Took my second trip to The Smith Center Saturday evening, to watch a consummate singer of songs do his thing for nearly 85 minutes. You could truly hear a pin drop most of the evening! The song man was just that wonderful! Of course, I’m talking about Clint Holmes!
This particular evening Holmes was doing a salute to one of the all-time great saloon singers of the last century, Bobby Short. Clint first introduced this tribute show at the Café Carlyle, which is tucked in a corner of the Carlyle Hotel on the upper east side of Manhattan, in New York, a few months ago. This is where Short sat down at a piano and entertained the people of New York, for six months out of the year, for more than 36 years of his life. If you ever heard Short play and sing, you were instantly mesmerized by the man who truly loved to entertain.
Clint Holmes is the man, in my opinion, to finally step up, along with Michael Feinstein, to replace two of the greatest male saloon singers of our time: Bobby Short and Francis Albert Sinatra.
“Autumn in New York,” was the appropriate opening song for the evening, which was followed by “I Happen to Like New York,” which was then followed by Clint telling the SRO audience, a little bit about the man he was honoring. Holmes was backed by his very special band, led by Jeffrey Neiman on piano, Adam Shendal on drums and Keith Nelson on bass. Very quickly, Holmes went into a series of wonderful songs, written by some the greatest music makers ever, such as “Tea for Two,” “Isn’t it Romantic,” “I’ve Got You Under My Skin,” and one of my favorites, “Night and Day.”
Between certain songs, Clint would go into little stories about the man New Yorkers often referred to as, “A Living Landmark.” Midway through the show at The Smith Center, Holmes was joined on stage by three more musicians, Rocco Barbato on saxophone, Michael Ray Tyler on trumpet, and Mike Turnbull on trombone, to add a certain touch to the music to follow: such as, “Satin Doll,” and “Just One of Those Things,” which also included a bit of Holmes ability to perform some “scat.” Other songs from the “Great American Song Book,” presented by Holmes, included, “It Never Entered My Mind,” “You’re the Top” and a wonderful closer, “Every Time We Say Goodbye!”
This writer had the pleasure of watching Mr. Short perform in Los Angeles, just before I left for Korea in 1950. He was at the Café Gala on Sunset Blvd. I also watched him one evening, in a small nightclub in New York, when I was on the road with the baseball team, the Los Angeles Angels, in the early ‘60s. Bobby Short was just coming into his own when I saw him the first time, and later he had the full attention of New York. And now, so does Clint Holmes. Clint’s next appearance at The Smith Center will be Friday and Saturday, July 6-7 at 8:30 p.m., and Sunday at 2:00 p.m. Tickets range from $35 to $45, and honestly, there isn’t a bad seat in the whole room. And, the sound is perfect!
THIS AND THAT QUICKLY:
Henry’s Place Foundation (www.henrysplace.org), a 501(c) 3 organization formed in 2006 to honor, Las Vegas Metro Sergeant Henry Prendes, who gave his life protecting his hometown community, will host the 6th Annual Henry Prendes Charity Golf Classic at 8:00 a.m. Saturday, June 9, 2012. The tournament will be held at Palm Valley Golf Course (www.golfsummerlin.com) in Sun City Summerlin. Proceeds from the tournament will be used to help support the county’s approval process, and to obtain the necessary permits needed for development of the property, in order to begin construction on the 14-acre parcel of land in Cedar City, UT. The location has been designated as the future home of Henry’s Place, a camp facility being created for the Las Vegas Valley’s underprivileged youth.
This year’s tournament welcomes back the participation of LVMPD Sheriff Douglas C. Gillespie, golf pro Mike Dobbyn, who holds the Guinness Book of World Records’ for a Long Drive of 551 yards, and also welcomes first-time player Cort McCown, comedian and producer of Empire Comedy at Paris Las Vegas. The event also offers the golfers a chance to win a $200 prize for a 90-foot chip shot, sponsored by Palm Valley Golf Course. To kick off the day’s activities, a Metro Search & Rescue Police Helicopter will take to the sky to drop “Golf Balls from Heaven,” and an awards ceremony; luncheon and auction/prize raffle round out the afternoon.
The new Ranch House Kitchen at Town Square Las Vegas will get patriotic with amazing deals for the whole family on Wednesday, July 4. On Independence Day, patrons can enjoy 20-percent off its delicious barbecue menu selections, while adults can also indulge in an all-day happy hour special of $3 cocktails, $3 domestic draft beers, and $10 bottomless domestic draft beers. Ranch House Kitchen brings delicious food and lots of fun to Town Square Las Vegas with a brand-new, 14,000-square-foot restaurant and bar. Open 8 a.m. to 3 a.m. daily, this high-energy eatery appeals to the entire family with all-American comfort cuisine served for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Due to overwhelming response, legendary comedian and impressionist Rich Little has announced “Jimmy Stewart & Friends” has been extended at LVH – Las Vegas Hotel & Casino through July 4, 2012. Featuring more than 25 celebrity icon voices, including Cary Grant, George Burns, Ronald Reagan, Katharine Hepburn, and John Wayne, among others. The show takes you on an adventure through the life of the famed actor, and is performed Saturday – Wednesday at the Shimmer Cabaret inside the LVH. All performances begin at 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $53.90 and $63.90 plus tax and applicable fees
Well, gang, that’s about it for this week. I’m outa here!