Columnist Jerry Fink: Ofria’s saxophone playing is a work of art

Friday, June 25, 2004 | 8:44 a.m.

New York native John Ofria plays saxophone.

That's kind of like saying Picasso painted.

The description doesn't say enough about the man or the talent.

"I'm not patting myself on the back, but in all of Las Vegas, there probably are three or four sax players I would rank up there with my abilities," Ofria, who does not lack self-confidence, said.

"In New York, the density of talent is extraordinary. There's a million really, really talented players there. You could wallow in obscurity in New York for a long time."

Ofria has been making his mark on the Las Vegas music scene's canvas since arriving from Manhattan a year ago, but it hasn't been easy.

No matter how good you are, Vegas can be a tough nut to crack, even for a guy who spent the better part of his life playing gigs in one of the jazz centers of the universe.

"It's been very hard," Ofria said. "The song says if you can make it in New York, you can make it anywhere. That's not necessarily the case when it comes to Vegas.

"People here are very closed. Unless you know somebody, or somebody recommends you for a job, you aren't going to work."

It's called politics.

"Vegas is a good-old-boy town," Ofria said. "That's not to say New York isn't, but there, if you have the skills you can at least be heard (by potential employers). Here, even if you have the skills and the credentials, they won't see you, they won't call you back."

Ofria, who was born and raised on Long Island, is the son of a former drummer who had his own band.

Music has been Ofria's life almost since birth, the saxophone his preferred instrument since age 5, when he first heard the late, great tenor sax player Stan Getz.

"I wanted to play sax, but I was too small, and physically couldn't," Ofria said. "So I started out on clarinet."

By the age of 12 he was performing occasional club dates with his father's group.

At the Manhattan School of Music he was a performance major, focusing on the saxophone, but adept with the clarinet, flute and double reeds as well.

Ofria played in clubs and other venues throughout his college career and beyond, even working an occasional cruise ship.

"But I worked in Manhattan, mostly," he said. "It was busy back then. I used to turn down work."

This was in the '70s.

Ofria did mostly club dates and private parties, some commercials and session work.

"I was a studio musician in the disco era," Ofria said. "I played on a lot of records, but don't ask me their titles. I have no idea."

He did an occasional Broadway musical, usually as a substitute.

"I've just always wanted to be a musician," Ofria said. "It's a calling, not a choice."

He did well until around 1980, when synthesizers came along and put a lot of musicians out of business.

"Studio work dried up," Ofria said.

At the same time, it became even tougher to get a gig on Broadway.

He played a few lounges around town, but finally decided to get a real job.

"It was so hard to make a living in music unless you went out of town," Ofria said.

And when you came back to town, people forgot who you were.

"I had made up my mind that if I hadn't made it by 30, I would give it up," Ofria said. "I kind of did that in '84."

He went to work for a construction company as a manager. Music became an avocation, one that he pursued nights and weekends.

"Music is so much a part of me, I can't not play," Ofria said. "I would be terribly miserable -- it's such a catharsis to express yourself through music."

In 2000 he took out a second mortgage and opened a recording studio. But 9-11 put that dream on hold.

"After that, everybody closed their doors," Ofria said.

It was a bad time. Work was scarce. Construction was down. The price of housing was going up.

Ofria and his wife, Lori, a legal secretary, decided they would move West. They heard Vegas was booming.

They finally made the move last year.

"I never had a game plan here as far as music goes," Ofria said. "I had no delusions when I moved here about what it would be like.

"A guy I used to play with is a music dealer out here. He gave me some good advice. He said the music scene is not what it used to be. He said you can't make a living doing club dates."

But music wasn't the only reason Ofria came to Vegas.

"We wanted a better quality of life," he said. "I'm done with rushing around, putting up with the craziness of New York."

Although things were tough at first, Ofria is beginning to make some inroads.

He's been jamming at places such as the City Lights Bistro/Kitchen Cafe, the Double Down Saloon, Casa di Amore and the Cellar, all great places for solid musicians.

From time to time he picks up a corporate gig and a club date.

His recording studio, Skin Deep Productions, is up and running.

"My ultimate goal is the recording studio," Orfia said. "That's my future."

Even though Vegas has caused more than its share of frustrations and heartaches, Ofria says he has never considered returning to New York.

"I've never considered moving back," Ofria said. "I'm not going to leave this town."

Lounging around

Actress, singer and songwriter Jan Daley will be performing in the Center Stage Restaurant at the Plaza at 9 p.m. tonight and Saturday. She also will appear at the Center Stage's Celebrity Sunday Brunch at noon Sunday.

As a vocalist, Daley has toured the world, opening for such comedians as Don Rickles and Rodney Dangerfield. She has appeared in many motion pictures, including "Forrest Gump."

Legendary blues vocalist Ruth Brown (a Vegas resident) will perform at the Bootlegger (7700 Las Vegas Blvd. South) at 9 p.m. July 1 and 8. In August she will appear each Thursday night.

Artano Aidini took home the honors in this month's "Be A Legend" Amateur Celebrity Impersonator Karaoke Contest at the Imperial Palace with his portrayal of Andrea Boceli.

Aidini topped 20 other contestants to take home the top prize of $500 and an audition with the hotel's signature show, "Legends In Concert."

The monthly contest, held the third Thursday of each month, is open to the public.