Columnist Joe Delaney: Big bands’ musical dexterity is appreciated

Joe Delaney

Thursday, Feb. 10, 2000 | 8:38 a.m.

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

Lon Bronson's Big Band, onstage throughout, is not only a major contributor to "David Cassidy at the Copa, co-starring Sheena Easton" at the Rio, it also packs the Riviera lounge, starting at 1 a.m., Friday and Saturday nights, with guest sit-ins, both performers and top musicians. ... Wayne Newton's Stardust orchestra is another full complement, backing Newton with near perfection; stalwarts, all.

Clint Holmes' 12 good men and true, onstage at Harrah's, are musicians equally able as soloists as an ensemble. ... We're looking forward to Danny Gans' enhanced musical support when he opens in his new theater at the Mirage early in April.

What all of the above musicians have in common is a good feel for jazz as well as popular music and the classics. ... It is equally important that they are onstage and intrinsic to the performance.

More good music

Still on the Strip, Buddy Greco, Lezlie Anders, their big band and special guests are a wonderful way to spend a Friday evening, at the Flamingo Hilton. ... There are two areas with good jazz at Paris Las Vegas: Napoleon's Room with master guitarist Joe Lano, Chris Gordon, bass, and Tommy Check, drums; and Tres Jazz, a supper club with live jazz.

Carl Fontana is a world-class jazz trombonist, featured with Marv Koral's All-Stars, along with Koral, Ronnie DiPhillips, Bob Badgley and Pat Sherrod, 5-9 p.m., Sundays in the Pierce Street Annex. ... Fontana came here first in 1955 with the Al Belletto Sextet out of New Orleans.

Joe Darro sings jazz with the best and rates right up there as a pianist. ... Darro is joined by sax man Jay Orlando and the Cousins, also 5-9 p.m., Sundays at the Caribbean Casino. ... Support good jazz everywhere; begin by joining the Las Vegas Jazz Society.

Star-policy rundown

It's David Copperfield (Caesars Palace); Kevin James (Desert Inn); Greco and Anders, Fridays only (Flamingo Hilton); Holmes (Harrah's); Bill Acosta (Luxor); Shaolin Monks plus Tommy Tune starring in "EFX" (MGM Grand); Siegfried & Roy (Mirage); Lance Burton (Monte Carlo); Debbie Reynolds (Orleans); Cassidy and Easton (Rio); Newton (Stardust) and Andre-Phillippe Gagnon (Venetian).

Alternative choices: Justin Franz's "Hip-nosis" (Flamingo O'Shea's); Honky Tonk Angels (Gold Goast); Robbie Howard and the Walkers, 2 and 3:30 p.m. (Lady Luck) and the long-run champ, "Viva Las Vegas" (Stratosphere).

Rip Taylor, an authentic comedic original, from whence came Carrot Top, a poor copy, has been extended through the end of the month as the star of "The Great Radio City Spectacular" (Flamingo Hilton). ... Taylor gives the production a much needed lift; he should stay on indefinitely.

Local happenings

The Nevada Ballet Theatre will be saluted by Saks Fifth Avenue and the Fashion Show mall, with opening ceremonies at 2 p.m. Saturday and events continuing daily through Feb. 27. ... Monday through Friday, starting Monday through Feb. 25, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., the public is invited to see free rehearsals of "Peter Pan," which will be performed by the NDT in UNLV's Judy Bayley Theatre, March 16-19. ... Admission is free to all events, call for a schedule.

"Okavango: Africa's Last Eden," a photo safari by Frans Lanting, is on display at the LV Natural History Museum through March 31. ... The museum is at 900 Las Vegas Blvd. North; call 384-3866.

"Lover's Leap," a farce, continues through this weekend and next, LV Little Theatre; Rainbow Company's "Nevada Stories" is also this weekend and next, Reed Whipple Center; and the Asylum Company has staged readings of Stephen J. Majer's new play, "Not His Story," 7:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday, Winchester Center.

Thursday addenda

Country music's Mark Will performs at 7 and 9 p.m. Friday (Boulder Station). ... Trombonist Walt Boenig's big band salutes the music of Glenn Miller and Tommy Dorsey at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, CCSN Cheyenne Campus. ... "Closer Than Ever," a musical revue, will be performed at 2 p.m. Sunday, Luxor Hotel's Pharoah Theatre, with all proceeds going to Golden Rainbow.

Dr. Douglas R. Peterson's Southern Nevada Musical Arts Society presents a concert for Valentine's Day at 3 p.m. Sunday, CCSN, Cheyenne Campus. ... There's plenty to see and do; see and do something. ... See you Friday.