Trombonists jam at Bootlegger

It was a jam session for the ages at the Bootlegger Bistro on Sunday.

About 40 to 50 trombonists, some of the best in the world, joined the Gus Mancuso Trio shortly after performing in the 24th annual 76 Trombones 4 Concert at Artemus Ham Concert Hall as the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

"They wanted to jam after the concert," said Mancuso's wife, Maggie, also known for her role as Charlene Darling in "The Andy Griffith Show."

The standouts included award-winning Andy Hunter, who has performed with some of the top big bands in the New York area, including the "Saturday Night Live" band.

SNUB HUB-BUB

Steve Flynn, Criss Angel's publicist, said he has apologized to Los Angeles Times blogger Richard Abowitz for what Abowitz considered an exclusionary policy.

Abowitz, who has been among Angel's strongest critics, was informed by Flynn on Wednesday that Angel was no longer granting one-on-one interviews. Two days later, Angel gave one-on-one interviews before the launch of "Believe," his magic show collaboration with Cirque du Soleil.

Flynn said Angel "decided to open up the opportunity to select journalists at the last minute." He added, "I have apologized to Richard if he thinks it was anything other than that. He wasn't the only person we turned away and Richard was invited to both the Q&A session Friday afternoon and the black carpet Friday night to ask anything he wanted."

Abowitz, in his blog on the Times Web site (http://vegasblog.latimes.com), said Angel "is blaming the press for the buzz-killing groan emitting en masse from previews."

Abowitz said Sunday he is not backing away from his one-on-one request.

THE SCENE AND HEARD

It was reported here Sunday that Michael Jackson declined overtures to perform at the opening of Steve Wynn's Encore tower next month. Tipsters are now saying the smart money is on Michael Buble, the hot Canadian big band crooner. ... Entertainer Clint Holmes pulled double duty on Saturday. After singing at the Barack Obama rally at the Coronado High School football stadium, he was a surprise guest singer for the wedding of local hair stylists Robert Aganza and Jorge Rodriguez at Mariposa inside Neiman Marcus. KVBC-TV, Channel 3, entertainment reporter Alicia Jacobs, the best man/maid of honor, came up with the idea of having Holmes give a whole new meaning to the wedding tradition of "something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue." She arranged for him to sing Etta James' blues classic "At Last" as "something blue." ... Former KTNV-TV, Channel 13, sports and news anchor Ron Futrell is back on the local airwaves. He is now hosting a weekly radio show on the Sports Byline USA radio network (KSHP-AM 1400) from the Silver Nugget. He tapes the show with live celebrity guests on Thursdays or Fridays at the Silver Nugget. The show is carried by about 100 radio stations nationwide on Saturday night. He also has started hosting a local bowling TV show, Silver Nugget Challenge, and a nationally syndicated bowling show, Celebrity Bowling, at the Silver Nugget. It will be seen on KSHOTV.com, an IPTV-fed local independent TV station.

SIGHTINGS

Tom Jones and "American Idol" producer Nigel Lythgoe, greeting fans filming on their way through Planet Hollywood Resort on Sunday. ... Angel and Holly Madison, touring Screamers, the haunted house on the Brooklyn Bridge at New York New York on Saturday. ... Los Angeles Angels pitcher John Lackey, celebrating his bachelor party at Body English (Hard Rock Hotel) with former teammate Adam Kennedy, second baseman for the St. Louis Cardinals, and others. The group was spotted partying in a VIP booth inside the club. ... At AJ's Steakhouse (Hard Rock): Director-producer Renny Harlin ("Die Hard 2") with Capital Films producer Kia Jam. ... Actor Justin Long, closing down Ivan Kane's Forty Deuce (Mandalay Bay) on Saturday. He's appearing in the upcoming "He's Just Not That Into You" with Jennifer Aniston. ... Actress Amy Smart, hosting a GetOutTheVote.org party at Lavo, in the Palazzo. Joining her was Will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas. Also dining at LAVO on Saturday: Neil Patrick Harris, A.J. Buckley, Jonathan Togo, Christina Hendricks and Long. ... At LAX (Luxor) on Saturday: Actors Wilmer Valderrama and Marlon Wayans, and, at another table, San Francisco 49ers tight end Vernon Davis.

THE PUNCH LINE

"Obama is ahead in every major poll. One online gambling site has him as a 7-to-1 favorite to win. They're saying the only way Obama could lose this election right now is if they made him bowl for it." -- Jimmy Kimmel

Norm Clarke can be reached at (702) 383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com. Find additional sightings and more online at www.normclarke.com.