Santa Fe and The Fat City Horns, and friends: Weekend Update Dec 6th 2008

SATURDAY NIGHT UPDATE: YELLOW BRICK ROAD AT ALIANTE STATION, SCROLL DOWN. ALSO, SUNDAY NIGHT BOOTLEGGER UPDATE

Our bro' Jerry Jones (of 5th Avenue) and all of his collaborators have released their long-awaited kids' music CD.

From the release notes:

In 1998, Rob Hyatt had the good fortune of appearing on the television game show WHEEL OF FORTUNE. Because his wife was pregnant at the time and advised not to make the drive to Los Angeles for the taping, he brought his friend and writing partner Jerry Jones with him. He had been playing well and was ahead in the game, until one particular puzzle seemed to stump him. He ended up not being able to solve that particular puzzle, though he still won the overall competition and a trip to Greece! After the taping, Jerry vowed that he would one day write a song featuring the title of that one puzzle Rob could not solve. A few years later, as promised, Jerry came to Rob with the lyric that would prove to be the catalyst for this most passionate of musical projects: Circles, Squares, and Triangles!

They decided that since there was such an ongoing need for quality children’s music, that this song should be the springboard for an entire album of original and best-loved children’s songs. They took a short break from their amazing jazz vocal group Fifth Avenue, of which they are founding members, to create this wildly fun set of songs! In putting this collection together, they drew upon their combined 25 years of writing, producing and singing to create a magical collection of 15 songs, including 8 originals by Jerry and Rob that both children as well as their parents will love and want to sing and laugh along with. Thus, Laugh-a-long Songs Volume One: Circles, Squares, and Triangles was born!

In addition to featuring their own writing, singing, and playing, they called upon some of their friends, who also happen to be some of the brightest and most talented stars of the Las Vegas entertainment scene. Performers such as legendary headliner Clint Holmes, stage star Tina Walsh, the amazing Santa Fe and the Fat City Horns, Tony Davich, Jamie Hosmer, Karen Michaels, Judy Lombino, as well as a full kids’ choir lend their talents to this project. These cats really play and sing! The variety of songs and styles make this unlike any childrens’ CD you have ever heard before. You’ll want to listen again and again as these infectious melodies, clever lyrics, and stellar performances provide hours and hours of listening fun! Order your copy today at www.laughalongsongs.com!

Here's a quick embedded mp3 sampler:

We'll have them for sale at the Santa Fe gig starting Monday night.
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BOBBYG ROAMING ON FRIDAY NIGHT

I'd been promising Blaise I'd come by and hear his upright set (friggin' hate to go out alone). He's appearing at Bellagio with Ray Glover on piano (really nice cat). It was an ISO 3200 kind of night, 'cuz I just am not gonna cop to flash unless there's no way around it. Below, first a shot of Blaise that I watercolor'd in Photoshop.

Elegance, both musically and personally. Below, a few more...

Yeah, man. Baccarat Lounge. Very nice.
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FRANKIE MORENO GIG

Jump across to uptown over to the Nugget to see Frankie Moreno. I'd gotten an email from Tony DeAugustine that he would be playing with Frankie. I first met Frankie a little more than 3 years ago when I was goin' around scopin' stuff out and sitting in here & here, tentatively thinkin' about getting back into playing some (before Santa Fe incinerated me). One of my mainstay basketball buds at the time over at 24 Hour Fitness Sport on Sahara was this badass hoopster Harry Shahoian, who does an Elvis schitck (quite well, actually). Trash-talkin' mofo on court who got serious Game, LOL!

Well, anyway, he invited me to come sit in one night over at Brendan's pub in The Orleans, where he was appearing with Frankie. I did, and it was great fun. Among the lineup that night was this fine sax cat from Boston, Tony Quintiliani ("Tony Q").

Well, he is on the gig now with Frankie and Tony D. Very cool. They were slammin' pretty good, I gotta say.

That's Russ Letizia on guitar. Another Bad Boy. So, I walk in and immediately think, "I didn't know Bruce Willis was giggin' in town..."

Bass cat in the band is Frankie's younger brother Tony Moreno. It was the "Three Tonys Night," LOL!

Here's a link to Frankie's MySpace page, btw. Tell ya what -- Frankie's website, though, is about the baddest one I've seen in town. Cat who did his is an artist!

A sea of drugstore cowboy hats and fake boobs in denim in Vegas last night, man...

Gotta run. Alabama vs Florida, SEC Championship game in 5 minutes.

PROPS

Gotta give a shout-out to John Flack, Mgr of Ritz Camera at the Outlet Mall. He steered me right on my Sony Alpha 350 purchase.

I'd actually gone there for some info on a Canon package I was lookin' at over at CostCo. I ended up with a better, more flexible and powerful unit from Ritz at about the same cost. Then, one day when I subsequently went back inquire about other lenses, I lamented that the 200 mm telephoto lense in that purchase package was kinda redundant, given the other stuff I'd bought, and I really needed a longer throw telephoto lense. John simply said "fine, you got the box? Just bring it back, I 'll trade you a 300 mm in its place."

Cat now has a loyal repeat customer. Did me right. Below, I was out practicin' the other day with the 300 (hand-held), just off Warm Springs and LV Blvd (click the shot to enlarge).

This stuff will totally do for now, a major step up for me. Hangin' out my shingle, if you will.

Yeah, eventually, to run with the Big Boys, I'd have to step up all the way to an Alpha 900 league rig with some huge (and expensive) Zeiss lenses, but, I'm really good for now and quite some time to come.

SATURDAY NIGHT UPDATE, YELLOW BRICK ROAD AT ALIANTE STATION

Man, that's a long haul out there from the south side! It's just off the North 215, 7300 Aliante Parkway, North Las Vegas. YBR is in the Access Showroom. Nice venue, very nice (pro lighting and sound). The Property inside looks very similar to Red Rock Station. Strong band, YBR. Gotta say, Brody Dolyniuk is to his classic rock genre what Michael Grimm is to his Delta blues / Otis Redding / Ray Charles thang -- channeling the greats. If you've not heard him, you oughta get out and catch YBR. Strong band. They currently do Wednesday nights at Green Valley Ranch, and Friday nights at Boulder Station, in addition to the Saturday thing at Aliente.

Very cool. BTW, tonight, I'm goin' to shoot a few shots at Diane Ellis's gig at the Bootlegger, Starts at 8:30. Paul Stevenson on keys & vocals, Danny Calico on drums.

'NUTHER UPDATE

Just in from Lorraine Fidler:

Jill Rock-Jones, this Tuesday night at The Square Apple. Quoting the press release:

WILL THURMOND MANAGEMENT CO. PRESENTS
MIX AND MINGLE AFTER PARTY
RIGHT AFTER THE ORLEANS THIS TUESDAY, DEC. 9TH
COME DOWN TO THE SQUARE APPLE AND CHECK OUT
"HOTTEST NEW ARTIST IN VEGAS"
LIMITED SEATING….GET THERE EARLY!

DIANE ELLIS AT THE BOOTLEGGER

Just got home. Wow. Couple of shots for now. Chick sings as good as she looks -- in a word, "fabulous." Major props to Dr. Lenny for introducing her to me.