From: Norm Johnson

For: 02-03-16

There is a guy in this village of ours, who without question is one of the hardest working entertainers we have, since Las Vegas lost many of the headliners we used to have to big revues. The one headliner we truly have is Clint Holmes, who if there’s a benefit, a special event, or anything dealing with a “cause,” everyone knows is the one entertainer all they have to do is, “Call Clint.” Clint is also the Artist Resident Entertainer for Cabaret Jazz at the Smith Center, and rightfully so. Gosh this writer can remember when he first came to the Golden Nugget and Steve Wynn (owner at the time) created a shower commercial with Holmes in the shower. It was the talk of the town. Clint eventually moved on to settle for a number of years at in his own (so named) showroom at Harrah’s on the Las Vegas Strip, closing after a very long-run in2006. He is what we call in the world of entertainment, “An Entertainer’s, Entertainer.”

Now, normally, the Holmes residency takes place the first Friday, Saturday and Sunday of each month, and often times he has a special guest. Well, that was not the case this week. Because of a special event like the Super Bowl (that little thing in San Francisco) on TV Sunday, the smart people booked the show for Thursday at 7:00 p.m. (yesterday), Friday (today)and Saturday at 8:30 p.m.  Tickets for this wonderful 90 minutes of great music are priced from $37.00 to $46.00.

The show this week is called, “What a Wonderful World,” and covers the entire gamut of music from New York to San Francisco, and From China to France and ultimately the World. A few samples include “Walking in Memphis”, “Chicago”, “I Left My Heart in San Francisco”, “New York, New York”, “Englishman in New York” and “Brazil”. Assisting Holmes as his very special guest will be one of my favorites Domenick Allen. Domenick was also one of those special guys, who when he moved here with his family from England (he was a member of The Foreigner) he became an instant citizen of our city. He, like Holmes, was always available for any special occasion. This is a guy who can play just about every instrument there is, and often does it on stage (at least he used to when he and Clint used to team up).

Joining Holmes and Allen on stage will be The Christian Tamburr Quartet, comprised of Jess Gopen (drums), John Wedemeyer (guitar), David Ostrem (bass), and Christian (piano and vibraphone).

 So do yourself a big favor if you don’t have any plans for this weekend (other than Sunday), head on down to the Smith Center for the Performing Arts, and just sit in one of the best jazz centers in the nation, and enjoy some great songs, by a terrific group of entertainers, and the music of our world!

THIS AND THAT QUICKLY:

For the seventh year, Variety The Children’s Charity will host the best Oscar Viewing party in town, “Variety Salutes Hollywood” on Sunday, Feb. 28 with a Red Carpet and pre-Oscar coverage starting at 4 p.m. on the big screen at Brenden Theaters at The Palms. All proceeds will benefit Variety The Children’s Charity as they partner with the city of Las Vegas to make the Jaycee Community Park at Eastern and St. Louis universally accessible to all children in the Las Vegas valley.

Co-hosted by ABC News Anchor Dayna Roselli and 98.5 KLUC-FM’s Chet Buchanan of “Chet Buchanan & The Morning Zoo,” the 88th Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements will be presented that night. The general public is invited to watch the Oscars and rub elbows with local celebrities all to benefit Variety The Children’s Charity of Southern Nevada.  Celebrities have included Master Magician Lance Burton, Comedy Magician Mac King, James Davis, Mark Savard, Robin Leach, The Jersey Boys, Chippendales, Zowie Bowie, The Fantasy Girls and more.

Guests can walk the “Red Carpet” with local celebrities at 4 p.m. at the commencement of the Oscar Red Carpet telecast with the awards show coverage starting at 5:30 p.m. PST. Awards Day festivities will take place at the award-winning Brenden Theatres & IMAX (Brendan Theaters, Palms Casino Resort, 4321 West Flamingo Road Las Vegas, NV 89103), a state-of-the-art cinema complex located inside the Palms Casino Resort. Tickets are $25 and include $25 in theater concessions. VIP tickets will be $250 per person and include a special one-night-only hors d’oeuvre menu created by Alizé at the Top of The Palms Casino Resort created by Executive Chef Mark Purdy and his team. Tickets can be purchased at www.VarietySN.org.

The Plaza Hotel & Casino is proud to announce that Las Vegas’ first family of entertainment, The Scintas, will bring their legendary and critically acclaimed music and comedy show to the property’s iconic showroom for a limited engagement beginning Friday, Feb. 19. The Scintas will perform at the Plaza at 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 19, 20, 26 and 27, Mar. 11, 12, 25 and 26, Apr. 8, 9, 15 and 16, and May 6, 7, 13 and 14.

The Scintas, brothers Frankie and Joe, “honorary Scinta” Peter O’Donnell and newest addition, Janien Valentine, bring refreshing wit, great music and endless talent to the highly regarded show. Having performed for hundreds of thousands of people over the years, the Scintas have become a fixture in Las Vegas for the past 16 years with their signature comedy, musical prowess, and knack for spot-on impressions. Valentine adds to the dynamic of this talented group with her powerful vocals and her ability to match wits with the boys. The show spans several generations, blending classic music of all styles from musical icons such as Dean Martin, Ray Charles, Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston and Bruno Mars with relatable humor that leaves the audience feeling like they’re hanging out with family.

“The Scintas are the epitome of classic Las Vegas entertainers and a perfect fit for the Plaza’s vintage showroom and atmosphere,” said Jonathan Jossel, CEO of the Plaza Hotel & Casino. “A unique mix of music and comedy, their show spans the decades and appeals to everyone. We are honored to have the Scintas performing at the Plaza and are excited to offer our guests, especially locals, the chance to enjoy an old-style Las Vegas experience with a gourmet dinner at Oscar’s, the Scintas’ fantastic show, and the opportunity to end the night hanging out with Frankie in Oscar’s lounge after the show. I have no doubt that it will make for an unforgettable night downtown.”

Ticket prices start at $29 for general admission and $49 for VIP tickets offering guests preferred seating, a free cocktail and an autographed photo (prices do not include taxes and fees). A special “dinner and a show” package will also be available for $99 per ticket and includes a three-course prix fix dinner at Oscar’s steakhouse in addition to a VIP show ticket. Tickets are available online at www.plazahotelcasino.com or by calling 702-386-2507 (beginning Feb. 1).

Celebrated disco, rhythm and blues (R&B) and soul and funk entertainers from the 1970s and 1980s will perform their greatest hits at the 105.7 Old School Love Affair Concert on Feb. 13 at the Orleans Arena. The star-studded event will welcome romantic solo artists and groups whose chart-topping hits still dominate radio playlists across the country. This year’s lineup includes Billboard Lifetime Achievement Award-winner Jody Watley, who found herself on the Billboard Hot 100 chart multiple times with songs like “Looking for a New Love,” “Don’t You Want Me,” “Real Love” and more. The Jets had numerous Billboard Hot 100 hits in the mid-to-late ‘80s, including their five top-10 singles “Crush on You,” “You Got It All,” “Make It Real,” “Rocket 2 U” and “Cross My Broken Heart.” Sisters Wanda, Sheila and Jeanette Hutchinson, more famously known as The Emotions, are known for their legendary hit “Best of My Love,” as well as their collaboration on “Boogie Wonderland” with American music phenomena Earth, Wind & Fire.
 
Bursting onto the music scene in 1976 with the Billboard Hot 100 hit “Boogie Nights,” Heatwave remained on the charts with “Always and Forever” and “The Groove Line.” GQ found success in 1979 with the single “Disco Nights (Rock-Freak),” which peaked at #1 on the Billboard R&B Singles chart and #12 on the Billboard Hot 100. Siblings Debra and Ronnie Laws are best known for their collaboration on the 1981 soul ballad “Very Special.” In 1993, Debra released “Moments,” which enjoyed great success overseas. American Latin-influenced rock ‘n’ roll group Malo charted its first top-20 single in 1978 with the sultry Latin ballad “Suavecito.” Platinum-selling electro-funk ‘80s band Midnight Star found success with its Billboard Top 40 hit, “Operator.” R&B singer Evelyn “Champagne” King exploded onto the scene in 1978 with her Billboard Hot 100 hit “Shame,” followed by “I Don’t Know If It’s Right” and “Love Come Down” in 1982.
 
Doors open at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available from $30 plus taxes and fees and can be purchased by calling the Orleans Arena Box Office at 702.284.7777 or by visiting www.orleansarena.com.

Well, gang, it’s only five more weeks until the “Boys and Lady of NASCAR” are spinning out at the Las Vegas Speedway. Can’t wait.  I’m outa here!