Dizzy’s covering up for Chuck Perrin

Jazz concert promoter and Dizzy’s operator Chuck Perrin began showcasing (mostly) jazz talent back in April 2000 — first at the Culy Trucking Warehouse, within spitting distance of Petco Park. Seven years later, a construction retrofit necessitated a move to the San Diego Wine & Culinary Center on Harbor Drive, where he stayed for a few years. But an argument over a piano left Perrin looking for another venue. After temporary setups at 98 Bottles and the Cosmopolitan Hotel in Old Town, he landed at San Diego Jet Ski; that lasted another for few years, until he found his present Bay Park location at the Musician’s Union (1717 Morena). He’s been there for about three years.

That is, until covid hit. Now, after a 16-month layoff, Perrin and Dizzy’s are back.

“I did enjoy having some down time,” says Perrin, who is also a noted folk musician. “I played a lot of guitar, did some recording, and spent a lot of time pulling weeds at the house. I didn’t realize how much I missed it, though.”

Dizzy’s has already held several shows at the hall. After an August 14 event featuring pianist Joshua White (“Just like before the pandemic, we are going to feature Joshua a lot”), two rescheduled concerts followed: Bob Weller’s quartet and a duet between Mikan Zlatkovich and Brian Levy. White returned at the end of August for a program of Duke Ellington, Billy Strayhorn, and Thelonious Monk music, backed by several returning local regulars.

How was it, presenting live music again? “It was like nothing had changed. Everything fell into place. We had a great crowd [August 14], and Joshua was in rare form. I saw a different side of him. The people certainly enjoyed themselves, and it felt really good to be back again.”

For now, the Musician’s Union is requiring that all people attending a concert at Dizzy’s 200-person capacity venue wear a mask. That might have seemed like overkill in July, but in light of the Delta variant, Perrin hasn’t heard many complaints. “The audience has been great. They just fell right into it. Many of these people have been coming to Dizzy’s for years, and they are very supportive and appreciative. Everyone just wants to hear music again; the mask is a small price to pay. I did get one negative email from a guy who told me he wouldn’t come to any shows [requiring masks], but that’s only one complaint.”

As of this writing, area venues requiring indoor attendees to either wear masks or show covid vaccination card or proof of recent negative test include the Belly Up, The Casbah, Soda Bar, Music Box, and Observatory North Park. There doesn’t appear to be any consensus on how long such rules may last; most venues cite adherence to current state and CDC guidelines as indefinite until further notice.

For his part, Perrin plans to proceed carefully in the next few months. “I’m not trying to pack the place every time. I think every show represents a success. I’m just moving a little slowly because I want to make sure everything is working out. I’ve got some great ideas, but first I’m trying to reschedule the shows I had to cancel last year. On September 10, we’re going to bring in [guitarist] Victor Baker. That’s one of the shows that we had to cancel. He’ll be performing with Matt DiBiase, Justin Grinnell, and Julien Cantelm. On September 17, we’re having the 17-year-old pianist Brenda Greggio with John Murray (bass) and Nick Caldwell (saxophone) who are also 17, alongside Julien Cantelm (drums). On October 8, it’s Paul Combs (saxophone) and Derek Cannon (trumpet) doing Jazz in the Movies/The Movies in Jazz, with Angelica Pruitt (bass) and Tommy Meyer (keyboard). I’m also working hard to get the Piano Summit going again, because that’s another event we had to cancel last year.”