LVJS JAZZ NOTES SUMMER UPDATE 2024
The Sunday Jazz at the Bootlegger Bistro series is on a Summer break but will resume on September 8 for the Fall/Winter season. Thank you for the excellent support we continue to receive from you and Jazz patrons within the general community. This first concert will feature the unique talents of Patty Ascher and her exceptional supporting cast featuring Dave Loeb on piano, Jeff Davis, bass, Mike DiBari, drums and Dave Stambaugh on saxophone. DON’T MISS THIS ONE! Reservation information will be posted on the LVJS.org website in July.
REMEMBERING:
Sadly BOB CHMEL, drummer and long-time friend of LVJS passed away on June 27. He will be missed. Bob’s niece, executor of his estate is planning a celebration of life. She has asked that friends or colleagues who wish to assist in these efforts share a brief note of remembrance that may be included in the obituary or memorial service presentation. Please e-mail these to Thom Pastor, sittinzen@aol.com who will forward them to her. Contact Thom at 702-580-1719 with any questions.
UPDATE: Loyal friends and LVJS members DAVID ROWELL, GUS MANCUSO, CARL SAUNDERS and ALAN FOX and their families have bequeathed funds to the Jazz Society so that we are now able to fund several projects dear to their hearts and ours.
Funds from the Gus MANCUSO Music Memorial fund have enabled us to contribute to the UNLV Friends of Jazz for their UNLV Jazz program. These funds are to be utilized in areas where they might be most needed for the program. This fund was also used for our participation in the Ruvo Center Music and the Mind collaborative events and contributions to KUNV (“91.5 Jazz and More”) Radio.
Funds from the CARL SAUNDERS Memorial fund have been utilized for Grants to Clark County School District Jazz programs at Walter Johnson Academy of International Studies, William E. Orr Middle School and Canarelli Middle School for equipment and music.
Funds from the DAVID ROWELL Memorial fund will be utilized to help in special programming for the upcoming 50th Jubilee anniversary of the Las Vegas Jazz Society coming up in April of 2025. (more later about this project) as well as other community projects still to be determined.
Funds from the ALAN FOX memorial fund will be utilized to extend our Community Outreach programming
WHAT’S BEEN HAPPENING:
Once again LVJS participated at the Jazz in the Park 2024 summer series held at the Clark County Government Center in May and June. Thanks to those of you who dropped by our booth to say “hello”. A HUGE thanks to the volunteers who were there as LVJazz Ambassadors: Chris Blando, Dave Star, Sheila Wingfield, Cheryl Waites, Judy Tarte, Marsha Moses, Leroy Shaw and Jerilynn Hatten. In spite of the record-breaking heat
(plus gusting winds) these valiant individuals maintained their sense of humor and spread the word about our group, our history and the many grass-roots projects with which we’re involved. KUDOS!
JAZZ ARTS COMMUNITY ENSEMBLE
As part of the LVJS Community Outreach program, the Jazz Arts Community Ensemble was established in May 2022 in cooperation with the Clark County Parks and Recreation Winchester Community Center. The Ensemble has rehearsed each Wednesday evening at the Center and consists of a core group of professional musicians and community-based players who may sit beside members of the core group as they enhance or refresh their skills. At these rehearsals, a number of charts are gradually honed down to establish a set for scheduled performances at the Winchester Theater. During the Summer months these regularly scheduled Wednesday Big Band rehearsals have been suspended but informal improvisation workshops have been held which are designed to allow players of all levels to learn, enhance and/or practice their improvisational skills. Small groups will continue on July 3 and July 10 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Regular rehearsals are scheduled to resume on Wednesday, July 24. Their next concert appearance will be on Saturday, October 19 at the Annual Community Jazz Picnic at Winchester Park.
If you wish to come out, watch and hang with your fellow LVJS members at rehearsal, no notice is needed…just show up for the sessions. If you wish to join the ensemble as a player, please get in touch with Thom Pastor, Music Director at 702-580-1719 or Bart diBartolo, Administrator at 702-292-7474: jazzartslv@gmail.com
RUVO CENTER FOR BRAIN HEALTH
In cooperation with the Music Therapy Program at the Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, the LVJS held a “Jazz Jam” in May at the Bootlegger Copa room in space generously donated by Lorraine Hunt Bono and Ron Mancuso.
A mixed group of patients in terms of diagnoses and cognitive ability and their care partners from the Center met with a quartet of musicians from LVJS. Al Guzman was on drums, Matt Green, piano, Ken Seifert, bass and Tom Hall, on horns. To “break the ice” Tom Hall explained a little background for the music and the quartet played a number of tunes during which time participants most of whom came with instruments such as keyboard and drums were encouraged to join in. A group “sing along” developed from that point with Dennis Bono taking the lead and encouraging everyone to join in…either singing or with their instruments. Lorraine Hunt Bono then joined in taking a lead on vocals and loosening up the participants to the point where they felt comfortable enough to go onto the stage area resulting in an afternoon of musical spontaneity in which all the patients participated enthusiastically. We plan on continuing these group interactions in the Fall.
LOOKING AHEAD:
The Las Vegas Jazz Society received its status as a 501c(3) organization on April 22, 1975…50 YEARS AGO. We are planning several special projects and events to commemorate this occasion but we’ll need your assistance and will be reaching out for volunteers. WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR ACTIVE INVOLVEMENT.
NV STATE MUSEUM EXHIBIT
LVJS is working in cooperation with the Nevada State Museum, as part of our Jubilee Year Celebration, on an exhibit to honor the history and importance of Musicians in the growth and development of Las Vegas as the “Entertainment Capital of the World”. The story will reflect the culture and times of Las Vegas in the 40s through the 80s when musicians from the Big Band era were coming off the road and settling here in the Valley, establishing homes, having families and were essentially pioneers for the lifestyle we now have here.
This exhibit is scheduled to open in April of 2025. We are looking for ARTIFACTS to be donated or loaned that will reflect the period of the culture and times of Las Vegas in the 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s such as photographs, possible clothing (any of those polyester powder blue gig suits still around?), jewelry, souvenirs, etc.
If you are interested in volunteering on this project or have artifacts that we could use call 702-415-1994 or 702-806-3934. Please leave your name and a brief message and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.
We look forward to hearing from you!
KEEP COOL….LVJS Board: Judy Tarte, Chris Blando, Bart DiBartolo, Ryan Baker, Evelyn Chavers, Tom Hall, Rita Pardue, Sheila Wingfield
