Columnist Joe Delaney: Jazz picks hot, Superbowl bets not

Joe Delaney

Thursday, Feb. 4, 1999 | 10:54 a.m.

Super Bowl Sunday was a huge success in Las Vegas and the sports books did extremely well, as well. ... Although not a three-day weekend, the Super Bowl ranks with New Year's Eve for overall activity in our town. ... Personally, it was a fitting conclusion to the NFL season. ... We had Denver and over at half-time and Atlanta, the points, and under as a final score, loser on both bets. ... We'll make up for it next season.

The Tropicana's invitation read, "The Casino Legends Hall of Fame Inaugural Induction Gala. Join us in honoring who made Las Vegas what it is today: The Builders & Visionaries; The Headliners; The Showgirls; The Gamblers; Las Vegas in the Movies, Tiffany Theatre ... Feb. 4, 1999."

What really caught our eye was "Special Guest Performances by Shecky Greene and Sam Butera." ... It would be wonderful if this is also an indication that Shecky will become active as a performer here once more.

Butera's back

Sam Butera & The Wildest return to the Orleans hotel-casino lounge Tuesday for a two-week stand. ... Chuck Diamond and his Royal Dixie Jazz Band, with Michael Gaughan, on Convention Center Drive and later, for the good years, at the Barbary Coast, will play in the Orleans Lounge from noon-6 p.m., Tuesday through Feb. 21. ... It should be a great first week with the Righteous Brothers through Feb. 11, and Pete Fountain Feb. 12-14 in the showroom.

The Ernie George Four, with Joe Lano, guitar; Dr. Tom Ferguson, piano; Gus Mancuso, bass and Ernie on drums and vocals, plus vocalist Annie Francis, have moved to Carollo's Fridays and Saturdays, 8 p.m.-midnight.

Mancuso stays on and joins the Marv Koral All-Stars there on Sundays, 5:30-9:30 p.m.. ... Marv plays all the reeds; Joe Romano, saxophone; Carl Saunders, trumpet; the incomparable Carl Fontana, trombone; Mancuso, piano; Rudi Aikels, bass; and Santo Savino, are the Sunday regulars.

Local happenings

"Lerner and Loewe: Brief Shining Moment" has its world premiere tonight at 8 in UNLV's Judy Bayley Theatre, the start of a two-weekend stand (see story on page 1E). ... The musical focuses on the relationship of Alan Jay Lerner and Fritz Loewe,and includes moments from their "My Fair Lady," "Brigadoon," "Paint Your Wagon," "Gigi" and "Camelot." ... UNLV's Robert Brewer directs.

The famed Russian National Ballet performs "The Sleeping Beauty," 8 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, UNLV's Ham Hall. ... The Nevada Ballet Theatre's next dates are Feb. 26-28, performing "Les Sylphides," "In The Glow of the Night" and "Good Times" in the Cashman Theatre.

Neil Simon's "Biloxi Blues" continues this weekend and next, LV Little Theatre, call 362-7996. ... Balfa Tourjors, a Cajun quartet, will be at the Charleston Heights Center at 8 p.m. Saturday. ... Sunday at 7 p.m., Walt Boenig leads the Dymanic Trombone Quartet, Reed Whipple Center.

There's more

Lee Greenwood performs at 7 and 9 p.m. Friday in Boulder Station's Railhead. ... It was on our KDWN 720-AM program in 1981 that Greenwood announced he was leaving Las Vegas for Nashville with some songs he had written to give it a go for one year. ... "If nothing happens, I'm coming back to Vegas full time as a dealer." ... He wears his deserved success very nicely.

The Ames Piano Quartet is in concert 7:30 p.m. Friday (Winchester Community Center). ... The Nevada Opera Theatre presents a fully-staged production of Puccini's "La Boheme," 8 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday, UNLV's Ham Hall. ... Tickets are moderately priced, call 895-3801 or 699-5595.

Contemporary jazz artist Najee performs at 8 p.m. Saturday (Texas Station). ... Also on Saturday, 7 and 9 p.m., Gary Puckett is at Palace Station. ... Sunday at 7 p.m., there will be a dinner, dance and entertainment tribute to the late Jimmy Caesar at Ellis Island.

Star-policy rundown

It's David Copperfield (Caesars); Patsy Cline Tribute (Gold Coast); Steve Wyrick (Lady Luck); Bill Acosta (Luxor); Penn & Teller (MGM Grand) plus Tommy Tune in "EFX"; Siegfried & Roy (Mirage); Lance Burton (Monte Carlo); Righteous Brothers (Orleans) and Danny Gans (Rio). ... Singer Marlene Ricci is now the special guest in the "The Great Radio City Spectacular" (Flamingo-Hilton).

Boulder Station starts its free "Boulder Blues Sessions," 8-11 p.m. on Monday. ... On Feb. 15, the incredible Shemekia Copeland, daughter of the late blues great, Johnny Clyde Copeland, will be the attraction. ... For more good Monday blues, it's P.J. Belly and Texas Thunder (Arizona Charlie's). ... See you Friday.