Friday, July 13, 2007 | 7:23 a.m.
If vocalist Darcus and saxophonist David Van Such are the warm-up acts, what follows has to be awesome.
And it is.
Michael Ward - described as the Kenny G of jazz violin - is the featured performer in an evening of jazz Saturday at the Plaza, a cooperative effort between the resort and the smooth jazz station KOAS 105.7-FM (The Oasis).
A native of New Orleans, Ward has been a jazz violinist for 17 years. His fifth CD album, "After the Kiss" (Sweet Music Records), will be released in September.
Ward will perform songs from the album, including covers of "Hotel California" by the Eagles and "Sun Goddess," made popular by Ramsey Lewis and Earth, Wind & Fire.
He has performed with some of the greatest jazz musicians in the country, including Wynton Marsalis, Lionel Hampton, Al Hirt and Kirk Whalum.
Ward is known for being a prolific and passionate musician.
Performing with him will be sisters Debra and Eloise Laws of Houston. Eloise Laws became a professional jazz vocalist in the early 1970s and has recorded six albums. Debra Laws began singing in the early 1980s.
Darcus' and Van Such's talents are well known to Las Vegas fans. Both have performed here for many years.
Van Such, a native of Youngstown, Ohio, made a name for himself playing the saxophone, but he's not a bad violinist . He began classical violin studies at age 7.
In the early '90s Van Such joined the popular Las Vegas lounge band Entertainment Committee, then the well-known Ghalib Ghallab Band and eventually Sidro's Armada. For several years he's had his own group , which performs all over town.
Darcus, a native of Kansas City, Mo., has performed in Las Vegas lounges for more than 25 years. She's a charismatic R&B singer who is equally at ease with jazz.
Details: 8 p.m. Saturday; Plaza Showroom; $25, 386-2110
Around town
Mary Wilson, the former Supreme, performs poolside at the Silverton. The Las Vegas resident just finished an East Coast tour and released her latest album, "I Am Changing." (8 p.m. Saturday; $25; 914-8557) Blues rocker Jay Gordon and the Penetrators perform at the Bunkhouse Saloon. (8 p.m. Friday; 124 S. 11th St.; $5; 384-4536) Party at the Beauty Bar this weekend to a half-dozen bands, including Let's Go Sailing of Los Angeles. (8 p.m. Saturday; Beauty Bar, 517 Fremont St.; $10; 598-1965) If you're interested in all things Vegas check out "Vegas Rocks" on KLAV 1230-AM at 5:30 p.m. Tuesdays. The program features a wide range of local celebrities, including comedian George Wallace, former bantamweight champ Wayne McCullough, rock group the Screaming MeeMees, film director Tom Vosicky and Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman.
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