HISTORY:
1975 | 1977 | 1979 | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 to present

1975 Page 2

The Dizzy Gillespie Quartet, with guitarist Tony Purrone and drummer Mickey Roker, appeared the week of November 21 at the Hilton Hotel's Vestal Virgin Lounge. The L.A. Four plus Milt Jackson and a local rhythm section with Maurice Stewart, piano; Rudy Aikels, bass; and Calvin "Eagle Eye" Shields, drums, played the second LVJS concert at the UNLV student union ballroom, December 14, 1975. 1976 The 19-piece Louis Bellson Big Band (with Las Vegas musicians) performed for a big crowd at the Hacienda Hotel showroom, January 18, with opening group Kelly Stevens and Carnival, featuring Billy T. (Tragesser), piano; Bill Plavan, bass, and Carmen Castaldi, drums. The Musicians Union newsletter, The Desert Aria, began to publish Jazz Society news at the request of LVJS.

The Cal Tjader Quintet and Helen Humes (with accompanist Gerald Wiggins) headlined the third LVJS concert at the Hacienda Hotel, February 8. On March 10 the Musicians Union struck the Nevada Resort Association, and LVJS organized a free Striker's Picnic, March 28 at Paradise Park, featuring local group White Chocolate and an All Star band including Hampton Hawes and Leroy Vinnegar.

By March 30 the Union had ratified a new contract, ending the strike. Phineas Newborn, Jr., playing solo plus Harry "Sweets" Edison and Jerome Richardson backed by Vince Falcone, piano; Bob Badgley, bass; and Don Williams, drums, continued the LVJS live jazz mission on April 17 with a late night concert at the Hacienda Hotel.

LVJS sponsored The Maynard Ferguson Band at the Stardust Hotel Auditorium on June 3, with proceeds going to the highly-rated UNLV Jazz Ensemble for their trip to the Montreaux Jazz Festival. More...

Vegas Jazz
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