Columnist Jerry Fink: Stern warning: Guitarist won’t be at Grammys

Friday, Feb. 22, 2002 | 9:09 a.m.

Jerry Fink's lounge column appears on Fridays. Reach him at jerry@lasvegassun.com at (702) 259-4058.

If the name of legendary jazz guitarist Mike Stern is called out as a winner during the 44th annual Grammy Awards ceremony in Los Angeles Wednesday night, someone will have to collect the trophy for him.

The 49-year-old Stern will be performing at the Blue Note Las Vegas -- which I realize is not a lounge, but hey, even we lounge aficionados need a change of pace on occasion.

He begins a six-day gig at the local jazz venue on Monday. There will be two performances nightly at 8 and 10:30 p.m.

Since the Grammy ceremony airs on CBS (Channel 8) from 8-11 p.m., there's a good chance Stern could be onstage in Las Vegas when his name is announced onstage in Los Angeles.

And he could be playing a piece from the CD "Voices," which garnered him the nomination for Best Contemporary Jazz Album.

"I never count on any of that stuff," Stern said recently during a telephone interview from Portland, Ore. "I'm just happy with the nomination. It's always a good thing."

Stern has been nominated two other times in the past, one for the album "Is What It Is" and "Between the Lines."

Maybe the third time's the charm for the graduate of the Berklee School of Music in Boston, who started his career as a guitarist with Blood, Sweat & Tears in 1974.

Stern is bringing some heavy-hitting jazz musicians with him to the Blue Note, including saxophonist Bob Francescini (who has performed with Latin jazz greats Eddie Palmieri and Tito Puente and also toured with Paul Simon); bassist Lincoln Goines (who has performed with tenor sax giant Sonny Rollins, among many others) and drummer Richie Morales (long-time drummer for Spyro Gyra).

"Blood, Sweat & Tears didn't play straight-ahead jazz," Stern said, discussing early influences on his career. "They were sort of jazz-rock, one of the first bands like that. Kind of like Chicago.

"You know, I don't like labels personally -- jazz or rock or fusion. What I play is guitar. I listen to (Jimi) Hendrix and B.B. King, and I'm proud of their influence."

Perhaps one of the greatest influences on Stern was the late Miles Davis.

When Davis formed a band during his comeback in 1981, he invited Stern to join him. The guitarist was with the group for three years, performing on three major records: "Man With the Horn," "Star People" and "We Want Miles."

"I've been really lucky to have played with some amazing musicians," Stern said. "The thing I learned most from Miles, the thing I was most impressed with, was his open-mindedness. He loved all kinds of different music.

"The main thing about Miles, he always played from the heart. The most important thing about music is it's a language of the heart, for sure. That's the most important thing -- then you don't have to understand what someone else is doing. Sometimes creating labels, putting styles into boxes -- this kind of music, that kind of music -- almost robs the listener of the opportunity to just hear where the player or musician is coming from on an energy level."

The Grammy-nominated "Voices," Stern's 10th album, is a departure from his usual collection of instrumental numbers -- this one includes vocals.

"It was a whole different kind of thing for me," he said. "I've always wanted to do something like this. For years I thought some of my tunes might sound good with singers. I had never done (recording) with a singer, usually what I did was double the melody line with a sax or trumpet -- usually a saxophone -- but I like that vocal sound, that vocal quality."

Whether vocal or instrumental, Stern says the goal of music is to reach people.

"That's what it's all about, to reach people and at the same time be true to yourself," he said. "You have to be as true was you can be, no matter who says what."

Lounging around

Dog-attack victim Michael Foley, the 11-year-old boy who was mauled by a neighbor's four Great Danes in January, is the son of lounge entertainer Denise Clemente -- who performs in Santa Fe Station's Lizard Lounge. To help defray medical expenses, the casino will donate all beverage revenue collected at the lounge tonight between 7 and 11 p.m. to the Michael Foley Account (3205444, Business Bank of Nevada, 7280 W. Lake Mead Blvd.). Donations will also be taken during Clemente's performance. Foley spent 19 days in the hospital following the attacks.

If you want a taste of old Las Vegas, go to the Bootlegger Bistro, 7700 Las Vegas Blvd. South, between 2-5 p.m. Monday and help veteran comedian Bernie Allen celebrate his 86th birthday.

The price of admission is the shirt off your back -- or any other article of clothing or a blanket or some canned goods. Donations will be distributed to homeless veterans.

A legion of legends will perform at the benefit, including Lezlie Anders and Buddy Greco, Peter Anthony, Freddie Bell, Carme, Phil Ford and Mimi Hines, Sandy Hackett, Lt. Gov. Lorraine Hunt, Tony Orlando, Rose Marie, Rick Michael, Ricci, Rossi, Tony Sacca and Nelson Sardelli. Sonny King and Blackie Hunt will co-emcee.

"Big Elvis" Pete Vallee is spreading out. He has been performing for a year or longer at the Magic Star on South Boulder Highway (7-10 p.m. Wednesdays; 6-9 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays), and now he may also be seen and heard 7-10 p.m. Thursdays at Fiesta Rancho's Cabo Lounge. If you're a big Elvis fan, you will enjoy Big Elvis.

Guitarist Hap Smith's jazz quartet performs 8-11 p.m. Sundays in the lounge at the Tailspin Bar & Grill, 6295 S. Pecos Road.

Pianist Marcus Dagan, fresh off a South American cruise, has a gig at Bugsy's on West Sahara Avenue east of Jones Boulevard. He performs 6-10 p.m. Wednesdays-Fridays. When not performing, he's working on completing his second CD, which is being co-produced by Gene Sironen. The CD, as yet untitled, should be available in April.