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Live jazz is bountiful this November at Vic’s Las Vegas

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 30, 2024

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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.

 


Vic’s Las Vegas has cool live jazz and hot sports viewing action this September

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 11, 2024

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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

 


Enjoy live jazz at Vic’s Las Vegas this August

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 2, 2024

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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

 


Enjoy cool live jazz at Vic’s Las Vegas this July

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 2, 2024

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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.

# # #

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

 


Vic’s Las Vegas jazzes up June with live music

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 6, 2024

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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

 


Swing into Vic’s Las Vegas for live jazz in May

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 2, 2024

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SWING INTO VIC’S LAS VEGAS FOR WORLD-CLASS LIVE JAZZ THIS MAY

WHAT:                  Vic’s Las Vegas has filled its calendar with a host of world-class jazz artists to entertain diners throughout the month of May.

WHEN:                 JOE LANO TRIO                                              Friday, May 3 and Saturday, May 4 with two shows nightly at 7:30 p.m. and 8:45 p.m.         

TOM SCOTT, JOE LANO,
DOMAS ŽEROMSKAS,
STEVE FLORA &
HÉCTOR L. FALU GUZMÁN                          Friday, May 10 and Saturday, May 11 with two shows nightly at 7:30 p.m. and 8:45 p.m., and Sunday, May 12 at 1 p.m.

BENNY BENACK III                                         Wednesday, May 15 at 8:30 p.m.

DAVE DAMIANI                                              Friday, May 17 and Saturday, May 18 with two shows nightly at 7 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.

SHELLY BERG                                                   Friday, May 31 and Saturday, June 1 with two shows nightly at 8 p.m. and 9:30 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

Internationally acclaimed guitarist, arranger, and orchestrator, Joe Lano is originally from Philadelphia, where he began performing in nightclubs with his own group at the age of 12. In 1964, tours with Lena Horne led him to Las Vegas, where he now resides. Lano’s performance schedule today includes gigs, clinics, and tours with his group; showroom and hotel engagements in Las Vegas; arranging and producing projects for recording and live performance; and the occasional tour with headline performers. He has been guitarist for the Jerry Lewis Labor Day Telethon for more than 25 years.

ABOUT TOM SCOTT

Tom Scott is a renowned composer, arranger, producer, music director, saxophonist, and educator. His 33 solo recordings have earned him 13 Grammy nominations and 3 Grammy awards. In 2013 he produced a CD for young ukulele master Brittni Paiva which won a Hawaiian Grammy for ‘Ukulele Album of the Year’, and in 2017 received his first Emmy Award nomination for Musical Direction of the Tony Bennett 90th Birthday TV Special on NBC.

ABOUT DOMAS ŽEROMSKAS

The 23-year-old Lithuanian jazz pianist and composer has spent his early formative years on stage alongside prominent native jazz veterans. By the time he graduated high school, Domas was already a sought-after player, known for his technical versatility and soulful, eclectic taste. At the age of 18 Žeromskas released his debut album “Infinite Itinerant,” showcasing original music composed and arranged during his teenage years, some tunes dating back to 2015. Along with an abundant team of Lithuanian musicians, the album featured guest performances from Braxton Cook & Gustav Karlström. In the following years he has been recording and touring internationally with artists such as Jacques Schwarz-Bart, Gregory Tardy, Naledi Masilo and Eric Williams, among others.

ABOUT STEVE FLORA

Steve Flora was born in Indiana October 31, 1970, and has had a life-long obsession for music of all kinds, with a profound emphasis on American Jazz. He is currently in the Jazz Bass faculty for University of Nevada Las Vegas and The Nevada School of the Arts. Steve attended Broad Ripple High School’s Creative and Performing Arts program in Indianapolis, Berklee College of Music (Boston), and graduated from Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. He studied privately with Ray Brown, Milt Hinton, and François Rabbath.

ABOUT HÉCTOR L. FALU GUZMÁN

Guzmán is an up-and-coming drummer, composer, and aspiring ethnomusicologist hailing from the island of Puerto Rico, currently based in Boston, MA. Recently into his twenties, Héctor is a passionate young jazz artist dedicated both to learning from the history of the world and sharing his own stories, exploring new ideas and revisiting wisdom from older times in tandem. Notable performances as a sideman include Jacques Schwarz-Bart’s “Harlem Suite” at L’OFF Festival de Jazz de Montréal, and Gregory Tardy Quartet at Smalls Jazz Club. Héctor’s first release as bandleader, “Understanding Each Other,” came out March 22, 2023.

ABOUT BENNY BENACK III

By age 32, Emmy-nominated trumpeter and singer Benny Benack III has proven to be that rarest of talents: not only a fiery trumpet player with a stirring command of the postbop trumpet vernacular in the vein of Kenny Dorham and Freddie Hubbard, but also a singer with a sly, mature, naturally expressive delivery in the post-Sinatra mold, performing standards and his own astute songs with a thrilling sense of showmanship. This dual-threat ability was recognized by the 2022 Downbeat Critics Poll where he appeared as not only the #2 Rising Star Male Vocalist, but a top Rising Star Trumpeter as well. His superb intonation and bracing virtuosity enable him to handle astounding feats of originally composed vocalese (complex solos with written lyrics). On top of it all, he’s a highly capable pianist as well.

Benny has performed internationally as an Emcee/Host for the YouTube sensation Postmodern Jukebox and achieved his own viral success amassing millions of views for his crooning alongside the Grammy-award winning “8-Bit Big Band”. In early 2020 he released A Lot of Livin’ to Do, the follow-up to his well-received 2017 debut One of a Kind. This sophomore effort, richly varied in mood and brimming with bop inflection, features bassist extraordinaire and jazz ambassador Christian McBride (whose Grammy-award winning Big Band frequently calls upon Benny in the trumpet section) and drummer/producer Ulysses Owens, Jr., as well as the radiant Takeshi Ohbayashi on piano and Rhodes. His vocalese duet on “Social Call” from this album alongside fellow young star vocalist Veronica Swift became an instant smash hit single, being transcribed, and learned by jazz vocalists around the world.

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 SHELLY BERG

Shelly Berg is a Steinway piano artist and five-time Grammy-nominated arranger, orchestrator, and producer. His newest album Alegría will be recorded with bassist Carlitos Del Puerto and Dafnis Prieto and released June 2024 on ArtistShare.

Prior albums Gershwin Reimagined: An American in London (Decca Gold), The Deep (Chesky), The Nearness of You (Arbors), Blackbird (Concord) and The Will (CARS) are critically acclaimed. Berg earned three Grammy nominations in the Best Arrangement Accompanying Vocal(s) category with jazz singer-lyricist Lorraine Feather and international superstar Gloria Estefan, and a fourth Grammy nomination as co-producer of Gloria Estefan: The Standards (Sony). He earned his fifth Grammy nomination as co-arranger of “I Loves You Porgy / There’s a Boat That’s Leavin’ Soon for New York” from the album Rendezvous (2018) featuring jazz singers Clint Holmes and Dee Dee Bridgewater with The Count Basie Orchestra.

Other recent projects include arranging, orchestrating, and co-producing the Estefan Family Christmas album, and recording and/or performing with Tony Bennett, Steve Miller, Seal, Lizz Wright, Andra Day, Monica Mancini, Kari Kirkland, Carmen Bradford, Chris Botti, Renée Fleming, and Arturo Sandoval. He is also artistic director of The Jazz Cruise, and artistic advisor for the Jazz Roots series at the Adrienne Arsht Performing Arts Center of Miami-Dade County.

An award-winning educator with over 40 years of leadership in higher education, Shelly Berg is Dean and Patricia L. Frost Professor of Music at the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami. He was previously the McCoy/Sample Professor of Jazz Studies at the Thornton School of Music at the University of Southern California and a past president of the International Association for Jazz Education (IAJE). In 2003 he was honored as Educator of the Year by the Los Angeles Jazz Society and in 2002 received the IAJE Lawrence Berk Leadership Award. In 2000 the Los Angeles Times named him one of three “Educators for the Millennium.”

His textbooks include Essentials of Jazz Theory, the Chop-Monster beginning improvisation series, Rhythm Section Workshop for Jazz Directors (Alfred Music) and Jazz Improvisation: The Goal-Note Method (Kendor). He has appeared as a performer and lecturer throughout the United States as well as in Canada, China, Mexico, Europe, Israel, Japan, Romania, and Venezuela.

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, 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

 


Celebrate Mother’s Day at Vic’s Las Vegas with special live jazz performance Sun., May 12

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 16, 2024

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CELEBRATE MOTHER’S DAY AT VIC’S LAS VEGAS SUNDAY, MAY 12

Live jazz by Tom Scott, Joe Lano, and Domas Žeromskas, featuring Steve Flora and Héctor L. Falu, starts at 1 p.m.

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WHAT:             Treat Mom to an elegant Mother’s Day Brunch with live jazz and a complimentary mimosa at Vic’s Las Vegas this Mother’s Day. Enjoy offerings from their Italian American menu or delight in specials only a mother could love, including:

      • Crab Benedict – with roasted potatoes, baby carrots, and asparagus ($28)
      • Waffles with Berries – with two eggs and two slices of bacon ($18)
      • Quiche – choice of Ham & Cheese or Florentine ($25)
      • Lobster & Cheese Raviolis– heart-shaped and topped with pecorino Romano ($20)
      • Swordfish – with chimichurri sauce and seasonal vegetables ($34)
      • Kids special: Waffle with Berries – half a waffle, one egg, and one slice of bacon ($9)

Live jazz by Tom Scott, Joe Lano, and Domas Žeromskas, featuring Steve Flora and Héctor L. Falu, starts at 1 p.m.

WHEN:            Sunday, May 12, 2024

WHERE:         Vic’s Las Vegas
355 Promenade Place in Symphony Park
Reservations are encouraged.

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, 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

Photo of Crab Benedict is courtesy of Vic’s Las Vegas. Additional images available upon request.

 


Hop into Vic’s Las Vegas for Easter Brunch and Live Jazz this Sunday

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 25, 2024

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HOP INTO VIC’S LAS VEGAS FOR EASTER BRUNCH SUNDAY, MARCH 31

Enjoy live jazz from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

A plate of food with asparagus and a black background

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WHAT:             Vic’s Las Vegas is serving up an eggs-traordinary brunch with something for every bunny. Enjoy offerings from their Italian American menu or delight in their Easter specials, including:

      • Eggs Benedict – with hollandaise sauce, garlic mashed potatoes, and roasted asparagus ($17)
      • Waffles with Berries ($15)
      • Leg of Lamb – with garlic mashed potatoes and roasted asparagus ($38)
      • Salmon Oscar – sauteed and served with garlic mashed potatoes and roasted asparagus ($42)
      • Shrimp Scampi – with angel hair pasta and topped with pecorino cheese ($36)

Diners will enjoy live music by the LVA Jazz Trio from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

WHEN:            Sunday, March 31, 2024

WHERE:         Vic’s Las Vegas
355 Promenade Place in Symphony Park
Reservations are encouraged.

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, 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

Photo of Eggs Benedict is courtesy of Vic’s Las Vegas. Additional images available upon request.

 


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