Cloverdale lawyer is a man of many talents

This Saturday, February 4 at 8 p.m., it’s Rock and Roll Detention 2012 at the Last Day Saloon, 120 5^th Street in Santa Rosa.

A benefit for the Rincon Valley Education Foundation, the concert will feature three local bands, Coast Pilots, Third Rail and Court ‘n’ Disaster.

Court ‘n’ Disaster? Yes, you read that correctly. What else would you call a band that includes two judges, two lawyers, a couple of court clerks and the wife of an attorney?

Cloverdale attorney Jim DeMartini, the group’s bass player and back up vocalist, describes them as “just your standard courthouse band.”

Jim Bertoli is their lead singer, so for a while, the group was known as “Judge Jimmy and the Jailhouse Four.”  When guitarist and back up vocalist Brad DeMeo was appointed to the bench, however, the name no longer fit – hence, Court ‘n’ Disaster.

DeMartini is something of a Renaissance Man. Not only is he an accomplished attorney with a busy practice, he is the consummate volunteer, donating countless hours to charitable events like this one. His easy, laid back demeanor belies his selfless commitment to community service.

A long time member and past president of the Cloverdale Rotary Club and General Counsel for the Cloverdale Rotary Club Foundation and Healdsburg Jazz Festival, he has served on numerous boards, including the Healdsburg Jazz Festival, the Sonoma County Bar Association and the Cloverdale Health Care District.

He is a past chairman of the Cloverdale Planning Commission, the Cloverdale Chamber of Commerce, the Cloverdale Economic Development Commission, and the Cloverdale Citrus Fair Parade Association. He is chairman of the Sonoma County Bar Association Judicial Evaluation Committee, and serves on the Advisory Boards of both the Redwood Empire Food Bank and the Cloverdale Community Outreach Committee.

Jimmy D, as he is affectionately known, also happens to be a great cook who can single-handedly prepare a scrumptious meal for one or 100. He regularly dons his chef’s apron to help out at local fundraisers.

DeMartini, who has probably incorporated every non-profit in town, believes the best part about living in Cloverdale is the sense of community and volunteerism. “That’s what makes Cloverdale work,” he says.

Each Christmas Eve, he and his wife, Cynthia, open their home to about 50 single friends and others whose families might live far away, and he cooks up his trademark abalone chowder and lobster ravioli for everyone.

Some of the produce he uses is purchased locally, but more often than not, it will be straight from his garden. The eggs are from the chicken coop out back. An avid fisherman, abalone diver, hunter and forager, he has developed quite a repertoire of favorite meals, much to the delight of family and friends.

But that’s not all. He’s also a self-taught musician who regularly performs with various groups, including the Healdsburg Community Band. He’s not sure if he inherited his musical talent from his dad or not. “He played piano – but only the black keys,” he recalls. “He loved playing tunes from the 40’s and 50’s, but he only played the first verse.”

One of DeMartini’s regular musical partners is long-time friend Phil Gelder. Along with the late Doc Quam, who was instrumental in starting the Cloverdale Fiddle Festival, he even played at the DeMartini’s wedding 30 years ago.

DeMartini and Gelder once billed themselves as “Steelhead and the Sinking Flies.” Today they are known as “The Great Zantini.”

After primarily playing jazz all these years, the San Francisco native says he was surprised how quickly he adapted to playing honky-tonk and classic country when he got together with Bertoli, DeMeo and the other band members.

The DeMartinis have two grown children, Sophia and Gabe, and live north of town on property that was once part of the Cooley Ranch and vineyards. In fact, their 100-year old home was actually the Cooley’s Carriage House at one time and their driveway is part of the original stage road to the coast.

To see him perform with the Court ‘n’ Disaster band, drop by the Last Day Saloon Saturday night. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. with music from 8 p.m. to Midnight. Tickets are $20. For more information, call 545.5876.

 

 

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