches weren't all that Nick's customers brought with them. They leave the ups and downs of their day on the counter with $3.05 when they ask for their mochas. "I leave here thinking about their problems as much as my own…people's lives become so involved with this place," reflected Justin, who drives from twenty minutes away to work his shift.

The décor also seems to have evolved over time, with personal touches that are eccentric but welcome. Plastic dinosaurs roam the counters, contributing to the feeling that this place has been here forever, and various vintage drums connect with the café's musical history.

The café has been in Claremont for at least twenty-five years. Originally located where Harvard Square Café is today, Nick's moved to its current location about fifteen years ago. Always receptive to musicians who want to practice in a setting free of pressures and judgments, Nick's has seen artists such as Ben Harper and Jewel on their way to bigger stages.

Along with pride in their history, Nick's Café has pride in its reputation. One cannot spend more than five minutes inside without knowing that this is the anti-Starbucks. You won't find green aprons and collared shirts, only camouflage t-shirts and well-worn corduroy jackets. There are no pressed suits and cell phones, but there is the guy with handcuffs hanging from his belt loop playing backgammon in the corner. If these things don't tip you off, the "Friends don't let friends go to Starbucks" sign pasted onto the register is your last warning not to ask for a venti non-fat soy caramel macchiato.

It's a little beat-up, somewhat eccentric, and faintly nostalgic, but these are the strengths of Nick's Café. Its worn edges are proof of its legacy, the quirkiness is a sign of its welcoming atmosphere, and the time warp feeling indicates that Nick's will continue in the future as it has throughout its history. It at least deserves a visit because, as Dave behind the counter commented, in words amazingly appropriate to this place, "Nick's is light-years cooler than Starbucks."