Especially if you know where to go to enjoy it!

And so, to make sure that the outstanding Las Vegas Jazz Community gets the attention it so richly deserves and that audiences get the opportunities to hear the great music that they so richly deserve . . . 

I’d like to welcome you to your new source for Las Vegas Jazz Info! Each month I’ll provide highlights on the best jazz in our town--and even in some of its lesser known suburbs (!) such as Los Angeles, San Francisco and Detroit!

I invite you to make this column interactive, with readers letting me know about their jazz memories, experiences, and recommendations so that we all can benefit from the rich reservoir that is filled with Las Vegas jazz music.

FYI: July is serving up a sizzling summer jazz menu which started off with:

7/9:  The Nevada Jazz Orchestra’s Latin Connection under the masterful leadership of Barry Ross, whose arrangements have delighted jazz fans for many years. Highlighted by solos from conguero Mickey Alvarado, pianist Mike Eckroth and drummer, John Abraham, this concert was hotter than the weather!

7/14:  The Shapiro Project performed under the stars at Justice Court Park in Henderson and featured guitarist, Eugene Shapiro, Phil Wigfall on alto and soprano sax, Eric Runquist on acoustic bass and Boris Shapiro on drums. This great group represents the very best of the younger generation of jazz musicians and clearly defies the notion that jazz is not alive and thriving! Check out Eugene’s website: www.shapiroproject.com  

7/16-21:  The Community College of Southern Nevada’s 9^th Annual Summer Jazz Camp where students of all ages work individually and in groups with Jazz Masters—the culminating concert is scheduled for 1 pm on 7/21. Call (702) 651-4110 for info.

7/21:  All-star monthly Jazzy Jam Dinner Party (sorry—July’s event is sold-out) at Captain’s Cove Restaurant.

Call (702) 307-7342 for info on the next Jazzy Jam Dinner!

7/24:  The Tom Ferguson Sextet featuring Walt Blanton on trumpet, Dick McGee on trombone, Wayne de Silva on  sax, Billy Christ on bass, and John Nasshan on drums, will perform  in concert at the beautiful Rainbow Library Amphitheater, Cheyenne and Buffalo starting at 8 pm.

Don’t forget scrumptious Jazz/Wine Sundays at Mt. Charleston, and be sure to check out the following clubs that offer outstanding jazz (& food!):

Café de Tout--Sahara/Ft.Apache, (702) 267-9844

Rocco Capazolli’s—Maryland Pkwy/ Desert Inn, (702) 731-5311

For continuous jazz updates, visit the Las Vegas Jazz Society’s website: www.vegasjazz.org.

Historic Las Vegas Jazz Photo/Poster!

The Las Vegas Jazz Masters Project, which brings jazz into the schools, has just released for sale ($15) its 1^st Annual “This Great Day in Las Vegas!” photo/poster! Fifty-five noted members of the Las Vegas Jazz Community gathered on the steps of the Las Vegas Academy for the Performing Arts High School last April (National Jazz Month) for this historic photo-shoot. Proceeds from the sale of this poster will benefit the Las Vegas Jazz Masters Project and the Academy’s Grammy-winning student jazz band! Contact me for details at: jazz@joannes.us.

And please check-out my weekly, web-based radio talk-show:

“Live—from the REAL Las Vegas!” featuring spirited interviews with the outstanding members of the Las Vegas Jazz Community! You can tune in at 11 am PST (live) or anytime you like through the network’s archives!  Go to: www.ALLTALKRADIO.net.

That’s it until August—I look forward to hearing from you!

So stay cool by getting jazzed!