El Matador Restaurant

You wouldn't think there'd be much call for a band with seven trombones. And you'd be right. The appearance Wednesday of Dave Wells' Trombone City at El Matador restaurant was only its third public outing in the last two years, only its fourth in the last seven. And that's a cryin' shame. Wells, a longtime studio musician and former member of the Baja Marimba Band, rehearses the 11-piece group frequently and continues writing for seven slides.

A colorful Costa Mesa restaurant -- a landmark, some would say -- that was operated by the county after the owner died has been successfully auctioned. Again. After the first bidder bowed out of buying El Matador, a new buyer completed financial arrangements Wednesday to take over the Newport Boulevard restaurant. "I'm looking forward to operating the El Matador and getting back into the restaurant business," said Greg McConaughy, a Corona del Mar businessman who paid $535,000 for the business.

A Newport Beach engineer who bid $535,000 for a landmark Costa Mesa restaurant auctioned by the county nearly two weeks ago apparently has had buyer's remorse. Xavier Bengoechea, 33, the highest bidder for the El Matador restaurant on Harbor Boulevard, has backed out, it was announced Tuesday, and could lose his $15,000 deposit, said John S. Williams, county public administrator. "I don't really know why he didn't complete the sale, but maybe he had buyer's remorse," Williams said.

A Newport Beach engineer who bid $535,000 for a landmark Costa Mesa restaurant auctioned by the county nearly two weeks ago apparently has had buyer's remorse. Xavier Bengoechea, 33, the highest bidder for the El Matador restaurant on Harbor Boulevard, has backed out, it was announced Tuesday, and could lose his $15,000 deposit, said John S. Williams, county public administrator. "I don't really know why he didn't complete the sale, but maybe he had buyer's remorse," Williams said.

Something old, something new. The phrase nicely sums up saxophonist Brandon Fields' source of musical inspiration. "I still consider myself a student, listening to all different types of music and trying to apply them to my musical sense," he said. "I search out the new stuff, contemporary music, the stuff that's playing right now, as well as researching as much old material as I can find.

A colorful Costa Mesa restaurant -- a landmark, some would say -- that was operated by the county after the owner died has been successfully auctioned. Again. After the first bidder bowed out of buying El Matador, a new buyer completed financial arrangements Wednesday to take over the Newport Boulevard restaurant. "I'm looking forward to operating the El Matador and getting back into the restaurant business," said Greg McConaughy, a Corona del Mar businessman who paid $535,000 for the business.

The Say No to Drugs project, sponsored by the Huntington Beach Police Department with area school districts, will hold its annual recognition dinner Thursday at the El Matador Restaurant. The anti-drug project, aimed at students, staff members and parents, is in its second year and has received money for another year. State Sen.

Despite damage to the outfield wall at Matador Field, Cal State Northridge will play its first home baseball game of the season, meeting third-ranked Cal State Fullerton on Saturday at 1 p.m. The wall, which is made of concrete brick, is lower at some places than others because several top pieces were dislodged during the Jan. 17 earthquake. Barry Smith, Northridge's sports information director, said the umpires and coaches must agree on ground rules before the game.

You think you were busy before Christmas. Singer Stephanie Haynes, who lives in San Juan Capistrano, says she traveled "about 600 miles" making gigs during one week in December, with a club date in Rancho Cucamonga on Sunday, the grand opening of a Japanese nightclub in Torrance on Tuesday, a stop at Chadney's in Burbank on Wednesday and a weekend engagement at a new nightspot, Central Park West, in Brentwood.

Jazz standards are always on the bill of fare when bassist-impresario Luther Hughes and his guest artist du jour strike up the assembled band at El Matador restaurant. But standards of a different genre were the day's special Friday when guitarist Terry Wollman joined a beat-minded edition of Hughes' trio in a decidedly contemporary-flavored outing.

You wouldn't think there'd be much call for a band with seven trombones. And you'd be right. The appearance Wednesday of Dave Wells' Trombone City at El Matador restaurant was only its third public outing in the last two years, only its fourth in the last seven. And that's a cryin' shame. Wells, a longtime studio musician and former member of the Baja Marimba Band, rehearses the 11-piece group frequently and continues writing for seven slides.

Something old, something new. The phrase nicely sums up saxophonist Brandon Fields' source of musical inspiration. "I still consider myself a student, listening to all different types of music and trying to apply them to my musical sense," he said. "I search out the new stuff, contemporary music, the stuff that's playing right now, as well as researching as much old material as I can find.

On a recent Sunday afternoon on the L-shaped patio that enwraps Vinnie's Ristorante, Barbara Morrison stood in brilliant sunshine singing "Here's That Rainy Day." There was a bit of Sarah Vaughn in her voice as she emphasized the irony of doing the tune under such perfect skies. Her audience--in shorts and sun dresses, sipping wine, twirling forks in plates of pasta and sampling pizzas--gave her a rousing ovation.

For more than two years, it was a jazz bastion in Orange County, presenting such top Southern California players as Ron Eschete, Wilton Felder, Tom Kubis, Stephanie Haynes and Joe Sample six nights a week in a casual, friendly atmosphere. But this week, without much fanfare, the lights went out for the last time at El Matador, the family-owned Mexican restaurant and jazz club in the Huntington Harbour Mall.