Tommy Thompson Trio Rocks the Casbar at the Sahara This Week
The Tommy Thompson Trio, featuring Jeannie Snow is appearing all this week at the Sahara Hotel in the Casbar Lounge. Two shows: 9 & 10:30 PM.
The Tommy Thompson Project Launches Jazz on the Lake at MonteLago Village, Lake Las Vegas
The Tommy Thompson Project kicked off the “Jazz on the Lake” Concert Series at Lake Las Vegas on Saturday May 5th.
It was a beautiful cool May evening with a slight breeze and cool jazz from the sweet sax of Tommy Thompson. It just dosen’t get any better than this, a perfect setting with great entertainment sponsored by Findlay Toyota and 97.1 The Point and hosted by our friends, Ric and Jackie Gould.
Ric & Jackie Gould MC Jazz on the Lake
Tommy had long time friend, drummer extraordinaire, Gary Olds, filling in for his regular drummer who was in L.A. on a session. Chuck Hoover layed down some really nice chord changes on the keyboards.
Longtime member of the Tommy Thompson Project, Teddy Davis, Jr. was on the bass and vocals. Of course there was vocalist Jeannie Snow who surprised us with her sax playing abilities as well.
The highlight of the evening for me was when this young couple started swing dancing to the song “Jump Jivin” and they were Jump Jivin at a fast pace close to the front of the stage, high stepping, twirls and all. It was so much fun to watch them and their coordination and they looked like professional dancers.
When it was announced that this was Jeannie Snow’s son, David Cowart and her daughter, Natalie Cowart, I could not believe it. During the break I met the brother-sister dance team and their other sibling Mark. What great young people and so refreshing to talk to them with their positive outlook on life and big smiles on their faces.
Taylor Michaels and Jeannie Snow
When I introduced myself to Natalie and her brother David and told them how much I enjoyed their dancing Natalie replied… “We just love life” and it was apparent by their actions that they thoroughly had a passion for their music and their dancing. As they say “The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree”. Being the children of Jeannie Snow, who has been a well known vocalist in Las Vegas for years, how could they not have this incredible talent. It’s in their genes.
Jeannie gave us her new CD and I’m reading the liner notes and she refers to her big brother Phil. Phil Volk's new CD is being released about the same time as hers. His CD is “Fang
Reveres the Raiders”. I had no idea Phil Volk was Jeannie’s brother. I had just recently re-united with Phil “Fang” Volk, the original bass player with Paul Revere and the Raiders. Our band, "The In Crowd" had opened for Paul Revere and The Raiders when they were at the top of the charts in1969 in my hometown of Shreveport, Louisiana to a huge crowd back then.
When I connected with Phil several months ago he was so happy that I had come by to see him since I had heard he was in town. He remembered the show well and said as he recalled there were close to 10,000 in the audience. I remember it being the largest audience I had ever seen from a stage. I have known Jeannie for several years and did not know Phil was her brother. What a small world.
Steve Tuminello and Tommy Thompson
The Tommy Thomson Project performs in various venues around town on and off the strip. Currently at The Sahara Hotel in the Casbar Lounge and many times at the Sunday Jazz Brunch at Gordon Biersch or the Renaissance Hotel.
Music, Comedy and Celebrities Fill The Showroom at Gold Coast
Ernest Borgnine gives Marty Allen a hug as Karon Kate looks on. For the complete story click on the photo above.
Check Out The Brothers Ali
The Brothers Ali Jazz Trio will be performing at Jazz on the Lake at Monte Lago Village on May 12th. The music at Lake Las Vegas starts at 7 PM and its all free.
Abe La Marca Sits in with Santa Fe & The Fat City Horns
What a voice! Abe La Marca sang lead on "Higher Ground". I look forward to hearing him again.
SteveTuminello, Sandra Benton, Jerry Lopez, Abe La Marca and Christine La Marca
The Palms Was Jumping on Monday Night
The Fat City Horns opened the night with a musical a capella that was followed by Lenny Lopez singing Gino Vannelli’s “Brother to Brother”.
Only “Brother Lenny” with his high end range could pull this off. Bill Champlin recently praised Santa Fe and The Fat City Horns band leader Jerry Lopez as one of the top ten singers in the world, brother Lenny is not far behind. These two incredible musicians use their voices as another musical instrument in their arsenal.
Two jazz legends in the audience were trumpeters Bobby Shew who has performed with just about every jazz great you can think of and Lew Soloff best known as an original member of Blood, Sweat and Tears and for his incredible jazz solo in “Spinning Wheel”.
Lew Soloff and Steve Tuminello
Gil Kaupp, Bobby Shew, Lew Soloff and Liz Kaupp
Our friend, Don Capron, former lead trumpeter with Wayne Cochran and the CC Riders shared stories with Bobby Shew.Bobby mentioned working with Wayne at one point in his career.
Don Capron, Bobby Shew and Lew Soloff
Tom Delibero,jazz trumpeter who has been touring with Doc Severinsen, was sitting with Bobby and Lew and told me Doc just turned 80 years young and is retiring.
More Gino Vannelli Photos
Our friend Sandin Wilson, bass and vocalist for Gino Vannelli sent us these great pictures. In addition to Sandin... there's Allen Hinds on guitar, Randy Porter on keyboard, Gino Vannelli on vocals and Reinhardt Melz on drums.
Santa Fe and The Fat City Horns YOU TUBE LINKS
Nicholas Cole Has Them Dancing In The Aisles at Caesars Palace
Our Friends Nicholas Cole and Darren De’ Costa are drawing huge crowds at Caesars Palace. You see people walking by that just stop in their tracks and listen. They are that good! Maybe it's because they really enjoy entertaining.
Last Night I took female vocalist Taylor Michaels to see Nicholas and Darren at the Galleria Bar inside Caesars. Even though there is no dance floor they had several couples in front of the band dancing in the aisles. On the break Nicholas and I talked about how much we enjoyed the Gino Vannelli concert on Sunday.
Taylor got up and sang the song “Route 66” in the last set of the night. The crowd seemed to enjoy the variety of having a female vocalist get up and perform in addition to the vocals by Nicholas.
Taylor got up and sang the song “Route 66” in the last set of the night. The crowd seemed to enjoy the variety of having a female vocalist get up and perform in addition to the vocals by Nicholas.
There is no cover charge. That's good for us.
The Billy Moran Trio Performs on Top of the World
The Top of the World Restaurant & Lounge at The Stratosphere Hotel and Casino has one of the best kept secrets in entertainment on the strip. Billy Moran keyboardist extraordinaire has surrounded himself with two extremely talented musicians to form the Billy Moran Trio after working as a single with a female vocalist for years at the Top of the World Lounge.
Billy is considered by most musicians to be one of the finest keyboard players in town with an incredible left hand bass line, great chord changes and lightning fast jazz runs. He not only plays but sings extremely well. The vocals are shared by guitarist Mark Speights who has worked with Little Anthony as well as Chuck Mangione. Mark play in a smooth jazz style reminiscent of Wes Montgomery or Earl Klugh.
When Billy played as a single he used a drum machine but now has a live drummer, Clyde Duell who has worked with Vic Damone, Burt Bacharach and Tony Bennett. Clyde is amazing as he plays so solid and with tasteful fills at a moderate volume which is not easy to do.
International Entertainer/Vocalist Loretta St. John who accompanied me to see the Bill Moran Trio commented that you just don’t find this caliber of easy listening/dance music in Las Vegas at very many venues anymore.
Steve Tuminello, Loretta St. John and Bill Moran
If you want to relax with one of the most spectacular views of the Las Vegas Strip, the Top of the World Restaurant and Lounge is the place.
The Billy Moran Trio performs Wednesdays through Sundays from 7 PM until 11 PM.
The Jim Spoto Band and Ron Crews Jazzes Up The Renaissance Hotel
March 18th I was invited out to the Sunday Jazz Brunch at The Renaissance Hotel to see The Jim Spoto Band and my friend Ron Crews as featured vocalist.
It was a great afternoon of smooth jazz and Rhythm & Blues tunes with Jim Spoto on sax, Jeff Johnson on the keyboards, George Bryant on the drums and Adrian Garcia on bass.
Ron Crews sang Bobby Caldwell’s “What you won’t do for love”. Renaissance concierge Lorraine Fidler was on duty that day and posed for a photo with Adrian Garcia while on stage.
Photo also attached with Lorraine and good friend Kim Schepner backstage with Smokey Robinson at a recent concert in town.
