Santa Fe & The Fat City Horns Debut "Come With Me" YouTube
Song By Nathan Tenouye
Featuring Jerry Lopez and Rob Mader
Live from the Palms
Featuring Jerry Lopez and Rob Mader
Live from the Palms
Michael Grimm YouTube Video of "You Don't Know Me"
Jamie Hosmer Sings "Brother to Brother" Live from The Palms
Chaka Kahn at The Luxor
Our friend Carol Kanz, of The Luxor invited me to the Chaka Kahn concert Friday night. What a treat to hear many new songs plus the old favorites from her solo career as well as with the group Rufus.
Yvette Marie Stevens was born in 1953 and in 1969 was christened Chaka Adunne Aduffe Yemoja Hoparhi Karifi by a Yoruba Priest from Africa.
In 1971 Chaka joins the group “Ask Rufus” and marries boyfriend, Hassan Khan and officially becomes Chaka Kahn. She then went on to record multiple Gold and Platinum albums and become an eight time Grammy Winner.
I really liked the visual effects on the back screen that pulsated with the music. She had the audience dancing in the aisles when she went in to “Tell Me Something Good” written in 1974 for her and Rufus by Stevie Wonder. Chaka and Rufus bandmate Tony Maiden, co-wrote “Sweet Thing” which she performed for her adoring fans as well as “Hollywood” with the Hollywood sign visible on the back screen.
The encore number was the Ashford & Simpson hit “I’m Every Woman”. After the show I was escorted back stage with entertainer Loretta St. John and we visited with Chaka’s Manager Bill Blumenrich, before entering the dressing room. Chaka was very gracious and enjoyed talking with Loretta as a fellow singer. We both told her how much we enjoyed her rendition of “My Funny Valentine”. I mentioned to Chaka that we had just seen Gino Vannelli and written a story on the “MUSIC SEEN” and she said she had worked with Gino on the same bill in Europe and that she still owned homes in Europe. I asked her if she had seen “Hawk” lately, referring to Hammond B-3 player with Rufus, David “Hawk” Wolinski. I told her my brother Ron, communicates with Hawk as a result of his interest in another Chicago band that Hawk played with, Madura.
I mentioned that Hawk now lived in Nashville as do Michael Mc Donald and friend Larry Carlton. She commented on recording with Michael Mc Donald recently. Chaka asked me to pass on the word that she said hello to former band mate Hawk Wolinski and gave Loretta and I a big group hug. What a sweetheart!
Saturday night the 16th of June is the final night of this engagement at The Luxor.
The Bootlegger Bistro features Paul Stubblefield
Paul Stubblefield
After the Chaka Khan concert we headed south down the strip to The Bootlegger to hear our good friend Paul Stubblefield and band. Paul as always was dressed to the nines and as always in incredible form in his vocalizing. He is one of the best male vocalists in town and it is always a treat to be entertained by this master at his craft.
Paul had Gary Olds on drums and vocals, David Kowalski on piano and Steve Poncar on sax and vocals. Paul invited Carmine Mandia up to sing “Come Fly with Me” in his Sinatra style. Loretta St. John came on stage with Dehner Franks on piano and sang. Later Genevieve sang with the band.
Loretta St. John
Paul Stubblefield, Loretta St. John and Steve Tuminello
Michael Grimm Joins Santa Fe & The Fat City Horns
Michael Grimm is the newest member of Santa Fe and The Fat City Horns. Michael is filling in for several months while vocalist Lenny Lopez is performing fly fishing guide duties in Utah.
Boy Katindig Band Jazzes Up The Rennaissance Hotel Envy Brunch
My friend, Lorraine Fidler, called me earlier last week to let me know that she was promoting the Boy Katindig Band. They would be appearing at the Sunday Champagne Jazz Brunch at The Renaissance Hotel-Envy Room.
Paul Taylor and Lorraine Fidler
William “Cat” Lee of Smooth Jazz 105.7 introduced the Boy Katindig Band. I was not familiar with Boy Katindig but after hearing a few songs I was really impressed with the tight jazz R & B sounds. Boy is Resident Tour Pianist/Keyboardist for celebrated sax man Paul Taylor. Boy has a new CD out, "Groovin' High" that is amazing. I especially like the first cut "At Central Park".
Paul Taylor and Boy Katindig
When I arrived I saw my friend Joey Finger, who was performing for the first time with the band, but you would have thought he had been with them for years. He was playing by ear as well as reading and was laying down an in the pocket groove and hitting the various dynamics right on cue from the charts. Bassman, Donald Phillips, laid down a solid bottom and fit right in the groove. Ray Mouton provided tasteful chords and lead lines while Danny Dan Dan was playing the smooth sounds on tenor sax.
Ray Mouton, Danny Dan Dan, Don Phillips, Boy Katindig, Paul Taylor and Joey Finger
During the second set the rumor was that Paul Taylor might stop by for an impromptu appearance. I was out by the 105.7 booth at the entrance to the Envy Steak House when Lorraine walks in with Paul Taylor and introduces me to him. I gave Paul one of our original “Music Seen” buttons and he immediately put it on his shirt and proudly wore it on stage all afternoon.
The crowd went wild and started dancing in the aisles when Paul went up on stage and played the title song from his new hit CD “Ladies Choice”. The CD also has hits with vocalist Regina Belle “How Did You Know” and the title cut which is now closing in on the top of the charts.
Paul took a break to have some brunch and then went back up for the last set to perform on a few more tunes with Danny Dan Dan staying on stage this time and the two sax men working together.
Boy Katindig Band with Paul Taylor
After the show Paul was taking many photos with his fans and I found him to not only be a great player but an extremely nice guy. Paul is originally from Denver, Colorado and is based here in Las Vegas and tours all around the world.
Paul Taylor and Steve Tuminello
I have been to many of these Sunday “Jazz Brunches” here in Las Vegas and in Southern California. This was one of the most enjoyable ones yet.
EDITORS NOTE: The new MUSIC SEEN button will be released on June 9th.
Boy Katindig Band Schedule
06/13 Wednesday
JW Marriott/Rampart Casino
6 p m - 8 p m
Fourth of July
With Paul Taylor
Henderson Events Plaza Amphitheater
6 p m - 9 p m Fireworks @ 9 p m
07/28 Saturday
The District Courtyard Green Valley Ranch
6 p m - 1 0 p m
08/04 Saturday
97.1 The Point Jazz on the Lake
Montelago Village @ Lake Las Vegas
7 p m - 1 0 p m
06/13 Wednesday
JW Marriott/Rampart Casino
6 p m - 8 p m
Fourth of July
With Paul Taylor
Henderson Events Plaza Amphitheater
6 p m - 9 p m Fireworks @ 9 p m
07/28 Saturday
The District Courtyard Green Valley Ranch
6 p m - 1 0 p m
08/04 Saturday
97.1 The Point Jazz on the Lake
Montelago Village @ Lake Las Vegas
7 p m - 1 0 p m
Check Out My Coverage of Clint Holmes New Broadway Bound Musical
"Just Another Man" on stage at The Judy Bayley Theatre
The Palms Entertains Celebrity Guests for Santa Fe and The Fat City Horns
I headed over to The Palms hotel “The Lounge” to try to recover from my Gino Vannelli withdrawals. Our friends had left town at 8 PM and we needed our “healing session” with Santa Fe and The Fat City Horns.Before the show started my old friend Nino Angelastro saw me in the audience. I had invited him out several weeks ago and he finally made it. I learned that he had seen the Gino Vannelli Show at the Flamingo on the first night.
Nino Angelastro, Sidro Garcia and Jerry Lopez
As I was telling him about my experiences with the band and taking them on music jams as well as being back stage during the shows. My phone rings and it is Gino Vannelli’s brother Ross Vannelli on the line. I had thought Ross had headed back to L.A.. He said he was coming to The Palms to hear the band I had been raving about all week, Santa Fe and The Fat City Horns.
Steve Tuminello, Ross Vannelli and Nino Angelastro
Ross showed up about half way through the first set. He met his friends Bill and Teresa Johnston from New Orleans. Bill is the Entertainment Director at Harrah’s New Orleans. I was told by Bill that he has known Ross and his brothers for about thirty years. When Bill learned that I was from Louisiana and we had some mutual friends in the entertainment business it was like old home week.
Lenny Lopez, Ross Vannelli, Bill Johnston and Jamie Hosmer
Ross and Bill and his wife were totally blown away by the Santa Fe Band. During the show Jerry Lopez, leader of Santa Fe, recognized Ross in the audience and commented on the Gino Vannelli Show which I had invited him to on their last night, Sunday. The band played “Brother to Brother” and Ross was really digging it with the Fat City Horns arrangement. Ross and the Johnston’s stayed to the very end of the second set around 1:30 AM. I introduced them to the various members in the band and they took home the Live CD and DVD.
EDITOR'S
NOTE: The Palms stage lighting was completely out again so there are no
photos of Santa Fe and The Fat City Horns in concert.
Back Stage with the Gino Vannelli Band at the Flamingo
What a week hanging with The Gino Vannelli Band. Sunday night jamming with the legendary Ronnie Foster, Monday night Santa Fe and the Fat City Horns at The Palms, Thursday touring the Pearl Theater and The Studio at The Palms and seeing the show for the first time in this venue at The Flamingo.
I was invited by my friend Sandin Wilson, bass player with the Gino Vannelli Band to the sound check at 5 PM. They literally spent an hour and a half preparing for the hour and a half show.
Gino was in the audience area for the first part of the sound check and his brother Ross was checking the sound from all sections of the theater then running back to the board to adjust settings. Gino went up on stage to run through a couple of tunes to complete the check.
The two brothers are absolute perfectionists and know their fans are expecting the best and they always deliver. During the sound check I met D.J. McLachlan, Gino’s manager from New York and learned we had some mutual friends in the entertainment business. At the end of the sound check I had the opportunity to meet Ross and found out that he lives in L.A. where he has a studio and is scoring music for film. Ross played guitar in the early days of Gino’s career and has always run the sound.
Steve Tuminello and Ross Vannelli
At 7:15 PM we headed back stage to the dressing room with the group and then downstairs to the stage. Everyone was in position for show time at 7:30 PM and as the curtain was drawn and the fogger enveloped Gino in a haze the music started and was very dramatic in his entrance. The crowd went wild and an evening that I will never forget unfolded. What an experience to be back stage and see this legend, Gino Vannelli perform his show from the wings and feel the the sound as well as hear it.
The show started with "Crazy Life" and then went into "Black Cars". One of his all time favorites was next, "Wheels of Life" followed by "Wild Horses". The crowd cheered to favorites... "Living Inside Myself" and "I Just Wanna Stop" (music and lyrics by Ross Vannelli). Gino also sang "Appaloosa" and a song that he has just written called "Venus".
All of our friends that we had been hanging out with all week were doing their thing. Sandin Wilson, incredible precision bassist playing his 6 string was laying down the foundation and creating the pocket for drummer extraordinaire, Reinhardt Melz. Allen Hinds was on the other side of the stage laying down the guitar licks with attitude.
This amazing show wrapped up with "Brother to Brother" and "Powerful People". A standing ovation brought them back for an encore of "People Gotta Move" which is moving up the charts in Europe. Sandin Wilson encouraged the audience to get up and dance and they didn't need a second invitation.
Randy Porter was on keyboards covering those familiar chord changes written by brother Joe Vannelli. A new addition to the group on this engagement, Patrick Lamb is a seasoned veteran sax player formerly with Diane Schuur and Bobby Caldwell. Patrick enjoyed the show with us backstage in between his appearances during the show.
Gino Vannelli's Patrick Lamb and Sandin Wilson Jam with the Legendary Ronnie Foster
My friends Patrick Lamb and Sandin Wilson arrived in town Sunday afternoon to prepare for their Show at The Flamingo this week with Gino Vannelli.
Sandin, an accomplished bass player, and I became friends after their engagement several months ago at The Suncoast Hotel. We have stayed in touch by e-mail while they toured around the world. Patrick Lamb, a veteran sax player with Diane Schuur and Bobby Caldwell was added to the Gino Vannelli lineup for this engagement.
Patrick Lamb, Ronnie Foster, Sandin Wilson and Chris Foster
I had promised Sandin the last time he was here to expose him to the “MUSIC SEEN” here in Las Vegas. While I was driving from L.A. on Saturday we communicated by phone to lay down the plans for Sunday and Monday night.
I called my friend Ronnie Foster who had just returned from Japan with Stevie Wonder. He told me his friend Morris O’ Connor who had also toured with Stevie on the Japan tour would be on guitar. Jess Stone is on drums and on bass was David Inamine. Sandin and Patrick are both from Portland where Gino now lives. They were approached the minute we walked into the club by Ronnie’s son Chris Foster who had just moved to Las Vegas from Portland. Chris recognized Patrick from his performances in the Portland area. Patrick and Sandin knew of Ronnie Foster from his days with George Benson, Stevie Wonder and War. They had no idea of his jazz chops. They were totally blown away.
Ronnie brought Patrick up first to sit in and Duke Jones came up to join in on trumpet. You would have thought Duke and Patrick had rehearsed for the gig.
They started throwing in these horn riffs to compliment Ronnie’s jazz runs. Then they each took their turns at solos. Ronnie was booked till midnight but the energy was so high with the guest artists that Ronnie played until 1:30 AM.
Sandin first played a straight ahead jazz jam with a huge smile on his face the whole time.
He was clearly in musical heaven jamming with the incomparable Ronnie Foster.
Ronnie’s son Chris, came up and did a R & B Funk Jam that Sandin laid down some "In the Pocket bottom" on the 6 string bass. Chris, who I had only seen perform one other time was over the top with his funky syncopated rhythms. He is truly his fathers son, playing with all of his heart and soul at 150%. Chris Foster not only is a great player, but also a showman. He has the sticks twirling and stands up behind the kit while he is soloing.
We talked with David Inamine who is not just a great player but an "A -List" L.A. player transplanted to Las Vegas. He works with George Benson Musical Director, Dave Garfield and produces recordings for Michael Ruff in Hawaii. David has been currently working in Wayne Newton’s Band.
Needless to say Patrick and Sandin were on a natural high when we left the club around 2 AM after rapping with Ronnie and the guys.
