And the band plays on for retired dentist

Wednesday, March 15, 2006 | 7:08 a.m.

Jerry Fink

Getting folks to come out and dance is like pulling teeth.

Just ask retired dentist Arnie Webster, leader of a big band that has been at the Ice House Lounge the past few Mondays and is scheduled to be there at least through March 20.

"It's hard to generate an audience," he said. "People say they love it, but the thing that keeps bands from providing music like this is it's hard to get people to go out, even for just a very nominal amount at the door."

Admission is only $7 to hear the 17-piece orchestra, a rarity in Las Vegas these days. The lounge is at 650 S. Main St.

There are now two places offering big band music.

The other offering is vocalist Derek David's big band, performing Sundays at the Kiss Lounge, formerly Cafe Nicole, in the Sahara Pavilion Shopping Center, 4760 W. Sahara Ave. Tickets are $20.

With two big band venues, swing and ballroom dan cers should be ecstatic. No more complaints about not being able to listen to good music and dance the way we used to dance, when dancing had style and grace.

"We try to do a little of everything," the 75-year-old Webster said. "We're doing some jump, some swing things that younger people seem to like.

"My library is big - I've got music files with over 8,000 charts; everything from the Swing era to the '60s, '70s and '80s."

Webster is a lifelong amateur singer and musician (he plays reed instruments), but he doesn't consider himself good enough to play with the pros.

So he is content with being the conductor and music director.

"I wanted to be a musician, but my dad said no," Webster said.

He retired from his dental practice in Des Moines in 1996. Eventually he moved to Las Vegas for the climate and other reasons.

"It's such an interesting area," he said.

After moving to Southern Nevada, he began singing with various amateur groups around town.

"All the years that I was practicing dentistry I didn't play (music) much, but I sang a lot," Webster said.

Many of those in his orchestra are professional musicians. Some are retired.

"We've got people of all ages in the group," he said. "Some of them are old timers who performed with Tommy Dorsey, Glen Miller and others.

"And we've got some recent graduates of the UNLV jazz program."

The orchestra, which has performed some corporate gigs and at other venues, has been together about four years.

In addition to the musicians there are two vocalists, Susan Segal and Michael Gurciullo, who also plays trumpet.

"We rehearse once a week, rain or shine," Webster said.

The retired dentist couldn't be happier that he is now living the dream he had as a child.

"I'm fulfilling a lifelong dream," he said. "If I could have had any dream come true as a child, it would be doing what I'm doing.

"I'm having so much fun I can't stand still."

archive