Kim Nalley, co-owner of Jazz at Pearl's in San Francisco, announced April 23 that the storied North Beach jazz club will remain open, thanks to an "11th hour" reprieve from a group of local jazz aficionados who've banded together to buy the jazz venue and keep its doors open.

"We have accepted an offer from some local jazz aficionados that love Jazz at Pearl's as much as I do and want to keep the club open," Nalley announced April 23 on the club's website.

The nightclub's jazz-loving "angels" have not be revealed yet.

"As soon as we go through the normal process of transfer of ownership and things are finalized," she added, "we will announce the names of the new owners. 

"In the meantime, please enjoy a wonderful month of world class jazz that I put together at the last minute with the help and patience of many musicians. I hope you can spread the word that Jazz at Pearls is alive and well."

Upcoming concerts at Pearl's include performances by Pete Escovedo (May 10), the Afro-Cuban Jazz Cartel (May 15), jazz and blues legend Barbara Morrison (May 16-17), and saxophonist Houston Person (May 23-25).

Nalley will remain a part of the club staff, and rejoins jump blues bandleader Johnny Nocturne (where Nalley first got her start on the Bay Area blues and jazz scene in the 1980s) for a special reunion performance May 30-31.

Nalley purchased the club from former owner Pearl Wong in 2003 with her husband, Steve Sheraton. She initially announced April 1 that the club would go dark at month's end.

"I would not be making this announcement if I thought there was any glimmer of hope" for keeping the nightclub open, Nalley wrote at the time. Never say never...