Friday, Oct. 31, 2003 | 8:32 a.m.
Tommy Thompson's genteel demeanor is reminiscent of Southern aristocracy refinement, of an upbringing in which good manners are a way of life.
The 49-year-old saxophonist is, in fact, from the south -- South Bronx in New York City, not far from Yankee Stadium.
"When I was growing up I was more interested in baseball than music," Thompson said. "I thought I was going to take Mickey Mantle's place at center field."
Baseball's loss is music's gain.
For the past four years Thompson and his three-piece Tommy Thompson Project band have performed at various venues at Paris Las Vegas, including the Ortanique restaurant (formerly Tres Jazz) and Napoleon's lounge.
He is at Napoleon's every night except Tuesdays, performing from 10 p.m. until 1 a.m. through the week and 11 p.m. until 2 a.m. on weekends.
His ensemble includes bassist/vocalist Teddy Davis Jr., keyboardist Chuck Hoover and drummer Eran Cohen.
Jeannie Snow is his favorite vocalist. Though she isn't a regular with the band at Napoleon's, she often drops by and jams with the group when she finishes her sets down the hall at Ortanique, where she performs Fridays and Saturdays from 7 p.m. until 11 p.m.
They routinely perform together at corporate events and other functions.
Snow and Thompson met four years ago at Addison's Lounge at the J.W. Marriott. He was performing and she was at a table with friends. When he mingled with the guests following a set, he introduced himself to her.
"I told him, 'I'm a singer,' and he invited me to sing a couple of songs with him," Snow said.
It was a perfect match. They've been performing together professionally ever since.
In addition to live performances, Thompson produces a CD nearly every year. His latest, available through www.tommythompsonproject.com, is "Memories of Love."
"I didn't grow up in a musical environment," Thompson noted. "My great-great-grandfather was a concert clarinetist in Vienna, but when he came over here with my grandparents at the turn of the 20th century he never worked in music again -- he became an iron worker and he died an iron worker."
Thompson, one of six brothers, was the son of a fireman.
The family lived in a small, single-bathroom apartment.
"I thought eveyone lived that way," Thompson said. "It was a real diverse neighborhood. I loved it all. It was great."
He was somewhat of a musical prodigy.
"My third grade music teacher handed us a little plastic flute one day and by the end of the day I was playing songs," Thompson said.
After high school he received a scholarship to the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston, where he mastered a difficult technique called "circle of breathing" -- essentially he inhales at the same time he is blowing on the musical instrument.
"Kenny G and a few others do it," Thompson said.
Thompson went on the road as a saxophonist after graduating from Berklee, performing with such luminaries as Buddy Rich and Ike and Tina Turner from 1975-'79.
Eventually he had enough of traveling.
"I hated the road and everything that went with it," Thompson said. "I just wasn't cut out for it. I didn't do drugs or any of that stuff. I was fed up -- tired and miserable, depressed with the whole scene."
He settled down in Ohio and gave up professional music for almost 10 years, becoming a successful salesman -- first vacuum cleaners and then insurance and real estate.
But the lure of music was irresistible.
"During those 10 years away from the music scene, I finally realized what was important to me," Thompson said.
In 1990 he moved to Las Vegas.
His first gig was at The Rio with vocalist Gina Eckstine, Billy Eckstine's daughter. It lasted six weeks.
Thompson has performed almost continuously in one venue or another ever since, whether in clubs or showrooms or at corporate gigs.
"I'm the luckiest guy in town," Thompson said. "A lot of guys with more talent than I are out of work -- some great, great players can't buy a job."
He attributes his success to hard work and a positive attitude.
"I always try hard to treat others the way I want them to treat me," Thompson said.
Talent also helps.
Within a year after arriving in Vegas he started his own 10-piece band.
"We didn't make a lot of money," Thompson said. "We were starving to death, but we made good music."
Five years ago he reduced his group to four or five pieces and began a long relationship with the Paris, where he plays a mix of jazz, R&B and popular music.
"I try to play for the audience," Thompson said. "My goal is to have someone be touched by what we're trying to do, and to experience the music as we do."
Judging from the popularity of his late-night gigs, Thompson's Project has been completed.
Lounging around
Harmonicologist Norton Buffalo and steel guitarist Roy Rogers performed for a standing-room-only crowd at Boulder Station's Railhead nine months ago. The dynamic duo will be back again Thursday for the weekly Boulder blues series. Showtime is 8 p.m. Admission is free.
Steven Lee Group and Next of Quinn Professional Design Services were honored with an Electronic Media Award for creating the Best Entertainment Web Site, www.stevenleegroup.com. The website showcases the talents and music of one of Las Vegas' top jazz bands.
Steven Lee Group appears from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays in the Fontana Lounge at Bellagio. During November they also will appear from 5:45 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays in the AVA Lounge at The Mirage.
Pianist Jeff Cox plays in the Imperial Palace's Nomiya Lounge from 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays, 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Saturdays and 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Sundays.
Lots of Halloween treats tonight at the Icehouse Lounge. "Reggae on the Rooftop," with Heavy Heads Deejays, starts at 10 p.m. In addition, there will be psychic readings by Connie Miller and a performance by FM Superstars.
archive
