The swinging, sultry world of Romy Kaye
By John Chilson
(Originally appeared in D-Town.)

Flashback to 1988. The now-demolished Rio's nightclub in Point Loma. Tons of local bands, including Elvis Christ and the Trebels, perform sweaty punk, rock and/or roll for some unremembered benefit. After they finish, a well-dressed hipster jumps on the stage, gives a plug for Chesterfield Kings cigarettes, and announces the last band of the evening: Romy Kaye and the Swinging Gates. The crowd goes ape as Kaye belts out classic jump tunes, Dave Klowden wails Gene Krupa-like on the drums and some kid named AJ Croce pounds on the ivories---ten long years before the so-called swing revival.

After gaining popularity in the Swinging Gates, Kaye split San Diego for New York in the early 90s. Kaye explains, "It was pretty tough at first because I didn't know any musicians, but I somehow got hooked up through my actor and artist friends. I also went out every friggin' night and sat in with people, most of whom would look at me like 'who the hell are you?' But eventually people started getting to know me and the audience response was terriffic. Everybody was super supportive."

After she honed her chops in New York, she eventually found herself back in San Diego and started gigging around town. Musically she matured, playing more jazzed-influenced and straight-ahead vocal numbers. No big surprise, considering her influences. "My earliest influence was Billie Holiday. My mom had a bunch of her records and I listened to them everyday. I also love Billie for her perseverence and for being successful when all the cards were against her. Sara Vaughn, Chris Connor, and Anita O'Day have also influenced me tremendously," she adds. She's sang with some of San Diego's musical elite, including The Shapiros, The Dragons, Creedle, Shirley and Dave at the Red Fox Room, Gilbert Castellanos--back in the "Out Late" Ruse days.

More recently, she's been performing with pianist Paul Keeling, and working with the Buddy Blue Show (a must-see, beer-soaked, sweaty, bluesy affair). Although the words "jazz", "San Diego" and "gig" usually conjure up some horrid outside tent event, Kaye is optimistic. "San Diego has some awesome players out there and there are more and more cool venues popping up. What San Diego is missing is a larger, more appreciative audience. The gigs are out there, but ain't hardly nobody going to see 'em!"