Columnist Joe Delaney: Marsalis brings arts center season to jazzy end

Joe Delaney

Friday, April 21, 2000 | 9:06 a.m.

Joe Delaney's column appears Thursdays and Fridays. Reach him at joe@ lasvegassun.com or 259-4066.

Jazz at Lincoln Center's "For Dancers Only" -- a concert last Sunday by the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra with trumpeter Wynton Marsalis in UNLV's Artemus Ham Hall and performed for a very appreciative audience -- was a fitting finale for the Performing Arts Center's outstanding 1999-2000 season ... It was the lagniappe, that extra delightful dollop.

Marsalis, a multiple Grammy Award winner for both classical and jazz trumpet, and a Pulitzer Prize winner as a composer, sat modestly in the fourth trumpet chair. He led by example in what was a bravura effort, individually and collectively, by 15 superlative musicians.

Musical Director Marsalis announced each selection from his chair and also credited each soloist at the conclusion ... His solo trumpet effort on the Hoagy Carmichael-Mitchell Parish classic "Stardust" was the highest point in a program of nothing but high points.

The new season

Myron G. Martin, director of UNLV's Performing Arts Center, as a preface, announced the program for the 2000-2001 season. It will include the 25th anniversary of the Charles Vanda Master Series, a new "Best of the New York Stage" series that will begin with "An Evening with Marvin Hamlisch" on Sept. 15 and close with "Rosemary Clooney in Concert" on May 6, 2001.

The World Stage Series will include a special Feliz Navidad program on Dec. 22 plus the Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Sept. 17, and Les Ballet Jazz de Montreal, Jan. 14. ... Call 895-ARTS for tickets and details.

Pre-Easter special

This weekend's holiday highlight is the Three Tenors Concert Saturday, starring Jose Carreras, Placido Domingo and Luciano Pavarotti, at 9 p.m. in the Mandalay Bay Events Center ... This will be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for those present in Las Vegas this weekend ... The Passion Play of Las Vegas is being performed in the Riviera Hotel Convention Area, nightly at 7 through Saturday, admission is free.

Saturday also marks the premiere of the all-new, 18th edition of the Tropicana's "Best of the Folies Bergere ... Sexier Than Ever" ... Shows will be at 7:30 and 10 p.m. daily except Thursdays, with the early show covered and partial nudity at the late performances.

Friday addenda

Happy 50th anniversary Monday to the Desert Inn. ... There will be a special party and a weeklong observance with performances by Lorna Luft through April 28, plus Don Rickles, Thursday through April 30 ... It was originally called Wilbur Clark's Desert Inn. ... Clark was one of the major contributors to the early growth of Las Vegas ... He richly deserves having his name on the Desert Inn Road transverse.

Irish-born Maurice Boland hosts Spain's most popular radio show in English, five nights a week, reaching nearly 1 million people each evening, plus "Boland Live" on television ... Twice a year he broadcasts live from Caesars Palace ... Air time is 11 a.m. locally, Monday through Friday this week, with a "Best of Las Vegas" guest list.

Jerry Lewis is appearing with a full orchestra, tonight through Monday in the Orleans showroom ... Wayne Newton is back in his Wayne Newton Theatre at the Stardust through May 27 ... Dance fans can enjoy the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra and the Pied Pipers Saturday at 7 p.m. in the Stardust Ballroom ... See you next Thursday.