The Jazzmen’s raid

Three days after April Fool’s, some dopes broke into Jazzmen’s Art of Pasta in Old Sacramento where, in addition to the customary maroon’s pursuit of wrecking stuff, they painted bull’s-eyes, pentagrams and crudely lettered warnings directed toward the African-American couple that owns the restaurant. It was the kind of egregious stupidity that insurance policies tend not to cover completely, and to that end, local performer Melonnee Desiree organized a benefit for the club. She’s enlisted a number of blues, jazz, rock, R&B and gospel performers, including Omar Sharriff, JOY, the Jacob Seven Band, Joseph Jordan and others, to help Hazel and Earl Simms cover the cost of restoring the club. The event happens this Sunday, May 19, from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at Jazzmen’s, 1107 Front St., where $10 will get you in.