plan: b in Carson City caters to local artists

When blues-and-folk guitarist Brother Dan fell ill a couple weeks ago and couldn't play his gig at B'Sghetti's plan: b micro lounge, another local musician who regularly plays the nightclub quickly threw together a three-piece band and filled in for the ailing guitarist.

The result was a fantastic night of blues, jazz and funk fusion, said Steve Norton, general manager at the Italian restaurant.

"It was the first time they'd been together," said Norton. "On a whim they called themselves the Tony Cataldo Experiment."

Cataldo's last-minute band is a lot like plan: b itself: an evolving idea.

"It's not predictable," said Norton. "If we find something new and interesting, we'll do that."

At first, when plan: b opened last November in what doubles as B'Sghetti's banquet space during the week, that meant introducing the micro lounge concept to Carson City.

"It's kind of a small, intimate place that offers entertainment, signature cocktails and tasty little bites," Norton said.

And initially, plan: b, which is open only on weekends, featured a DJ, a dance floor and a young crowd.

But B'Sghetti's and plan b: owner Scott Doerr always had plans to showcase local musicians once they had enough experience running the nightclub, said Norton.

"There are a lot of amazing musicians around that people aren't hearing," said Norton.

So starting in May, plan: b traded in the DJ and the under-30 clientele for live music and an older group of customers.

"Instead of shots and beer, people are drinking wine," Norton said.

Guitarist Brother Dan is a regular as is jazz musician Cataldo. Russel Ketenjian, a painter and potter from Markleeville, Calif., plays the oud, a Middle Eastern instrument that resembles a lute or guitar. Me and Bobby McGee, a jazz duo featuring Bob Reid and Comma Coffee owner June Joplin singing jazz standards, plays many Friday nights.

Saturday night regular is Jazz Steps, a jazz band led by drummer Dennis Steele and featuring vocalist Latisha Lewis, keyboardist Dave Kubin and Rocky Tatarelli on saxophone.

"We play real jazz, but we try to keep it palatable for the non-jazz listener," Steele said. "You can always find the downbeat in our music." 

For Steele and other musicians he's talked to, plan: b is an ideal spot.

"It's the best jazz venue in the whole area," Steele said. "What Scott has created is a nice, intimate lounge."

"We have no shortage of musicians who want to play here," Norton said. "We're booked as far as we want to go."

Or until plan: b transforms itself once again.

"Things may change," Norton said. "We want to be fresh and different."