Pogo’s owner to keep the reopening party going

By Jerry Fink (contact)

Thursday, July 10, 2008 | 2 a.m.

One evening for a grand reopening party isn’t enough for Bill Stypowany, proud new owner of Pogo’s Tavern.

Stypowany is turning the bash into a three-day affair beginning Friday with the classic jam session that made Pogo’s famous and ending Sunday afternoon with a barbecue.

Pogo’s has been around for decades at 2103 N. Decatur Blvd. It’s a neighborhood bar that transforms into a haven for jazz musicians and fans from 8 p.m. till midnight every Friday night.

Some were concerned the music would fade away when the property changed hands this year. Stypowany is putting those concerns to rest. He closed the place for about six weeks to perform a face lift and reopened a month ago, attracting a standing-room-only crowd.

The marathon reopening party begins at 8 p.m. Friday with the regular jazz jam, headed by trumpeter Rick Jones.

Saxophonist Rocky Gordon and his band will perform at 8 p.m. Saturday. There will be a touch of nostalgia with Gordon’s engagement. His father, saxophonist Irv Gordon, was a fixture at Pogo’s every Friday night for many years. The elder Gordon, who died last year, was part of the ensemble put together by the late Irv Kluger, a brilliant drummer who was 84 when he died in 2006.

Sunday’s barbecue will be from noon until 4 p.m. and will feature more live music.

Square Apple

There’s a new old club in town. The Square Apple debuted quietly a couple of weeks ago, an elegant little nightspot that features live music seven nights a week.

The headliners are saxophonist Tommy Thompson and his band, featuring knockout vocalist Jeannie Snow, Wednesdays through Sundays.

The Slick Willie Orchestra, headed by saxophonist Tommy Alvarado, takes the stage Mondays and Tuesdays.

The Square Apple is at 1000 E. Sahara Ave., in a funky part of town that only adds to the ambience of the club, which offers valet parking and a red carpet entry.

If the location sounds familiar some may remember it from about 10 years ago when it was the Keys, a gay bar. Then it became the Dakota, which catered to the straight crowd. Then it became Zingers, which catered to the straight and gay and cross-dressing crowds.

Last year it turned into Just Jazz, which, sadly, had an all-too-brief run.

Perhaps the Square Apple will have better luck.

The owners have created a charming room with an urbane air where folks can enjoy a beverage and dance or simply listen to the music, which includes some jazz, some blues and some rock.

Arizona Charlie’s East

The lounge at Arizona Charlie’s East is lackluster, colorless, nondescript — much like any other humdrum nightspot in a casino.

But live music brightens up the place.

On July 4, Sidro’s Armada featuring saxophonist David Van Such exploded on the small stage. Too bad the crowd wasn’t larger, but most people were watching fireworks on the outside rather than listening to it inside.

You won’t find a more talented group than Sidro Garcia and his band. From time to time during the past year, the group has included Van Such, who usually performs with his own group.

Sidro has been a Vegas lounge performer for more than 40 years and his groups have included almost every musician with any Las Vegas history.

The combination of Sidro and Van Such shouldn’t be missed by any fan of old-fashioned live entertainment. Band members include Sidro (vocals and guitar), Van Such (sax and violin, among others), vocalist Mary Ball, drummer Mark Aduas and keyboardist Rick Bizby.

The Armada will be at Arizona Charlie’s West (on Decatur Boulevard) Monday through July 19 and returns to Arizona Charlie’s East Aug. 5-10.

‘Spamalot’ closes

The cast of “Monty Python’s Spamalot” will have to look for the Holy Grail elsewhere — they couldn’t find it in Las Vegas.

The musical spoof closes Sunday, a little more than 15 months after premiering at Wynn Las Vegas. ($69 to $109, 8 tonight, Friday and Sunday, 7 and 10 p.m. Saturday, 770-9966)