Columnist Joe Delaney: Performances by Laine, Dankworth special treat

Joe Delaney

Friday, April 12, 2002 | 9:55 a.m.

Joe Delaney's column appears on Thursdays and Fridays. Reach him at joe@lasvegassun.com or (702) 259-4066.

Dame Cleo Laine and conductor John Dankworth, Britain's reigning jazz couple for more than four decades, will be in concert Saturday and Sunday at 8 p.m. in the Suncoast Showroom ... A Grammy- and Tony Award-winner, Laine began her singing career in the early 1950s, encouraged by her Jamaican-born father and English mother.

In 1959 she auditioned for a big jazz band, under the direction of Dankworth ... This marked the beginning of a personal and professional relationship that is in its 44th year ... Laine is the only female recording artist who has been nominated for a Grammy in the jazz, popular and classical categories.

Equally acclaimed, in this country as well as in her native England, she also received a Tony nomination for her performance in the hit musical "The Mystery of Edwin Drood," which also earned her a Theater World Award and a Drama Desk nomination ... A Stephen Sondheim favorite, Laine won accolades for her performance as the witch in the Los Angeles production of the composer's "Into the Woods."

Laine is also the recipient of an OBE (Order of the British Empire) from Queen Elizabeth II for Laine's services to music, and a doctorate from the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston ... She is also proud of a Lifetime Achievement Award in 1966 from the British Jazz Awards.

Dankworth, a world-class alto saxophone soloist, was born in London and is recognized as a pioneer in bringing modern jazz to England ... After working with small groups, he formed the big band, auditioned and hired Laine and made many tours, including of the United States ... Composing and arranging became prime activities, working in British films and television.

He founded the London Symphony Orchestra's pops program in 1985 and has served since as the orchestra's pop music director ... In 1988 Dankworth was nominated for a Best Instrumental Arrangement Grammy for his recording of "Caravan" by the London Symphony Orchestra ... His score for the film "Return from the Ashes" earned him an Academy Award nomination.

Other Dankworth orchestral successes include "Jazzin' the Pops," with Al Hirt; Dizzy Gillespie's "Symphony Sessions"; and "Echoes of Harlem," a tribute to Duke Ellington ... A fellow of the Royal Academy of Music in London, he also holds a doctorate from Berklee College.

In 2000 the New York Times wrote: "Time seems to have stood still for Dame Cleo. Her remarkable voice, with its coloratura highs and deep moaning lows, and her witchy beauty are phenomena in themselves. In her early 70s, she remains a double-barreled talent; a phenomenal technician ..." This engagement is a rare and special occasion.

Weekend wrap-up

Ron Gaylord and Burt Holiday, as the Gaylords, were big Las Vegas favorites in the 1950s and 1960s, scoring on records as well with a number of novelty hits such as "From the Wine Came the Grape," "Isle of Capri," "The Little Old Shoemaker" and "Tell Me You're Mine" ... They perform at 7 p.m. Saturday at Boulder Station's Railhead.

If you were in Las Vegas from the 1950s through the 1970s, current attractions -- including Gladys Knight (Flamingo Las Vegas), Tony Orlando (Golden Nugget); the Smothers Brothers and Gary Mule Deer (LV Hilton); Siegfried & Roy (Mirage); Lance Burton (Monte Carlo); Lou Rawls and Nancy Wilson (Paris Las Vegas); Tanya Tucker (Orleans); Wayne Newton (Stardust) and Charo (Venetian) -- were major marquee attractions back then as well.

Sunday at 7 p.m. at Palace Station's Laugh Trax, Irish tenor John MacNally will give a special concert ... MacNally came to Las Vegas in 1972 with the Irish delegation to a tourism convention and was immediately booked into the Las Vegas Hilton ... He has toured the world since ... The general admission price is a modest $18 ... See you next Thursday.