Holmes starts year 2 at Harrah’s on high note

Joe Delaney

Friday, March 30, 2001 | 9:06 a.m.

Clint Holmes has just started his second year headlining at Harrah's. Judging by the capacity crowd and its enthusiastic response recently throughout his 90-minute, mostly-new show, Harrah's main showroom could be his entertainment "home sweet home" for many years to come.

Holmes, singer Janien Masse, and musical director Billy Fayne and Holmes' 10 top-of-the line musicians started off at a high point and built from there, to a completely spontaneous standing ovation at the show's conclusion, a bravura "West Side Story" medley that included a moving duet with Masse on "One Hand, One Heart," worth the price of the ticket alone.

Somehow Holmes' solo on "Somewhere (There's a Place for Us)" that followed was so strong that only bows and acknowledgements could follow the resulting ovation. The song was made even more meaningful when earlier in the show Holmes told the story of his English opera singing mother and black jazz-singing, bass-playing musician father.

His 85-year-old mother was in the audience at the show caught and got up, at her son's request, and proved her singing voice was still firm and true.

The opener is mostly percussion, highly contagious rhythmically and set the mood for Holmes' entrance.

Sammy Davis Jr. was his first inspiration and he captured the late superstar's essence with his reading of "What Kind of Fool Am I?" The musical journey followed, biographical in part, with just enough well-thought-out and delivered commentary.

"I Wanna Be" gave Holmes, Masse and Fayne and Co. the opportunity to contribute brief but effective song impressions of other singers. Holmes' Bobby Darin was a high point, as were Masse's Bonnie Raitt and Aretha Franklin.

Masse just joined Holmes last week after co-starring in "Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus" at the Flamingo Las Vegas. Previously, she was the fiery gypsy Esmeralda in "Notre Dame de Paris" and also sang each of the female lead roles in "Starlight Express" at the Las Vegas Hilton. She is a major addition.

Holmes and Fayne have been together 24 years. His musicians deserve mention here: Greg Neer, lead trumpet; Glen Colby, trumpet; Ted Kraemer, trombone; Phil Wigfall, alto sax; Rob Mader, tenor sax; Dave Richardson, keyboards, vocals; Matt Sullivan, guitar, vocals; Rochen Westmoreland, bass, vocals; Lenny Lopez, percussion, vocals; and drummer Steve Loecher. Fayne conducts at the piano and also does vocals. Put this show on the "must-see" list.