Energetic Turner jumps, jives, wails at RioBamba Cabaret

Friday, June 23, 2000 | 8:53 a.m.

The Rio hotel-casino has been skewered over the past several months, justifiably so, for its greedy ticket practices. Pricing Danny Gans into the stratosphere (and finally the Mirage) at $99 per ticket was a particularly calamitous PR move.

So in the interest of balanced reporting, it is only fair to note that not all Rio entertainment entities are affixed with out-of-whack ticket prices.

Take Earl Turner. At almost any price he'd be a must-see. At the Rio, he's free.

The soulful, ever-gyrating Turner has been anchored at the cozy RioBamba Cabaret since September, performing 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Wednesday through Sunday. Having forged a solid following over the past decade by playing similarly sized Las Vegas venues, his audience begins filtering in about a half-hour before showtime.

Those who happen to be passing by usually stop and stare out of sheer curiosity. Most hang around for a few songs.

Probably the best way to convey the pure energy of Turner's performance is that, during a weeknight show earlier this week, a sweat-soaked and panting Turner threw out a heartfelt thanks to "a very important person in my life."

His physical therapist.

She was seated in the crowd, wincing at Turner's every dance move, and there was plenty of wincing.

Turner and his sizzling eight-piece band produce sound easily audible across the casino, and he opened by cutting loose with "Jump, Jive & Wail," which might as well be Turner's theme song.

Three songs into the set he was already slaloming through the audience, wearing a cowboy hat and warbling "Achy Breaky Heart," then "Celebration," then a thumping version of "Billie Jean," featuring many of Michael Jackson's leg whips and spins, causing the therapist to shield her eyes.

By the time Turner reached "Caribbean Queen," and a full-throated "My Way," to close the set, a man seated in the crowd leaned over and asked, "What's this guy doing playing in here?"

Blowing the roof off the place. That's what.