My first Las Vegas show was this last weekend…It was, how should I put it, painful. That is the only way to say it, painful.

Las Vegas is unique in the way that music is everywhere, in the casino’s, in the bars, in the elevator, but it is predominantly loud and high energy. They want people to drink a lot, gamble a lot and spend a lot of money. People don’t listen to the music, they want to talk and gamble and get drunk. Remember, whatever happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas. Or how about the movie, The Hangover? A group of friends go to Vegas for a bachelors party, get slipped a drug called rohypnol that causes them all to have memory loss. As it unfolds we see exactly what happened the night before. Funny movie, but it shows that all people want to do is party in Vegas, which I do believe is true.

Anyway, back to my story and my point about Vegas…it is not for the faint of heart or a real jazz musician. There is a reason that jazz does not exist in Vegas, because people don’t want to listen to good music, they want loud, raucous, ear splitting, heart pounding music to party by.  R&B, Rock and Roll, deep bass beat you can feel in your chest. And that is okay, just not my cup of tea.

So if you hire me as a jazz musician and want me to sing jazz songs, don’t ask me to sing R&B for people to dance to. And if you are hiring the musicians, make sure they are honest about what they can do…a jazz musician is more trained in the art of the chord structure, the modes. It does not make the other musicians bad, just not trained in Jazz. My  drummer for the night, Ken Logan…killer on those sticks with an up tempo swing and knows his stuff, then could bring a sweet feel to a ballad with those brushes. And bass player Elgin Seals, who predominantly plays with the Four Tops, feels his 6 string bass and is one with his instrument. Loved those guys…I wish they would take a solo now and then and show their amazing talent.

I think I will stop for now, I think you know where I am headed next..that’s right off to work on more music. Auditioning for the fabulous George Cole in the next few days. Would love to tour with him and his wonderful musicians,  all the talent that George exudes is electrifying.