FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 29, 2025

ENJOY SUPER MUSIC AND SUPER FOOTBALL AT VIC’S LAS VEGAS THIS FEBRUARY

WHAT:             Vic’s Las Vegas welcomes world-class jazz artists to entertain diners throughout the month of February, in addition to nightly live jazz from the LVA Jazz Academy.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:

Feb. 1                         JOE LANO QUARTET – 7 p.m. & 8:30 p.m.
Feb. 7 & 8                   DAVE TULL WITH JOHN BELZAGUY AND DAVE LOEB – 7 p.m. & 8:30 p.m.
Feb. 9                         BIG GAME VIEWING PARTY
Feb. 14                       VALENTINE’S DAY WITH MICHELLE JOHNSON – 7 p.m. & 8:30 p.m.
Feb. 15 & 16               NICOLE ZURAITIS – 7 p.m. & 8:30 p.m.
Feb. 19                       DINNER & ‘LOVE SONGS’ WITH THE JAZZ VEGAS ORCHESTRA – 7 – 9 p.m.
Feb. 21 & 22               TÉKA: AN EVENING OF BRAZILIAN JAZZ & BOSSA – 7 p.m. & 8:30 p.m.

WHERE:         Vic’s Las Vegas
                        355 Promenade Place in Symphony Park
No cover and no minimums. Reservations are strongly encouraged.

ABOUT JOE LANO

Joe Lano has become a staple at Vic’s Las Vegas, performing regularly at the venue since its opening. With his trio’s unique blend of old-school charm and modern jazz innovation, he has established himself as a favorite among Vic’s audiences, captivating them with seamless interplay and heartfelt interpretations.

Joe Lano himself, one of the Jazz world’s best-kept secrets, is a world-class guitarist, arranger, and composer who has been a mainstay of the Las Vegas and West Coast music scene for over 50 years. Since moving to Las Vegas in 1964, Joe has performed with nearly every major act in show business, including legends like Frank Sinatra, Lena Horne, and Steve Lawrence. A student of the renowned Dennis Sandole—John Coltrane’s teacher—Joe combines technical mastery with a deep, creative musicality.

Joe brings a fresh approach to classic jazz standards with inventive arrangements, compelling reharmonizations, and intricate guitar/bass ensemble passages. Accompanied by Jess Gopen on drums, Etsuko Mader on keys, and Jeff Davis on bass, the Quartet delivers performances that are both intuitive and swinging.

ABOUT DAVE TULL

Known for his dynamic combination of masterful jazz drumming, heartfelt songwriting, and exceptional vocals, Dave has earned acclaim worldwide. His album “Texting and Driving” soared to the top of the jazz charts and earned praise from NPR and Billboard. Whether behind the drums for Barbra Streisand or creating music that’s both thought-provoking and laugh-out-loud funny, Dave’s talent knows no bounds.

ABOUT THE BIG GAME VIEWING PARTY

Watch the Big Game on Super Sunday at Vic’s Las Vegas! With plenty of TVs throughout the venue, there’s not a bad seat in the house to catch all the action. Enjoy an all-you-can-eat buffet for $40 per person that includes Beef Sliders, Chicken Wings, a selection of their signature Crusts (pizzas, pictured), Nathan’s Famous Hot Dogs, Pop’s Meatballs with Pomodoro, mini–Pretzel Bites with Beer Cheese dipping sauce, House Potato Chips, Spaghetti with Pomodoro, and a fresh vegetable platter. Drink specials will be offered throughout the day, including Beer Buckets with either 5 domestic beers ($25) or 5 imported beers ($30), and Coronitas for $15.

Vic’s Player Card members can join in on the action with a chance to win Free Play with their Football Squares promotion*. Gaming players who hit a natural 4-of-a-kind, a 5-spot, or any hand pay jackpot can pick a square during the game with a chance to win $200 Free Play during each of the first three quarters of the game, or $500 Free Play in the 4th Quarter. Players can earn 2x gaming points from 9 a.m. to Midnight on Sunday, Feb. 9.

ABOUT MICHELLE JOHNSON

Singer-songwriter Michelle Johnson’s style – best described as Carole King meets Ella Fitzgerald – draws from jazz, pop, soft rock, musical theater, gritty blues, & soul. The Las Vegas based singer has recorded, performed, or shared stages with some of the biggest names in entertainment: Paul McCartney, Elton John, Gladys Knight, and Barbra Streisand to name a few. Her aesthetic has roots deep in the singer-songwriter tradition with traces of gospel and folk, and echoes of the vocal masters who ruled the radio waves in the days before rock & roll. That voice lights up “I’m All In,” her warm and vibrant latest single, which premiered on September 23, 2019. Once a background singer, she’s now stepping into the spotlight, so keep your eyes on her!

In Las Vegas, Michelle Johnson is known as the “First Lady of Jazz,” but her sold out shows cover a multitude of genres. After years of singing backups for many musical legends, she is currently recording her first solo album and working on a book about the music business. Michelle is also an accomplished producer of corporate events, concerts, workshops and private functions, and she is in the process of developing The Artist Development Academy of Las Vegas.

ABOUT NICOLE ZURAITIS

Nicole Zuraitis is a GRAMMY winning and 2X GRAMMY-nominated jazz singer-songwriter, pianist and arranger, New York-based bandleader and winner of the prestigious 2021 American Traditions Vocal Competition Gold Medal. With a “heart as big as her remarkable voice,” (Jazz Police), Nicole has positioned herself as one of the top artists and “prolific songwriters” (Broadway World) to watch in jazz and beyond.

As a recording artist, Nicole has released five albums as leader, and her sixth album, How Love Begins, co-produced with eight-time GRAMMY-winner Christian McBride, won BEST JAZZ VOCAL ALBUM at the 2024 GRAMMY® awards and features all original music. Besides leading her quartet, Nicole is the premier vocalist for the Birdland Big Band and frequently headlines iconic NYC jazz clubs like Dizzy’s Club at Lincoln Center, Birdland, the Blue Note, the Carlyle, 54 Below and the late, great 55 Bar. She has appeared as a featured soloist with the Savannah Philharmonic, Asheville Symphony and Macon Pops and has supported iconic singers like Melanie, Morgan James, Darren Criss and Livingston Taylor on piano and vocals.

Nicole’s arrangement of Dolly Parton’s Jolene, co-written with renowned drummer and bandleader Dan Pugach, was nominated for a 2019 GRAMMY®, spring boarding her career and making her a household name in the modern-day jazz landscape. In 2020, she was named in the top 40 under 40 for 2020 in Connecticut Magazine, and her weekly live stream during the Covid-19 crisis, “Virtual Piano Lounge,” was featured in Forbes Magazine.

Nicole has collaborated with an extensive list of luminaries, including Christian McBride, David Cook, Gilad Hekselman, Veronica Swift, Benny Benack, Stephen Feifke, Cyrille Aimee, Antonio Sanchez, Dave Stryker, Omar Hakim, Rachel Z, Helen Sung, and Bernard Purdie. She is a proud educator and currently vocal faculty at NYU, SUNY Purchase and the Litchfield Jazz Camp.

An ardent activist with a decade-long track record of giving back, her album release coincided with a self-produced music festival and day of activism for SavetheSound.Org.

ABOUT DINNER & A SHOW FEATURING THE JAZZ VEGAS ORCHESTRA

Every third Wednesday of the month is An Evening of Jazz & Giving at Vic’s Las Vegas. This will be an unforgettable Dinner & Show with the incredible Jazz Vegas Orchestra, playing in support of the Jazz Outreach Initiative (JOI). This event is proudly sponsored by Signature Cruise Experiences (formerly Jazz Cruises), with proceeds benefiting the JOI Orchestra to support jazz education and outreach programs. The price is $65 per person and includes a special dinner menu.

ABOUT TÉKA

A native of Londrina, Brazil, Téka is a master vocalist, guitarist, and arranger who blends the rich traditions of Brazilian music with the improvisational elegance of American jazz, creating a captivating style she calls New Bossa. With her sensual rhythms, flawless technique, and an unmistakably smooth voice, Téka has earned her place as a world-class artist. She has performed with legends like Hermeto Pascoal, Gilberto Gil, Flora Purim, and Grammy-winning composer Roger Kellaway, and her recordings have garnered critical acclaim for their emotional depth and technical brilliance.

This special evening promises an intimate musical journey as Téka shares selections from her celebrated albums, including Garden Planet, Watercolours of Brazil, and her latest release, So Many Stars. Her mesmerizing voice and rhythmic guitar will transport you to the heart of Brazil while evoking the sophistication of jazz’s greatest eras. Whether you’re a longtime fan or a first-time listener, Téka’s performance will leave you spellbound.

ABOUT VIC’S LAS VEGAS

Created by Porchlight Hospitality in 2023, the award-winning Vic’s Las Vegas is located in Symphony Park at 355 Promenade Place. Open seven days a week from 10 a.m. – 1 a.m., Vic’s features Italian American cuisine, a full-service bar with Happy Hour from 2 – 5 p.m., a reverse Happy Hour between Midnight – 1 a.m., gaming, and live entertainment nightly. Reservations can be made by calling 725-755-5299 or visit vicslasvegas.com. Follow on Instagram @vicslasvegas.

# # #

MEDIA CONTACT:

Hillary Smoot, SRO PR
hillary@sropr.com

*Artist images available upon request

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 4, 2024

CELEBRATE THE HOLIDAYS AND ENJOY THE SOUNDS OF THE SEASON AT VIC’S LAS VEGAS IN DECEMBER

Special Christmas and New Year’s Eve dinner specials, award-winning live jazz artists, and more!

WHAT:                 Vic’s Las Vegas celebrates December with world-class jazz artists to entertain diners throughout the month, in addition to nightly live jazz from the LVA Jazz Academy.

On Wed., Dec. 25, enjoy a selection from the full menu, or a special Prime Rib dinner accompanied by blackened shrimp, vegetables, and Yorkshire pudding ($60). The LVA Jazz Trio will perform from 12 – 3 p.m. and 4- 7 p.m.

On Tues., Dec. 31, enjoy a selection from the full menu or the Surf & Turf special (pictured above): tender Filet Mignon with a choice of buttery lobster ($65) or blackened shrimp ($55), served with mixed vegetables.

WHO/WHEN:                 Dec. 6 & 7                          A REDD CHRISTMAS: A HOLIDAY JAZZ CONCERT WITH CHUCK REDD – 7 p.m. & 8:30 p.m.
Dec. 8                                 ELLIE SMITH – 5 & 6 p.m.
                             Dec. 12                               RITA LIM ALBUM RELEASE PARTY PLUS JAZZY CHRISTMAS – 7 p.m. & 8:30 p.m. – SOLD OUT
                              Dec. 13 & 14                     PAT BIANCHI – 7 p.m. & 8:30 p.m.
Dec. 18                               JAZZ OUTREACH INITIATIVE PRESENTS THE JAZZ VEGAS ORCHESTRA – 7 – 9 p.m.
Dec. 27 & 28                     DAVE DAMIANI – 7 p.m. & 8:30 p.m.
Dec. 31                               DAVE DAMIANI AND FRIENDS, FEATURING LYMAN MEDEIROS AND GARY MATSUMOTO – 7 p.m. & 9:30 p.m.*

*There will be two seatings for New Year’s Eve:
7 p.m. Seating – $30 per person. Entry includes preferred seating, one appetizer per table, and bottomless bubbly.
9:30 p.m. Seating – $50 per person. Entry includes party favors, preferred seating, one appetizer per table, and bottomless bubbly, with a special Midnight countdown with the band.

WHERE:               Vic’s Las Vegas
                              355 Promenade Place in Symphony Park
No cover and no minimums. Reservations are strongly encouraged.

ABOUT CHUCK REDD

Chuck Redd is well known internationally as a performer on drums and vibraphone. Chuck began recording and touring the globe when he joined the Charlie Byrd Trio at the age of 21. He also became a member of the Great Guitars (Barney Kessel, Byrd and Herb Ellis.) To his credit are 25 European tours and six tours of Japan, with the Barney Kessel Trio, Ken Peplowski and the Benny Goodman Tribute Orchestra, Terry Gibbs, and Conte Candoli. He served as Artist-In- Residence at The Smithsonian Jazz Café in Washington, DC from 2004-2008.

Chuck is the Artistic director of The Oregon Festival of American Music. He is a featured soloist, annually at The West Texas Jazz Party, The San Diego Jazz Party, The North Carolina Jazz Festival and The Roswell Jazz Festival. Chuck was featured vibraphonist with the Mel Torme All-Star Jazz Quintet from 1991 until 1996. While appearing in New York with Torme, Ira Gitler of Jazz Times said: “Redd’s vibes were equally notable for vigor and melodiousness.” Jazz Times praised Redd’s playing describing his vibes work as, “Exquisite!” The Washington Post admired his “melodic sparkle.” For two consecutive years, Chuck was awarded “Best Vibist” in New York City’s Hot House Jazz Magazine 2015 and 2016 Fans Decision award.

In 2007 Chuck was featured with the prestigious “Milt Jackson Tribute Band” featuring Mickey Roker. Recent engagements include jazz cruises, residencies with The John Pizzarelli Quartet at The Café Carlyle in NYC, a series at Birdland with The Anderson Brothers and headlining at Dizzy’s, Smalls, Mezzrow and The Kitano in New York City. Chuck spends much of the year leading groups at jazz venues around the US. He has toured and performed with Dizzy Gillespie, Mel Torme, Tommy Flanagan, Bill Mays, Ray Brown, Monty Alexander, Laurindo Almeida, Tal Farlow, Rebecca Kilgore, Nicki Parrott, Scott Hamilton, Mickey Roker, Houston Person and The Army Blues.

Redd is featured on over 80 recordings. Releases include his Arbors CD, “All This and Heaven Too”, featuring Gene Bertoncini and George Mraz, Chopin Jazz with Rossano Sportiello “You’re My Everything” with Dick Hyman and Jay Leonhart and “Nice N’ Easy” with Houston Person. He can also be heard on the soundtrack to the television series, “The Great Chefs” and the NPR broadcast “Jazz Smithsonian.”

Chuck’s career highlights include a concert with the Dizzy Gillespie Quintet in Africa for the Namibian Independence Celebration, a recital at the White House with the Barney Kessel Trio, four concerts at Carnegie Hall with the Mel Torme Quintet, The Great Guitars and The Charlie Byrd Trio and an appearance on The Tonight Show. In 2008, he was a featured soloist on the finale concert at The Lionel Hampton International Jazz festival with The Lionel Hampton Big Band and the Clayton/Hamilton Jazz Orchestra. In February 2013, Chuck performed with the Dream Band co-leading with Jeff Hamilton in a salute to vibes legend Terry Gibbs. Chuck was the 2014 honoree at The Roswell Jazz Festival and the 2013 Los Angeles Jazz Society’s Vibes Summit honoree.

In addition to leading his own groups, Chuck played drums with The Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra for 15 years. He frequently performs in New York City and is touring nationally at festivals and clubs. Chuck was on the faculty at The University of Maryland School of Music for 12 years. His Arbors CD “Happy All The Time,” is a critically acclaimed tribute to his mentor, Barney Kessel and features Monty Alexander and Jeff Hamilton. Chuck’s CD, “When Redd is Blue” is a collaboration with his brother, pianist Robert Redd, featuring saxophonist Harry Allen. Chuck’s Arbors release, “The Common Thread” features Mickey Roker, Bob Cranshaw, Houston Person and Rossano Sportiello. Chuck produced and is featured on the brand-new recording, “For George, Cole and Duke”, led by Harry Allen for Blue Heron Records. Chuck’s current release is “Groove City” on Dalphine Records, featuring John Di Martino, Nicki Parrott, Lewis Nash and Jerry Weldon.

ABOUT ELLIE SMITH

Direct from New York City, Ellie is ready to showcase her immense talent and passion for music. A professional actor and singer, she has starred in iconic productions like Grease, RENT, Rock of Ages, and Les Miserables, bringing unforgettable performances to audiences nationwide. Beyond her theater credits, Ellie is also a proud survivor of the 94th annual Miss America Pageant, where she earned the top talent award for her stunning rendition of Queen’s Somebody to Love. Recently, she captivated audiences as Mira in the feature film Miracle Valley (now streaming and showing in cinemas worldwide) and starred in a co-starring role in Season 9 of Blue Bloods on CBS.

Ellie’s upcoming project is sure to be a game-changer: her debut original rock album, Play the Villain, produced by Vegas legend Frankie Moreno, is set for release in January 2025. But before that, she’s ready to showcase her incredible vocal range and stage presence at Vic’s, where she will highlight her vast musical talents.

Fun fact: Ellie has also had the honor of performing for the Las Vegas Philharmonic, bringing a touch of elegance and power to the city’s prestigious music scene.

ABOUT RITA LIM

Rita Lim is a distinguished pop/jazz vocalist born in Los Angeles and currently based in Las Vegas, has captivated audiences across the country with her exceptional talent and dynamic performances. In 2023, she was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award for Jazz by The International Press Association, a testament to her significant contributions to the music industry.

With a career spanning numerous years, Rita has collaborated with some of the foremost bands and world-class musicians, earning a reputation as a versatile and captivating performer. Her musical tribute shows, including the acclaimed “Sweetest Taboo: A Musical Tribute to Sade” and “Reflections of the Carpenters,” have consistently sold out at prestigious venues in Las Vegas. Lauded for its stunning fidelity and emotional depth, Rita’s tribute to the Carpenters also showcases her ability to evoke the original sound and sentiment of the iconic duo. In addition, Rita’s Sunday night residency at the Tuscany Suites has been a beacon for pioneering new music and sounds, spanning all genres and decades, and showcasing an all-star band that boasts members who have toured with celebrated artists such as Enrique Iglesias, Marcus Miller, and Arturo Sandoval. Notably, Rita has also garnered recurring engagements at Myron’s at The Smith’s Center in Las Vegas, Four Seasons Hotel Miami, and headlined in many major cities across the country.

Rita’s debut album, The Secret of Life, released in 2012, received widespread acclaim both in the United States and internationally, particularly in Asia, where her rendition of “I Will” became a bestseller in Japan. Her latest singles, “Smile” and “Turn Back the Clock,” are available on all major music platforms, further solidifying her presence in the contemporary music scene.

With a unique blend of jazz, smooth jazz, and fusion elements, Rita’s performances continue to break new ground, making her an influential figure in the industry. Her artistry not only reflects her deep passion for music but also her commitment to pushing musical boundaries, making her a cherished and trailblazing artist in the jazz and retro pop genre.

ABOUT PAT BIANCHI

Pat Bianchi has never been afraid to take the concepts of “Jazz Organ” into new directions. His playing draws from a wide range of musical influences including organists Dr. Lonnie Smith and Joey DeFrancesco (both who mentored Bianchi in his early years) but also encompasses other instrumentalists and approaches that stretch beyond the Hammond B-3 world. The result is a unique and creative voice of the organ that acknowledges the tradition while looking forward at the same moment.

As a leader, Bianchi has toured extensively through the United States and Europe, appeared at numerous jazz festivals and in recent years his trio has opened for Steely Dan for 3 separate east coast tours. In addition to being a prolific bandleader, the Grammy-nominated organist was a longtime member of the trio led by late guitar icon Pat Martino as well as NEA Jazz Master Lou Donaldson’s Quartet. Pat has also enjoyed tenured memberships in the bands of some of the most highly revered artists in jazz including Joe Locke, Chuck Loeb and Ralph Peterson Jr.

Additional performance credits include Red Holloway, Terrace Martin, Mark Whitfield, Terell Stafford, Dakota Staton, Javon Jackson, Peter Bernstein and Tim Warfield among many others. With 9 CD releases as a leader and appearing on over 40 additional recordings as a guest artist, Bianchi continues to be in high demand. His command of the instrument, harmonic prowess, rhythmic intensity and versatility are rivaled by few.

While maintaining an active performance schedule, Bianchi also teaches jazz organ classes and lessons at Berklee College of Music. He also shares his deep knowledge and love of jazz organ history as host of the weekly Sirius XM show Organized.

ABOUT THE JAZZ OUTREACH INITIATIVE’S “JAZZ VEGAS ORCHESTRA”

Sponsored by Jazz Cruises, the Jazz Outreach Initiative’s “Jazz Vegas Orchestra” is bringing an electrifying 18-piece jazz ensemble to Vic’s Las Vegas. As JOI’s most public-facing program, the Jazz Vegas Orchestra (formerly JOI Jazz Orchestra) creates a vital bridge between the vibrant world of jazz and the wider community. Formed in 2020, this celebrated big band features some of the most accomplished jazz musicians, educators, composers, and arrangers in the region, drawing in both local and national acclaim through sold-out shows and radio features, including on SiriusXM Jazz. The orchestra’s debut album, A JOIful NoiZZ, received 2024 Grammy® consideration.

The Jazz Vegas Orchestra isn’t just about performances; it’s a cornerstone of JOI’s commitment to fostering jazz education in Southern Nevada. The group’s public performances raise funds that help support a variety of youth-oriented programs, such as free jazz clinics in local schools (“JOI in Schools”) and mentorship programs like the “Las Vegas Youth Jazz Orchestra.” During the summer, Jazz Vegas Orchestra members also contribute to JOI’s “Jammin’ With JOI” program, a free youth jazz exploration experience.

The orchestra is supported by generous donations, sponsorships, and grants, which allow these professional musicians to focus on their artistry and outreach. Now a staple of the Las Vegas music scene, Jazz Vegas Orchestra’s twice-monthly residency at Notoriety @ Neonopolis draws jazz lovers from all over, providing audiences with high-caliber performances and deepening the community’s connection to the art form. Through its mission to “connect the language of music to the language of life,” JOI is not only bringing jazz to the stage but also to the next generation.

ABOUT DAVE DAMIANI

Dave Damiani is an American singer, songwriter, producer based out of Los Angeles, CA. Having started as a bartender at the famed Charlie O’s Jazz Club in Valley Village, CA, Dave Damiani had the opportunity to work, learn and become friends with some of the best musicians on the planet. Legends like Earl Palmer, Marty Harris, Ross Tompkins, Sam Most, Teddy Edwards, John Heard, Roy McCurdy, Frank Capp, Ernie McDaniel, Dini Clarke, Danny Grissett, George Gaffney, Mark Murphy, and Richie Cole (just to name a few) took time to mentor Dave Damiani, share stories and chord changes.

Shortly after receiving his master’s degree in Commercial Music from the California State University in Los Angeles, Dave began his pursuit to put together the perfect band with youth and style.  His debut album “Watch What Happens” has been receiving worldwide airplay. Brad “Martini” Chambers was the first to discover Dave Damiani’s originality.  Brad has been playing him constantly on www.martiniinthemorning.com since 2013. Additionally, receiving airplay on over 300 radio stations and on Satellite Radio XM 71 (Siriusly Sinatra). In January, Dave Damiani hosted his own hour on Sirius XM Siriuisly Sinatra #71, and while hosting, his good friend and New Jersey brother Joe Piscopo swung by the studio to say hi!

Dave Damiani & The No Vacancy Orchestra have produced shows with Frank Sinatra Enterprises, The Grove, Citi, Capital One, American Airlines, Jack Daniels, George Benson, Molly Ringwald, Bobby Ridel, Landau Murphy Jr., Hailey Reinhart, Renee Olstead, Steve Tyrel, and Larry King.

Dave Damiani has performed for Leonardo DiCaprio, Ryan Seacrest, Gene Simmons, David Spade, David Hasslehoff, Jack Klugman, CBS Television, ABC Television, FOX Television, Polo, The Marriott Corporation, EHarmony, Monster Energy Drink, Apple Computer, Microsoft, CITI (CitiBank), The Four Seasons, Ritz Carlton, Ryan Kavinaugh & Relativity Media, Wolfgang Puck, Cuba Gooding Jr, Oliver Stone, Ridley Scott, The Beverly Hills Hotel, Cafe’ Carlyle – New York City, The Jazz Kitchen – Indianapolis, The Radio Hall Of Fame, Charles Durning, Ray Liotta, Budweiser, University of Texas – San Antonio and many more.

ABOUT VIC’S LAS VEGAS

Created by Porchlight Hospitality in 2023, the award-winning Vic’s Las Vegas is located in Symphony Park at 355 Promenade Place. Open seven days a week from 10 a.m. – 1 a.m., Vic’s features Italian American cuisine, a full-service bar, gaming, and live entertainment nightly. Reservations can be made by calling 725-755-5299 or visit vicslasvegas.com. Follow on Instagram @vicslasvegas.

# # #

MEDIA CONTACT:

Hillary Smoot, SRO PR
hillary@sropr.com

Image of Surf & Turf special is courtesy of Vic’s.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 31, 2024

CELEBRATE THANKSGIVING AT VIC’S LAS VEGAS

WHAT:         Celebrate Thanksgiving at Vic’s Las Vegas with a savory prix fixe menu featuring traditional favorites and all the trimmings for $45 per person. Vic’s will also offer their full menu featuring Italian-American cuisine, and guests can enjoy complimentary live jazz from the award-winning Las Vegas Academy’s Jazz Trio from Noon – 3 p.m. and 4 – 7 p.m.

Starter – choice of Vic’s House Salad or Butternut Squash Soup with Cream

Entrée – choice of Roasted Turkey Breast, Honey Glazed Ham, or a Turkey and Ham Combo

Sides – choice of three: Whipped Mashed Potatoes, Candied Yams, Green Beans, Brussel Sprouts with Bacon, Mac & Cheese, or Homemade Vegetarian Stuffing

Dessert – choice of pie served a la mode: Apple, Pecan, or Pumpkin

WHEN:         Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024
No cover. No minimum purchase required. Reservations are encouraged.

WHERE:       Vic’s Las Vegas
355 Promenade Place in Symphony Park

ABOUT VIC’S LAS VEGAS

Created by Porchlight Hospitality in 2023, Vic’s Las Vegas is located in Symphony Park at 355 Promenade Place. Open seven days a week from 10 a.m. – 1 a.m., Vic’s features Italian-American cuisine, a full-service bar, gaming, and live entertainment nightly. Reservations can be made by calling 725-755-5299 or visit vicslasvegas.com. Follow on Instagram @vicslasvegas.

# # #

MEDIA CONTACT:

Hillary Smoot, SRO PR
310-367-9056
Hillary@sropr.com

Image is courtesy of Vic’s Las Vegas

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 30, 2024

LIVE JAZZ IS BOUNTIFUL AT VIC’S LAS VEGAS THIS NOVEMBER

WHAT:                 Vic’s Las Vegas brings world-class jazz artists to entertain diners throughout the month, in addition to nightly live jazz from the Las Vegas Academy’s Jazz Program.

WHO/
WHEN:                 Nov. 1 & 2                         NICOLE ZURAITIS – 7 p.m. & 8:30 p.m.
                             Nov. 8 & 9                         KEN PEPLOWSKI – 7 p.m. & 8:30 p.m.
                              Nov. 21 & 22                     LARRY FULLER TRIO – 7 p.m. & 8:30 p.m.
Nov. 29 & 30                     GRAHAM DECHTER & FRIENDS featuring Konrad Paszkudzki, Ryan Shaw, Alex Frank, and Melissa Morgan – 7 p.m. & 8:30 p.m.

WHERE:               Vic’s Las Vegas
                              355 Promenade Place in Symphony Park
No cover and no minimums. Reservations are strongly encouraged.

ABOUT NICOLE ZURAITIS

Nicole Zuraitis is a GRAMMY winning and 2X GRAMMY-nominated jazz singer-songwriter, pianist and arranger, New York-based bandleader, and winner of the prestigious 2021 American Traditions Vocal Competition Gold Medal. With a “heart as big as her remarkable voice,” (Jazz Police), Nicole has positioned herself as one of the top artists and “prolific songwriters” (Broadway World) to watch in jazz and beyond.

As a recording artist, Nicole has released five albums as leader, and her sixth album, How Love Begins, co-produced with eight-time GRAMMY-winner Christian McBride, won BEST JAZZ VOCAL ALBUM at the 2024 GRAMMY® awards and features all original music. Besides leading her quartet, Nicole is the premier vocalist for the Birdland Big Band and frequently headlines iconic NYC jazz clubs like Dizzy’s Club at Lincoln Center, Birdland, the Blue Note, the Carlyle, 54 Below and the late, great 55 Bar. She has appeared as a featured soloist with the Savannah Philharmonic, Asheville Symphony and Macon Pops and has supported iconic singers like Melanie, Morgan James, Darren Criss and Livingston Taylor on piano and vocals.

Nicole’s arrangement of Dolly Parton’s Jolene, co-written with renowned drummer and bandleader Dan Pugach, was nominated for a 2019 GRAMMY®, spring boarding her career and making her a household name in the modern-day jazz landscape. In 2020, she was named in the top 40 under 40 for 2020 in Connecticut Magazine, and her weekly live stream during the Covid-19 crisis, “Virtual Piano Lounge,” was featured in Forbes Magazine.

Nicole has collaborated with an extensive list of luminaries, including Christian McBride, David Cook, Gilad Hekselman, Veronica Swift, Benny Benack, Stephen Feifke, Cyrille Aimee, Antonio Sanchez, Dave Stryker, Omar Hakim, Rachel Z, Helen Sung, and Bernard Purdie. She is a proud educator and currently vocal faculty at NYU, SUNY Purchase, and the Litchfield Jazz Camp.

An ardent activist with a decade-long track record of giving back, her album release coincided with a self-produced music festival and day of activism for Save the Sound.Org.

ABOUT KEN PEPLOWSKI

“When you grow up in Cleveland, Ohio, playing in a Polish polka band, you learn to think fast on your feet”, says Ken Peplowski, who played his first pro engagement when he was still in elementary school. “From my first time performing in public, I knew I wanted to play music for a living.”

Ken, and his trumpet-playing brother Ted, made many local radio and TV appearances and played for Polish dances and weddings virtually every weekend all through high-school. “That’s where I learned to improvise, ‘fake’ songs, learn about chord changes, etc.- it’s exactly like learning to swim by being thrown into the water!” By the time Ken was in his early teens, he was experimenting with jazz by playing in the school “stage” bands, and by jamming with many of the local jazz musicians. “By the time I hit high school, I was teaching at the local music store, playing in our family band, and playing jazz gigs around town while still getting up early every day for school.”

After a year of college, Ken joined the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra under the direction of Buddy Morrow. “Buddy heard me with my quartet at a Cleveland jazz festival along with Teddy Wilson’s trio and the Dorsey band and made an offer right then and there for me to not only play lead alto, but to have a feature spot on the clarinet with the rhythm section. It was a great ‘road-school’ – we learned the discipline that goes with playing one-nighters every day for 48 weeks out of the year, and Buddy was a great, very generous bandleader.”

Peplowski met Sonny Stitt while on the road with the Dorsey band and studied with him. “He was, and is, an inspiration to all of us who make a living ‘on the road’ – I’ve never heard anybody play with such amazing consistency as Sonny, through all kinds of settings. In 1980, Ken moved to New York City, and was soon playing in all kinds of settings, from traditional to avant-garde jazz. “Everything’s a learning experience in jazz music – there’s always an element of the unpredictable.” In 1984, Benny Goodman came out of retirement and put together a new band, hiring Ken on tenor saxophone.

Peplowski signed with Concord Records, under the tutelage of Carl Jefferson, the founder and president, and recorded close to 20 albums as a leader, including “The Natural Touch” in 1992 which won Best Jazz Record of the Year by the Prises Deutschen Schallplatten Kritiken, and “The Other Portrait”, recorded in Sophia Bulgaria with the symphony orchestra and highlighting Ken’s classical side. He also recorded two records on the Nagel Heyer label, “Lost In The Stars” and “Easy To Remember,” the latter of which features Bobby Short on his last recording. “I loved Bobby Short’s approach to the American songbook, and we’d talked about doing a record together for a while – I’m glad we got this one ‘in the can.’

ABOUT LARRY FULLER

Based out of New York City, Larry Fuller is an internationally acclaimed American jazz pianist known to “swing like a beast!”.  He is a Yamaha Artist. Early in his career, Fuller’s undeniable talent earned him the position of musical director and pianist for vocalist Ernestine Anderson, pianist in drummer Jeff Hamilton’s Trio, and final pianist in legendary bassist Ray Brown’s Trio.  He also recorded and toured with vocalist-guitarist John Pizzarelli’s Quartet.

Harnessing his extraordinary bandstand experience – Fuller now leads The Larry Fuller Trio.  He presents a musical program rarely experienced today – consistently praised for his emotive, swinging style, monster technique, and program versatility.  From bop, to stride, to swing, to blues, Fuller’s live performances are simply not to be missed!  At Vic’s, expect to hear anything from Stevie Wonder to Oscar Peterson, Wes Montgomery to Cedar Walton, George Gershwin to Joni Mitchell.  And a special tribute to Fuller’s mentor and former boss – bass legend Ray Brown – a tribute inspired by years on the road with The Ray Brown Trio.

Larry Fuller has appeared at Carnegie Hall, Symphony Hall, Hollywood Bowl, Kennedy Center, Bern International Jazz Festival, Vancouver International Jazz Festival, Shanghai Center Theater, Blue Note (Milan, Tokyo, NYC), Auditorio Ibirapuera with Symphony Orchestra Brazil, and many more.

ABOUT GRAHAM DECHTER

Graham, an accomplished guitarist, composer and arranger, began studying music at the age of 5 when he began taking violin lessons and composing orchestral pieces. He discovered his passion for guitar and jazz at the Idyllwild Academy of the Arts. Upon graduation, Graham entered the Jazz Studies program at the Eastman School of Music.

After completing a year at Eastman, Graham returned to Los Angeles after being invited by Jeff Hamilton to join the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra (CHJO); he became the youngest member of the acclaimed orchestra being only 19 years old at the time.

He has traveled extensively in North America, Europe and Asia and has performed and recorded with some of the most respected names in music, including Michael Bublé, Eliane Elias, Benny Golson, James Moody, John Pizzarelli, Larry Goldings, Jon Hendricks, Nancy Wilson, Kurt Elling, Billy Taylor, Benny Green, Bill Charlap, Paquito D’Rivera, Curtis Fuller, Wycliffe Gordon, Terell Stafford, Clark Terry, Snooky Young, and Wynton Marsalis.

KONRAD PASZKUDZKI

Although raised in Western Australia by Polish parents, Konrad’s musical affinity and passion for swingin’ American jazz revealed itself early on. He was accepted into university at the West Australian Academy of Performing Arts in Perth at the tender age of 15, studying jazz piano and finishing his undergraduate degree a few weeks after turning 19. The precocious instrumentalist swiftly established a reputation as a leading jazzman in Australia, touring for the next two years and playing with his mentor, jazz trumpeter James Morrison. After being offered a scholarship to the University of Miami, he relocated to the United States in 2009, receiving his master’s degree in 2011 at the age of 22. Upon graduation, he spent a year in Los Angeles playing piano with the likes of the Clayton/Hamilton Jazz Orchestra and the Jeff Hamilton Trio. Konrad returned to the East Coast in 2012 after being offered a position to lead the house trio at the coveted New York venue, 54 Below.

​Following a yearlong residency and two self-released trio recordings, he joined the John Pizzarelli Quartet in November of 2013, leading to over 1000 performances worldwide in the following four years.  In 2015 Konrad became a Yamaha artist, and in 2016 began working for Venus Records in Japan. Between 2016-2017 the Konrad Paszkudzki trio recorded seven albums for the label. Aside from touring and recording, Konrad also commenced his role as Artistic Director of Jazz at the Ballroom in 2017, a not-for-profit organization committed to delivering the highest caliber of swinging American jazz across the West Coast.

ALEX FRANK

Alex Frank is a guitarist, composer, and educator based in Kansas City. As a working guitarist, Alex currently leads a trio and quartet under his name, playing at clubs around Kansas City and holding down a nearly two-year residency playing his music at the Green Lady Lounge.

RYAN SHAW

Ryan Shaw is a drummer who performs and/or records with Michael Bublé, Seth MacFarlane, Bill Holman, Gilbert Castellanos, Richard Shelton, Graham Dechter, Melissa Morgan and many more. Performing throughout Southern California, Ryan has performed at most of the best Jazz clubs in the area including the Blue Whale, Catalina, Vitello’s, Vibrato, Spaghettini, and more. He can also be seen traveling regularly throughout the United States and internationally.

Ryan Shaw began his musical pursuits at the age of five on piano. By age 8, he began studying percussion and got his first drum set at the age of 10. He began playing at his church regularly while participating in his school’s Band, Marching Band, and Jazz Band and eventually graduated from the prestigious USC Thornton School of Music with a degree in Jazz Studies.

In addition to his vast experience as a performer in many Jazz contexts, Ryan can also be seen frequently performing with various Pop and Indie groups as well as at a variety of churches in the Los Angeles area. Ryan has had the opportunity to perform with John Clayton, Russell Malone, Larry Koonse, Bob Sheppard, Dan Higgins, Gerald Clayton, Chuck Berghofer, Christian Jacob, Bob McChesney, Graham Dechter, Alex Frank, Bruce Forman, Rob Lockhart, Holly Hofmann, Mike Wofford and more, and has had the opportunity to study with Jeff Hamilton, Peter Erskine, Roy McCurdy, Aaron Serfaty, and Joe LaBarbera.

Ryan currently lives in Los Angeles and spends his time outside of music entertaining several hobbies including video editing, baseball, and watching classic movies.

MELISSA MORGAN

Born in New York City, she grew up in Teaneck, New Jersey. Her first musical instrument was the piano, which she began practicing at age four. Her singing began while in high school with local choirs and performing with a few select classical vocal groups across the U.S. and other venues abroad. Most memorable was a seven-country tour of Europe in 1996 with the U.S. Youth Chorale. As a student Melissa received numerous awards including 3 gold cups in the New Jersey Federation of Music solo piano competition, top ranking in the New Jersey all-state choir, and runner up for the New Jersey Governor’s award for vocal music.

Inspired by the classic recordings by Billie Holiday, Dinah Washington, Nancy Wilson and Sarah Vaughn, Melissa pursued her love of Jazz through studies of music.  She attended the SUNY Purchase Conservatory of Music, studying with many prominent artists. During her tenure, she appeared with the conservatory’s Jazz and Latin Jazz Orchestras and was featured vocalist with the Purchase Jazz Band during a 1999 tour of Spain. She graduated from the Purchase in 2002 with a B.A. in music.

She has since performed as a regular at several of New York’s top jazz venues; Cleopatra’s Needle, Flute, G Bar, Smalls, Smoke and St. Nick’s Pub to name a few. At that time, Melissa performed with her own trio, as well as with other artists in the New York area. She was featured in performances with Jon Faddis and the Dizzy Gillespie Alumni All-Stars at the Blue Note in New York in 2001. In 2002 Melissa performed at the New York Women of Jazz Festival at Smoke jazz club. Around this time, she was also a guest on the Metro TV-NY program “Where to hear jazz in New York City”.

Melissa competed and became a semi-finalist in the 2004 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition in Washington D.C., “the most prestigious jazz competition in the world, hosted by Billy Dee Williams and Herbie Hancock. Judges for the competition were luminaries Quincy Jones, Al Jarreau, Kurt Elling, Jimmy Scott, Dee Dee Bridgewater, and Flora Purim.” Melissa moved to Los Angeles, California where she pursued a recording career for a few years. She has now moved to the Bay Area, where she continues to perfect her art, and can be heard performing in numerous venues.

ABOUT VIC’S LAS VEGAS

Created by Porchlight Hospitality in 2023, the award-winning Vic’s Las Vegas is located in Symphony Park at 355 Promenade Place. Open seven days a week from 10 a.m. – 1 a.m., Vic’s features Italian-American cuisine, a full-service bar, gaming, and live entertainment nightly. Reservations can be made by calling 725-755-5299 or visit vicslasvegas.com. Follow on Instagram @vicslasvegas.

# # #

MEDIA CONTACT:

Hillary Smoot, SRO PR
310-367-9056
hillary@sropr.com

*Artist images available upon request.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 11, 2024

CATCH COOL LIVE JAZZ & HOT SPORTS ACTION AT VIC’S LAS VEGAS THIS SEPTEMBER

WHAT:                 Vic’s Las Vegas brings world-class jazz artists to entertain diners throughout the month and celebrates the return of football and Vegas Golden Knights hockey viewing with food and beverage specials in the Bar and Lounge.

Specials offered in the Bar and Lounge during college and pro football and VGK games include: $25 Beer Buckets (choice of Coors Light, Miller Light, Modelo, Michelob Ultra, or mix & match); $7 Jameson cocktails, and $5 Mexican Candy Shots. Food specials include Fried Ravioli ($9), Rigatoni Bake ($9), Bruschetta ($7), and a 4 or 6-piece Chicken Tenders with Fries ($10/$15).  On Monday nights, enjoy the Prime Rib special for $40, served with mashed potatoes, au jus, and horseradish.

WHO/
WHEN:                 Sept. 12                              DAVE DAMIANI & FRIENDS – 7 p.m. & 8:30 p.m.
Sept. 13 & 14                    BENNY BENACK III – 7 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.
Sept. 20 & 21                    JOE LANO TRIO – 7 p.m. & 8:30 p.m.
Sept. 27 & 28                    JOHN PROULX – 7 p.m. & 8:30 p.m.

WHERE:               Vic’s Las Vegas
                              355 Promenade Place in Symphony Park
No cover and no minimums. Reservations are strongly encouraged.

ABOUT DAVE DAMIANI

Dave Damiani is an American singer, songwriter, producer based out of Los Angeles, CA. Having started as a bartender at the famed Charlie O’s Jazz Club in Valley Village, CA, Dave Damiani had the opportunity to work, learn and become friends with some of the best musicians on the planet. Legends like Earl Palmer, Marty Harris, Ross Tompkins, Sam Most, Teddy Edwards, John Heard, Roy McCurdy, Frank Capp, Ernie McDaniel, Dini Clarke, Danny Grissett, George Gaffney, Mark Murphy, and Richie Cole (just to name a few) took time to mentor Dave Damiani, share stories and chord changes.

Shortly after receiving his master’s degree in Commercial Music from the California State University in Los Angeles, Dave began his pursuit to put together the perfect band with youth and style.  His debut album “Watch What Happens” has been receiving worldwide airplay. Brad “Martini” Chambers was the first to discover Dave Damiani’s originality.  Brad has been playing him constantly on www.martiniinthemorning.com since 2013. Additionally, receiving airplay on over 300 radio stations and on Satellite Radio XM 71 (Siriusly Sinatra). In January Dave Damiani hosted his own hour on Sirius XM Siriuisly Sinatra #71, while hosting his good friend and New Jersey brother Joe Piscopo swung the studio say hi!

Dave Damiani & The No Vacancy Orchestra have produced shows with Frank Sinatra Enterprises, The Grove, Citi, Capital One, American Airlines, Jack Daniels, George Benson, Molly Ringwald, Bobby Ridel, Landau Murphy Jr., Hailey Reinhart, Renee Olstead, Steve Tyrel, Larry King.

Dave Damiani has performed for Leonardo DiCaprio, Ryan Seacrest, Gene Simmons, David Spade, David Hasslehoff, Jack Klugman, CBS Television, ABC Television, FOX Television, Polo, The Marriott Corporation, EHarmony, Monster Energy Drink, Apple Computer, Microsoft, CITI (CitiBank), The Four Seasons, Ritz Carlton, Ryan Kavinaugh & Relativity Media, Wolfgang Puck, Cuba Gooding Jr, Oliver Stone, Ridley Scott, The Beverly Hills Hotel, Cafe’ Carlyle – New York City, The Jazz Kitchen – Indianapolis, The Radio Hall Of Fame, Charles Durning, Ray Liotta, Budweiser, University of Texas – San Antonio and many more…

ABOUT BENNY BENACK III

By age 33, Emmy-nominated Trumpeter and Vocalist Benny Benack III has already become a leading voice in Jazz for his generation, headlining clubs and festivals around the world on the heels of his latest critically acclaimed album “Third Time’s the Charm” which ascended to #2 on the JazzWeek International Radio Charts in 2023. He is the rare talent who is just as formidable as a fiery trumpeter ranging from Freddie Hubbard to Louis Armstrong and everyone in between, while as a singer he delivers sly, mature, naturally expressive post-Sinatra vocal stylings.

His sophomore album “A Lot of Livin’ to Do” (2020) featured the likes of bass luminary Christian McBride, achieving viral online fame w/his vocalese rendition of “Social Call” ft. Veronica Swift that’s been transcribed and covered by singers around the world. He has crooned his way to millions of more listeners alongside groups such as the Grammy-winning “8-Bit Big Band” and YouTube sensation “Postmodern Jukebox”.

His double-threat credentials were first apparent when he was a finalist in the 2014 Thelonius Monk Competition on trumpet, and then won Third Place in the 2021 Sarah Vaughan Vocal Competition. His resume for both was recently bolstered in Downbeat Magazine’s Critics Poll for 2023, where he appeared in two categories: The #2 Rising Star Male Vocalist and #15 Rising Star Trumpet.

His global recognition has been bolstered by the recent advent of live-streaming concerts, both through his weekly residency at Smalls Jazz Club, as well as frequent appearances at fellow young lion Emmet Cohen’s “Emmet’s Place” online series. He has emerged from the pandemic as one of the most in-demand touring artists in the Jazz world, with a never-ending intercontinental schedule that reflects his indefatigable love for the music, with his smile and panache on full-display wherever it takes him next.

ABOUT JOE LANO

Joe Lano is one of the jazz world’s best-kept secrets. As a world class guitarist, arranger and composer, Joe has been a mainstay of the Las Vegas and West Coast music scene for 50 years. Say the name Joe Lano in this part of the world and everyone immediately renders the highest accolades as to his expertise and unique qualities as a player. He has performed with nearly every major act in show business since moving to Las Vegas in 1964 including Frank Sinatra, Lena Horne, and Steve Lawrence, and has worked with a multitude of jazz greats, having performed for years at Alan Grant’s “Jazz at the Four Queens.” He was a student of guitarist and educator Dennis Sandole, who is noted for having been John Coltrane’s teacher.

Born and raised in Philadelphia, Joe discovered his passion for music at a young age. He began playing the guitar when he was just 10 years old and quickly showed immense talent and dedication to his craft. He began working with bands in Philadelphia before he turned 13 years old.

With his group, “The Joe Lano Trio,” Joe showcases his abilities as both a soloist and arranger. The music is both old school and modern at the same time and features interesting arrangements of familiar and more obscure standard tunes. The group’s repertoire features not just great solos but also reharmonizations of these classic standards that are eminently listenable and swinging. One of the more enjoyable aspects of Joe’s writing that has become a band trademark are the challenging guitar/bass ensemble passages which are featured in several of the tunes. Also featured are several beautiful ballad arrangements in which Joe displays his unique interpretations of these timeless compositions.

Joe is accompanied by two longtime trio members and in-demand players in their own right: Jess Gopen on drums and Jeff Davis on bass. Together, they interpret Joe’s arrangements in an intuitive and swinging way. Jess, a graduate of Berklee College of Music, has played with Freddie Hubbard, Dave Valentine, Michael McDonald, and Ronnie Foster, among many others. Jeff is a longtime Vegas bassist and graduate of the University of Nevada Las Vegas Jazz Studies program and has performed with Pete Christlieb, Richie Cole, George Garzone, Brandon Fields, as well as numerous other big-name acts and shows.

ABOUT JOHN PROULX

John Proulx is an LA-based jazz pianist, vocalist, educator, composer and recording artist. He has four albums to his credit, and has performed with the likes of Anita O’Day, Natalie Cole, Melissa Manchester, Michael Feinstein, and Marian McPartland.

As an educator, he has taught jazz piano and jazz voice at Cal State Long Beach, Cal Poly Pomona, Cal State Fullerton, and Azusa Pacific University. Currently, John creates content for an online jazz piano education website called pianowithjonny.com.

As a composer, John has co-written songs that have been recorded by many notable singers including Nancy Wilson, Melissa Manchester, Al Jarreau, Mary Stallings, and Deana Martin. John has written arrangements for Ann Hampton Callaway, Antonia Bennett, and Linda Purl. John has a new book of original piano pieces called “Soundscapes”, tailored to intermediate pianists interested in learning more about jazz harmony through beautiful and accessible songs. Digital copies are available at his website: http://www.johnproulx.com and paperback versions can be purchased at Amazon.com.

ABOUT VIC’S LAS VEGAS

Created by Porchlight Hospitality in 2023, the award-winning Vic’s Las Vegas is located in Symphony Park at 355 Promenade Place. Open seven days a week from 10 a.m. – 1 a.m., Vic’s features Italian-American cuisine, a full-service bar, gaming, and live entertainment nightly. Reservations can be made by calling 725-755-5299 or visit vicslasvegas.com. Follow on Instagram @vicslasvegas.

# # #

MEDIA CONTACT:

Hillary Smoot, SRO PR
310-367-9056
hillary@sropr.com

*Images available upon request

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 2, 2024

ENJOY LIVE JAZZ AT VIC’S LAS VEGAS THIS AUGUST

WHAT:            Vic’s Las Vegas brings world-class jazz artists to entertain diners throughout the month of August.

WHO/
WHEN:            Aug. 2 & 3       JASON HAINSWORTH QUINTET – 7 p.m. & 8:30 p.m.
Aug. 9 & 10     GRANT GEISSMAN QUINTET – 7 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.
Aug. 23 & 24   DAVE LOEB – 7 p.m. & 8:30 p.m.

WHERE:          Vic’s Las Vegas
                        355 Promenade Place in Symphony Park
No cover and no minimums. Reservations are strongly encouraged.

ABOUT JASON HAINSWORTH

Jason Hainsworth is in demand both as a saxophonist and as a composer/arranger.  As a native of Houston, Texas, he studied at the prestigious High School for the Performing and Visual Arts.  He later went on to study music at the University of New Orleans with legendary jazz educator Ellis Marsalis and saxophonist Victor Goines. Hainsworth then moved to the New York/ New Jersey area to continue his musical studies at William Paterson University while performing along the east coast.  After receiving his bachelor’s degree in music, Jason matriculated at Florida State University for graduate work where he earned his master’s degree in jazz studies.

As a performer, Mr. Hainsworth has led his own quartet throughout the world to critical acclaim, most recently headlining the Suriname Jazz Festival. He has also performed and recorded with Michael Dease, Johnathan Blake, Renee Rosnes, Randy Brecker, Lewis Nash, Glenn Zaleski, Tim Warfield, and Martin Bejerano just to name a few.  Additionally, Jason is a current touring member of Ed Calle’s Mamblue (2016 Latin Grammy Winner), Tito Puente Jr’s. Latin Jazz All Stars, and Melton Mustafa Jazz Orchestra. He has performed extensively throughout the United States and South America.

As a composer/ arranger, Mr. Hainsworth’s works have been performed throughout the country at various high school and university jazz festivals such as Oklahoma State University, Louisiana State University, University of Iowa, Jacksonville State University, and Florida A&M University.  His first vocal arrangement was premiered last spring at the Florida Music Educators Conference by the Dillard Center for the Arts Vocal Ensemble. He has received commissions to arrange music for Jimmy Cobb, Russell Malone, Tim Warfield, and many others.  Mr. Hainsworth’s debut album, Kaleidoscope, features original compositions and arrangements for big bands with the likes of Tanya Darby, Linda Oh, Claudio Roditi, and Michael Dease as soloists.  His latest album, Third Ward Stories is scheduled for release this fall on Origin Records and will feature jazz heavyweights Michael Dease, Josh Evans, Johnathan Blake to name a few.

Mr. Hainsworth serves as Assistant Director of the Roots, Jazz, and American Music (RJAM) program at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music.

ABOUT GRANT GEISSMAN

Grant Geissman is a guitarist and composer with fifteen albums released under his own name, the latest being BLOOZ, which was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2022, and featured such guest artists as Randy Brecker, Joe Bonamassa, Josh Smith, Robben Ford, and Tom Scott. His other recent solo projects include the jazz trilogy of Say That!, Cool Man Cool, and BOP! BANG! BOOM! (Futurism Records). He has recorded with such artists as Quincy Jones, Burt Bacharach and Elvis Costello, Steve Tyrell, Chuck Mangione, Van Dyke Parks and Brian Wilson, Lorraine Feather, Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band, David Benoit, and Ringo Starr. Geissman also co-wrote the music for all twelve seasons of the hit CBS-TV series Two and a Half Men and all six seasons of Mike & Molly. He was nominated for an Emmy Award in 2004 for co-writing the Two and a Half Men theme (“Men, men, men, men, manly men”). His other TV credits include playing the Django Reinhart-style acoustic guitar solo on the theme of the hit sitcom Monk. He also co-wrote the music for the freshman year of the CBS-TV sitcom B Positive. Geissman recorded the now-iconic electric guitar solo on Chuck Mangione’s 1978 mega-hit “Feels So Good,” and rather fittingly still likes to make music that sounds and feels good.

ABOUT DAVE LOEB

David Loeb is director of the Division of Jazz and Commercial Music and a professor of music at UNLV’s School of Music. He has performed as a jazz pianist with Arturo Sandoval, Nancy Wilson, Freddie Hubbard, Joe Williams, Tom Harrell, Anita O’Day, Bill Watrous, Tom Scott, Bobby Shew, Karrin Allyson, Paul Horn, Natalie Cole, Joe Farrell, Pepper Adams, Ray Brown, Joe Locke, and many others. As a session pianist in Los Angeles recording studios, Loeb played for television shows including Family Guy, Quantum Leap, and the Emmy Awards, and movies including Ted, The Birdcage, and Pocahontas.

He was principal keyboardist with The Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, accompanying musical artists including Andrea Bocelli, Audra McDonald, Gil Shaham, Patti LuPone, Placido Domingo, Jewel, James Galway, Kristin Chenoweth, Joshua Bell, Jessye Norman and Quincy Jones. Loeb also played on television shows, movie soundtracks and recordings for Bette Midler, Herbie Hancock, Robin Williams, Norah Jones, Jim Carey, Jennifer Holiday, Curtis Mayfield, Alan Menken, Walter Murphy, Carl Anderson, Bonnie Raitt, Mike Post, Smokey Robinson, Jerry Lewis, Whitney Houston, Connie Francis, W.G. Snuffy Walden, Randy Newman, Dionne Warwick, and many others. He was pianist with Questlove, Ben Wendel, Angela Brown and other musical artists on the Grammy Award-winning recording, “Ask Your Mama,” composed by Laura Karpman, and musical director, conductor and pianist for Ben Vereen with The National Symphony Orchestra, and for Dee Dee Bridgewater with The Philadelphia Orchestra.

At the Wynn Hotel in Las Vegas, Loeb was conductor and co-musical director, with Don Was, for the CBS television special, Sinatra 100: An All-Star Grammy Concert, with Tony Bennett, Celine Dion, Harry Connick, Jr., Katharine McPhee, Garth Brooks, Alicia Keys, Seth MacFarlane, Nick Jonas, Carrie Underwood, Usher, John Legend, Tricia Yearwood, Zach Brown, Juanes and Adam Levine, musical director and conductor for Twyla Tharp’s “Sinatra Dance With Me” and Steve Wynn’s “Showstoppers,” and conductor for Lady Gaga’s concert appearance. In Las Vegas at The Smith Center, he performed Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue” with the Las Vegas Philharmonic and was musical director, conductor and pianist for Larry Rosen’s Jazz Roots series with Clint Holmes, Kirk Whalum, Take 6 and Nnenna Freelon. Loeb orchestrated for George Benson, Miriam Makeba, Doc Severinsen, and many others, arranged for the Academy Awards, Comic Relief, and the American Music Awards; and composed for PBS television and Dolly Parton.

Under his direction, UNLV Jazz Studies students earned prestigious DownBeat Magazine Student Music Awards, performed at the acclaimed Monterey Jazz Festival and Midwest Clinic and garnered outstanding CD reviews from JazzTimes Magazine. Loeb received the distinguished Nevada System of Higher Education Regents’ Creative Activity Award and holds a Master of Music degree in jazz and contemporary media from the Eastman School of Music, and a Bachelor of Science in music education from West Chester University of Pennsylvania.

ABOUT VIC’S LAS VEGAS

Created by Porchlight Hospitality in 2023, the award-winning Vic’s Las Vegas is located in Symphony Park at 355 Promenade Place. Open seven days a week from 11 a.m. – 2 a.m., Vic’s features Italian-American cuisine, a full-service bar, gaming, and live entertainment nightly. Reservations can be made by calling 725-755-5299 or visit vicslasvegas.com. Follow on Instagram @vicslasvegas.

# # #

MEDIA CONTACT:

Hillary Smoot, SRO PR
310-367-9056
hillary@sropr.com

Images are courtesy of the artists

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 2, 2024

ENJOY COOL JAZZ AT VIC’S LAS VEGAS THIS JULY

WHAT:               Vic’s Las Vegas brings world-class jazz artists to entertain diners throughout the month of July.

WHO:
WHEN:              July 5 & 6          KEN PEPLOWSKI – 7 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.
July 11-13        BENNY BENACK III – 7 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.
July 19 & 20    CALABRIA FOTI WITH BOB McCHESNEY– 7:30 p.m. and 8:45 p.m.
July 26 & 27    PATTY ASCHER – 7 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.

WHERE:           Vic’s Las Vegas
                              355 Promenade Place in Symphony Park
No cover and no minimums. Reservations are strongly encouraged.

ABOUT KEN PEPLOWSKI

Ken Peplowski is a jazz clarinetist and saxophonist hailing from Cleveland, Ohio. Ken, and his trumpet-playing brother Ted, made many local radio and TV appearances and played for Polish dances and weddings virtually every weekend all through high-school. “That’s where I learned to improvise, ‘fake’ songs, learn about chord changes, etc.- it’s exactly like learning to swim by being thrown into the water!” By the time Ken was in his early teens, he was experimenting with jazz by playing in the school “stage” bands, and by jamming with many of the local jazz musicians. “By the time I hit high school, I was teaching at the local music store, playing in our family band, and playing jazz gigs around town while still getting up early every day for school.”

After a year of college, Ken joined the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra under the direction of Buddy Morrow. “Buddy heard me with my quartet at a Cleveland jazz festival along with Teddy Wilson’s trio and the Dorsey band and made an offer right then and there for me to not only play lead alto, but to have a feature spot on the clarinet with the rhythm section. It was a great ‘road-school’ – we learned the discipline that goes with playing one-nighters every day for 48 weeks out of the year, and Buddy was a great, very generous bandleader.” Peplowski met Sonny Stitt while on the road with the Dorsey band and studied with him. “He was, and is, an inspiration to all of us who make a living ‘on the road’ – I’ve never heard anybody play with such amazing consistency as Sonny, through all kinds of settings.”

In 1980, Ken moved to New York City, and was soon playing in all kinds of settings, from traditional to avant-garde jazz. “Everything’s a learning experience in jazz music – there’s always an element of the unpredictable.” In 1984, Benny Goodman came out of retirement and put together a new band, hiring Ken on tenor saxophone.

Peplowski signed with Concord Records, under the tutelage of Carl Jefferson, the founder and president, and recorded close to 20 albums as a leader, including “The Natural Touch” in 1992 which won Best Jazz Record of the Year by the Prises Deutschen Schallplatten Kritiken, and “The Other Portrait”, recorded in Sophia Bulgaria with the symphony orchestra and highlighting Ken’s classical side. He also recorded two records on the Nagel Heyer label, “Lost In The Stars” and “Easy To Remember”, the latter of which features Bobby Short on his last recording. “I loved Bobby Short’s approach to the American songbook, and we’d talked about doing a record together for a while – I’m glad we got this one ‘in the can.’

And he has certainly achieved these goals, be it in small clubs, the Hollywood Bowl (where he played a sold-out concert), headlining in Las Vegas, the Newport Jazz Festival, pops concerts, European festivals and clubs, or at home in NYC, doing everything from playing on the soundtracks to Woody Allen movies, guest soloing on records (his more interesting recent ones were Marianne Faithfull and Cuban vocalist Isaac Delgado) to taking on the role of music director for interactive French and Italian cookbooks (“Menus And Music”).

The litany of musicians Ken has collaborated with includes Mel Torme, Leon Redbone, Charlie Byrd, Peggy Lee, George Shearing, Madonna, Hank Jones, Dave Frishberg, Rosemary Clooney, Tom Harrell, James Moody, Cedar Walton, Houston Person, Steve Allen, Bill Charlap, Woody Allen, Marianne Faithfull, Isaac Delgado & Erich Kunzel. (“Although not necessarily in that order,” says Ken).

Ken Peplowski is a Buffet-Crampon artist, and plays the R-13 clarinet, with a Portnoy mouthpiece and Van Doren German-cut reeds. He also plays a Conn tenor sax and a Berg Larsen mouthpiece.

Ken’s new CD is called “Sunrise” and it’s a big band record of new arrangements written exclusively for him, plus some reworking of classic arrangements. His upcoming CD is a duo record with Brazilian guitarist Diego Figuereido entitled “Amizade”. He is currently the artistic director of the Sarasota Jazz Festival, the Newport Beach Jazz Party, and the Oregon Coast Jazz Party in Newport, Oregon.  Ken Peplowski has also been bestowed this year’s “Creative Arts Prize In Recognition Of Outstanding Contribution In The Field Of The Creative Arts” by the Polish American Historical Association.

ABOUT BENNY BENACK III

By age 33, Emmy-nominated Trumpeter and Vocalist Benny Benack III has already become a leading voice in Jazz for his generation, headlining clubs and festivals around the world on the heels of his latest critically acclaimed album “Third Time’s the Charm” which ascended to #2 on the JazzWeek International Radio Charts in 2023. He is the rare talent who is just as formidable as a fiery trumpeter ranging from Freddie Hubbard to Louis Armstrong and everyone in between, while as a singer he delivers sly, mature, naturally expressive post-Sinatra vocal stylings.

His sophomore album “A Lot of Livin’ to Do” (2020) featured the likes of bass luminary Christian McBride, achieving viral online fame w/his vocalese rendition of “Social Call” ft. Veronica Swift that’s been transcribed and covered by singers around the world. He has crooned his way to millions of more listeners alongside groups such as the Grammy-winning “8-Bit Big Band” and YouTube sensation “Postmodern Jukebox”.

His double-threat credentials were first apparent when he was a finalist in the 2014 Thelonius Monk Competition on trumpet, and then won Third Place in the 2021 Sarah Vaughan Vocal Competition. His resume for both was recently bolstered in Downbeat Magazine’s Critics Poll for 2023, where he appeared in two categories: The #2 Rising Star Male Vocalist and #15 Rising Star Trumpet.

His global recognition has been bolstered by the recent advent of live-streaming concerts, both through his weekly residency at Smalls Jazz Club, as well as frequent appearances at fellow young lion Emmet Cohen’s “Emmet’s Place” online series. He has emerged from the pandemic as one of the most in-demand touring artists in the Jazz world, with a never-ending intercontinental schedule that reflects his indefatigable love for the music, with his smile and panache on full-display wherever it takes him next.

ABOUT CALABRIA FOTI

Calabria Foti is an American singer, violinist, composer, arranger, author, and educator. A consummate musician and a dynamic entertainer, Calabria is a connoisseur of music, from Classical to Broadway.  Ms. Foti’s recordings and live shows have been praised by such diverse artists as piano virtuoso Van Cliburn, composer Johnny Mandel, trumpeter Chris Botti, and a host of other music and entertainment luminaries. Upon hearing her CD, “A Lovely Way To Spend An Evening” (2007, MoCo Records), legendary singer Johnny Mathis said, ” Listening to a beautiful voice is one of my greatest pleasures in life. Listening to this recording of Calabria Foti’s voice is some of the most beautiful and artistic music I have ever heard. She is a treasure!”

Born into a family of musicians and music educators, Calabria was exposed to classical, jazz, and popular music at a young age. Passionate about movie musicals and classic films of the late 1920s on, Ms. Foti calls herself a “throwback”, in love with the period of American history that produced the songs of the Great American Songbook and the films from The Golden Age of Hollywood.

Her highly acclaimed CDs are a testimony to her musical sensibilities and can be heard regularly on adult standards and jazz radio formats throughout the world. She has shared the spotlight and the microphone with TV’s Seth MacFarlane and in 2013, the two paired up to record the duet, “Let’s Fall in Love”, which garnered a Grammy Award nomination.

Equally at home performing musical theatre, jazz, cabaret, or her own original songs, Calabria has been called a “master of improvisation and interpretation”, and her voice has graced several major motion picture and television soundtracks.

Also, an accomplished violinist, Calabria created the jazz violin sound for Fox TV’s Lisa Simpson, performed the virtuosic violin solo for the long-running theme to PBS’ Great Performances, and most recently was a featured soloist in the films, Muppets Most Wanted and Sherlock Holmes. She has played violin on hundreds of television and movie scores, and on CDs for Barbra Streisand, Paul McCartney, Josh Groban, Daft Punk, and many others.

With a delightful speaking voice, Ms. Foti has hosted the internationally syndicated radio program “Music Of Your Life” and is heard occasionally as a guest host on Sirius/XM Radio’s “Siriusly Sinatra”, where she enthusiastically discusses and plays the music she loves so much.

ABOUT PATTY ASCHER

Whether singing in English or her native Portuguese, Patty Ascher brings an alluring quality to bear on every evocative tune. From achingly beautiful interpretations of songs by the likes of Michel Legrand and Burt Bacharach (the latter whom she paid tribute to on the acclaimed album Bacharach Bossa Club) to heartfelt renditions of her own affecting bossa nova and R&B flavored originals, Patty delivers with the kind of classy sophistication that belies to the great jazz singers.

Born in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Patty Ascher grew up in a musical household. Her father Neno was part of a very successful Brazilian band from the 70s called Os Incríveis (The Incredibles). “My father was a musician, his brother is a very popular arranger and maestro in Brazil and all my cousins play an instrument,” she says. As a singer, she cites Brazilian divas Leny Andrade and Gal Costa along with American jazz divas Nina Simone, Ella Fitzgerald, and Dinah Washington as important influences. “What they all have in common,” says Ascher, “is personality. When you hear them, you do know who is singing.”

Patty Ascher also lists Nat “King” Cole, Frank Sinatra, and Al Jarreau as among her favorite male voices, though her earliest vocal influence may have come from a 1930s icon. “The first song I remember in my life was ‘Ain’t Misbehavin’’ with Fats Waller singing,” she recalls. “I was only three years old, and I loved that song. I’d wake up in the morning hearing Fats, and that always stuck with me. Then I discovered Cab Calloway’s ‘Minnie the Moochie’ from a cartoon, and I loved that as well. My father then introduced me to Louis Armstrong, and I started to listen all the time to his versions of ‘Dream A Little Dream of Me,’ ‘High Society’ and ‘St. James Infirmary.’ I used to love that man singing just to me in my room while I was eating or taking a bath, even when I was sleeping.”

Patty Ascher’s musical horizons eventually expanded to include the Beatles, American Soul and jazz. During her college years while studying for a bachelor’s degree in literature at the University of São Paulo, she began immersing herself in Brazilian music while harboring a dream of becoming a professional singer. She recalls her earliest onstage experiences. “My first gig was in a beautiful theater in São Paulo. It was a benefit concert for the Jewish Community Center. The second one I did was in Rio de Janeiro at Bar Do Tom, a Bossa Nova temple…a very fancy night club in Rio.”

In 2007, after earning a master’s degree she encountered bossa nova pioneer Roberto Menescal, who invited Patty Ascher to record her first CD, singing Burt Bacharach songs in bossa nova style. “Meeting him was a sign to me,” she says. “It was a chance to go on seriously with a career, working with a great producer and mentor. We released our project one year after our first meeting and it was a dream project. It was an incredible opportunity to sing samba and jazz together. They have a lot in common. Both were born in the ‘new continent’ at the same time from the same mother Africa.”

On her latest recording, Bossa, Jazz ‘n’ Samba, Patty Ascher’s gorgeous voice is surrounded by lush orchestrations from such respected veteran MPB (Musica Popular Brasileira) artists and composer-arrangers as Dori Caymmi, Gilson Peranzetta, Amilson Godoy and Cristovao Bastos. This spirited cross-cultural project –recorded at the famous Gravodisc studios in Sao Paolo, Brazil –should put Patty Ascher over the top and she was nominated for a Grammy.

ABOUT VIC’S LAS VEGAS

Created by Porchlight Hospitality in 2023, the award-winning Vic’s Las Vegas is located in Symphony Park at 355 Promenade Place. Open seven days a week from 11 a.m. – 2 a.m., Vic’s features Italian-American cuisine, a full-service bar, gaming, and live entertainment nightly. Reservations can be made by calling 725-755-5299 or visit vicslasvegas.com. Follow on Instagram @vicslasvegas.

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MEDIA CONTACT:

Hillary Smoot, SRO PR
310-367-9056
hillary@sropr.com

LINK TO ARTIST IMAGES (COURTESY): https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/w2lxbi4nthsvkn1gr3zf0/AHdK5XkHivl8xKTubGivT6A?rlkey=aj3riizjmpfy0bfsbi1qmj9h0&st=5xjkixz3&dl=0

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 6, 2024

VIC’S LAS VEGAS JAZZES UP JUNE WITH LIVE MUSIC

WHAT:             Vic’s Las Vegas brings world-class jazz artists to entertain diners throughout the month of June.

WHEN:            June 8             JONATHAN KARRANT Birthday Celebration – 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.
June 14-15      DAVE TULL – 7 p.m. & 8:30 p.m.
June 27-29      ANNIE HÄGG and the High Kicks– 7 p.m. & 8:30 p.m.

WHERE:          Vic’s Las Vegas
                        355 Promenade Place in Symphony Park
No cover and no minimums. Reservations are strongly encouraged.

ABOUT JONATHAN KARRANT

Jonathan Karrant was born in the heart of America at the foothills of the Ozarks in the old western town of Fort Smith, Arkansas east of the Arkansas River. The joyous home in which Jonathan grew up was filled with art, music, and dance. Jonathan sang for hours every day, honing-in on his own type of music and style. When he was seven, he began singing publicly. His first solo was at his church with Nancy Vernon, musical director and organist, directing and accompanying him. Then, that summer in Eureka Springs, he walked into a nightclub, made his way to the stage, and asked the band to accompany him while he sang “Stormy Monday.” The band agreed, and he was a big hit with the audience, as well as with the band.

Jonathan began to take every opportunity to sing and perform at all kinds of events, weddings, celebrations, at church, in clubs and lounges, wherever he was asked to perform. After performing as a soloist with the Don Bailey Jazz Concerts, he was advised to strike-out to Las Vegas. Without ever having visited there, he drove across the country and jumped into the music scene, singing in supper clubs and lounges and casinos. While there, he had the opportunity to record with Vince Falcone, noted music director and pianist. And, in San Diego, he began performing in some of the most respected venues of that city. He has traveled for performances across the states as well as in Europe. He continues to grow an adoring and loyal following of fans who appreciate his artistry.

Audiences have characterized Jonathan as a great interpreter of song, a storyteller, a singer who brings music and lyrics alive. Some refer to Jonathan as an amazing song-stylist who sings from the American songbook, an entertainer of star quality. Others say he paints a picture, he presents a mood and captivates a room through song. Jazz Corner said “Karrant’s voice is romantic without being cloying, warm but not forced” and “that he sings standards with an emotional weight that make it seem as if he had written the songs himself”. He will tell you that he loves people, loves connecting with other musicians and with his audience, and loves sharing time with those who also love to celebrate life and music.

Jonathan’s album “On and On” hit number four in the jazz charts. The album features such songs as “Don’t Let Me Be Lonely Tonight” and “Doodlin’,” as well as the title track, and was produced by Tyler Monks, with pianist Josh Nelson, bassist Rob Thorsen, guitarist Mark Shapiro, and drummer Duncan Moore.

Jonathan was honored in the 2014 New York City Jazz Cabaret Honors and, in 2015, he was voted “Best Singer” for the Bravo San Diego Awards. Also, in 2015 Jonathan was asked to present two-time Grammy Award winner, Diane Schuur, with the proclamation of “Diane Schuur Day” in Palm Springs, Ca. In his popular single, “Lady in Red”, Jonathan truly shines. Backed by pianist Mikan Zlatkovich, bassist Bob Magnusson and drummer Duncan Moore, Karrant sets himself apart from other contemporaries on this single. Ultimately, he displays brilliance through phrasing and languid passages that linger.

ABOUT DAVE TULL

Dave Tull has long been known as one of the world’s finest jazz drummers and has also built a reputation as a premiere jazz singer and songwriter. Dave Tull’s latest release, “Texting and Driving” was the #2 most requested new album of 2018 on SiriusXM Real Jazz and was featured by NPR’s Susan Stamberg on Weekend Edition. Singing from the drums, Dave brings to the stage a rare combination of joyous songwriting, world-class jazz singing and drumming. Think “Frishberg meets Gershwin”. Dave’s songs have been called both “laugh out loud funny” and inspiring of “soul searching and introspection”, propelling “Texting and Driving” to #5 on the Billboard Jazz Chart, and #3 on the Billboard Comedy Chart in the same week, and 23 weeks on the JazzWeek chart! Dave’s celebrated first CD, “I Just Want To Get Paid”, continues to get regular airplay many years after its release.

ABOUT ANNIE HÄGG

Annie is an actress and singer from New York City. A graduate of Yale School of Drama, she has appeared extensively on both stage and screen, and is best known on television for playing Holocaust survivor Ruth Heidelbaum opposite Al Pacino in the Amazon series “Hunters”—a role for which she shaved her head and learned Polish. On stage, Annie has played roles ranging from the heroines of Shakespeare, Chekhov, and Ibsen to such iconic women as Cleopatra and Marilyn Monroe. Frequently cast as femme fatales, spies and whores, she excels as the comedienne and brings all of these personae into her frequent gigs as a downtown jazz singer. Specializing in the American songbook and singing a wide range of repertoire in Spanish, French, German, Italian and Portuguese, Annie—along with her band “The High Kicks”—has established herself as a fixture of the New York City jazz scene.

On stage, Annie is currently in rehearsals for Uncle Stan in Berlin, the latest brainchild of renowned Russian auteur theatre director Dmitry Krymov, with whom she frequently collaborates. Previously, Annie starred in Krymov’s productions Three Love Stories by the Railroad (La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club), Chaplin and Mikhoels (New York Theatre Workshop) and The Square Root of Three Sisters (International Festival of Arts and Ideas). Other stage credits include Dancing at Lughansa (Irish Repertory Theatre), The Caucasian Chalk Circle, Indecent, The Fairytale Lives of Russian Girls and Owners (Yale Repertory Theatre), Staging Wittgenstein (Edinburgh Fringe Festival) and Boeing-Boeing (New Harmony Theatre). Up next, Annie will play Marilyn Monroe in a one-woman show called Love is Blonde written by Argia Coppola, based on the novel Blonde by Joyce Carol Oates.

On television, Annie will next appear in a recurring role opposite Aubrey Plaza in the upcoming series “Olga Dies Dreaming.” Other television credits include the upcoming “Daredevil: Born Again” series opposite Charlie Cox, “Pose,” “The Blacklist,” “Blue Bloods,” “FBI: Most Wanted,” “Law & Order: SVU” and the aforementioned “Hunters.”  Her film credits include Tomorrow (with Stephen Fry), A Place We Go To, Prepartum, So Good to See You, Symposium and The River, among others.

Annie has an extraordinary gift for languages and has performed in Swedish, German, French, Spanish, Russian, Ukrainian, Polish, and Yiddish and with a broad range of British and Irish accents. In addition to an MFA in Acting from Yale, she holds a BA in International History from the London School of Economics and Political Science.

ABOUT VIC’S LAS VEGAS

Created by Porchlight Hospitality in 2023, the award-winning Vic’s Las Vegas is located in Symphony Park at 355 Promenade Place. Open seven days a week, 24 hours a day, Vic’s features Italian-American cuisine, a full-service bar, gaming, and live entertainment nightly. Reservations can be made by calling 725-755-5299 or visit vicslasvegas.com. Follow on Instagram @vicslasvegas.

# # #

MEDIA CONTACT:

Hillary Smoot, SRO PR
310-367-9056
hillary@sropr.com