'The Sax Man' Cometh
Jazz musician David Brown brings his horn and high energy to the Imperial Palace
Plus:
• 'Dealertainers' a Hit • Eating Well at Embers • Devonshire Collection at Bellagio • Lance Squares Off • Showgirl for a Night • Theater Program Seeks Tweens & Teens
If you love the sax, like I do, or if you just want to have a good time listening to some great music, drop in to the Kabuki Lounge at the Imperial Palace Sept. 14-20. That's when David "The Sax Man" Brown will once again do what he does best. I had a chance to talk to David, who now makes his home in our town.
Born and raised in Stockton, Calif., he started playing saxophone at a very young age under the tutelage of a great teacher -- his father, Earl "Good Rockin" Brown, a Blues Hall of Famer. He formed his own little band when he was in the seventh grade, performing at talent shows around town.
From there, he and the band moved up to local clubs, doing mostly Top 40 music. "After graduation from high school," David said, "I signed a government contract to go on a Department of Defense tour. We did hour and a half shows for the servicemen based in places like Korea, Japan, Philippines, Hawaii and Alaska. It was a great experience for a young guy."
Then disco became the rage, pushing almost every other kind of music into the background, but David was still able to perform, doing what he called "the Red Lion Inn circuit. They liked live entertainment, so we signed on and played in their hotels up and down the West Coast." He first came to Las Vegas to perform with his dad.
"I really enjoyed it and wanted to come back and perform on my own." Last September he did just that. "I put together this sax project which puts the sax on a higher level -- a more energy level. Not the laid-back, contemporary jazz level that many people are used to hearing. I mixed the sax into music where you didn't hear the sax before, and it works beautifully."
His performance consists of about 60 percent sax playing, the rest singing and dancing with his brother Dynamic D, who is also his musical director. The result is a high-octane performance that gets the juices flowing, if I'm allowed to say that in a family column. David is a ball of energy who soon has the audience revved up to high gear. It's what he likes to call a "saxful experience."
David has just released his first CD, "Living Large -- Live in Las Vegas" and said he will have it available at the show. This loving, single father of a 15-year-old daughter, who he calls "a handful", does a lot of charity gigs, most recently one for the homeless. It's nice to see someone who gives something back to the community. Make sure you stop by and listen to a guy who deserves a permanent gig at one of our hotels.
'DEALERTAINERS' A HIT
Speaking of the Imperial Palace, the other day I ran into Jackie Brett, the new PR director for the IP, and we got to talking about the property and how popular their "dealertainers" have become. This is where celebrity look-alikes take turns dealing blackjack and having their pictures taken with people in the casino.
Original characters Elvis, the Blues Brothers, Madonna, Rod Stewart, Barbra Streisand, Marilyn Monroe, Elton John, Patsy Cline, El Zorro, Ray Charles and Buddy Holly have been joined by new characters Groucho Marx, Janet Jackson, Roy Orbison, Bette Midler, Dolly Parton, Liberace, Mae West, Ritchie Valens and Cher. This promo is a real winner for the resort.
EATING WELL AT EMBERS
But we soon got around to the restaurants, and she asked if I'd eaten at Embers. I was ashamed to admit I didn't even know they had a restaurant called Embers. A surprised Jackie said that if I wanted to uncover one of the best kept secrets in town, I should try it. I promised her I would, and I kept my promise last week.
My dinner companion and I decided on the specials, a Delmonico steak with a spicy sauce that included black beans and mushrooms, for her, and the grilled sea bass with a tropical sauce for moi. For appetizers, she had a dinner salad, while I opted for the beef barley soup. Dessert was bananas Foster. Add wine. Sound good? You bet your a-- it was. More than good. Plus we enjoyed excellent service and the friendliness of the staff.
But I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the room itself. Elegant, but not overly so, with your choice of table or semi-circular booth, which we chose. A nice way to spend a few hours, whether it's with friends, family or your S.O. And don't worry. You don't have to take out a second mortgage to enjoy this fine dining. You saw what we had. All for less than 50 bucks. I call that a bargain.
Oh, before I forget, if you go on a Friday or Saturday night, you can enjoy music from the piano lounge set right outside the restaurant. I'm going to have to call Jackie and tell her she was right. It really is one of the best-kept secrets in town.
DEVONSHIRE COLLECTION AT BELLAGIO
Time for what I call my Culture Corner. Beginning Sept. 13, visitors to the Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art will have the opportunity to see more than 250 priceless treasures from the private collection of the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire. Amassed over five centuries, the collection includes master paintings and drawings, sculptures, masterpieces of gold and silver, porcelain, gems, jewelry, furniture, early photographs, and rare books and manuscripts from Chatsworth's private library, considered the greatest in the world.
The exhibition includes works by Old World masters Raphael, Titian, Peter Paul Rubens and Rembrandt, among others. Tickets for this exhibition are $15 per person and $12 for students, Nevada residents, and seniors over 65. The exhibit will be on display through Jan. 18.
LANCE SQUARES OFF
Magician Lance Burton will tape "Hollywood Squares" on Oct. 5 with the show to air Dec. 1-5. Another great plug for our town. Make sure you watch it to see how he does. One advantage he has is that if the audience doesn't laugh, he can always make them disappear.
SHOWGIRL FOR A NIGHT
How's this for fulfilling a dream? Brazilian Adrianna Lessa won a chance to become a showgirl for one night in the legendary "Folies Bergere" show at the Tropicana. Adrianna, a popular soap opera actress in Brazil, was chosen from more than 85,000 entrants as the winner for a contest conducted by a Brazilian television show called "FLASH."
She received an all-expenses-paid trip to Las Vegas and appeared in four numbers with the Folies last week. To enter into the showgirl contest, each woman wrote a brief e-mail explaining why she should be chosen to appear on stage in the production. Must have been a real thrill.
THEATER PROGRAM SEEKS TWEENS & TEENS
If you've got a kid who might like to pursue a career in acting, the Youth Theater Program is looking for kids ages 10-16 for a Dec. 9 theater performance. Rehearsals, to be Tuesdays from 4 to 6 p.m. at Winchester Community Center, begin Sept. 30. Cost is $45, and little Johnny or Joanie get snacks and a T-shirt. No experience is necessary. Call (702) 455-7340 for more info.
Good luck, and I'll see you on the Strip.
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