HISTORY:
1975 | 1977
| 1979 | 1980
| 1981 | 1982 to present
1977
MAY IS JAZZ MONTH As part of Monk Montgomery's mission to make
jazz a vital force in Las Vegas, he had influenced city government to proclaim
May Is Jazz Month (the first was 1977). In 1979, he took it to Northern Nevada,
starting a Jazz Society in Reno, and getting the Governor of Nevada to proclaim
May Jazz Month statewide, captured on the June, 1979 LVJS newsletter, Think
Jazz.
1978
"I'm sure you realize by now that we have influenced the Strip hotels to consider
jazz acts. The marquees have read Chuck Mangione, Chick
Corea, Herbie Mann, Blood, Sweat & Tears,
Jean-Luc Ponty and others are certain to follow," Monk Montgomery
wrote in January, 1978, in the "Monk's Corner" feature of Think Jazz.
In February, 1978, flutist Hubert Laws played at UNLV's Ham
Hall with Marlena Shaw opening, backed first by Jose Cassanova
(percussion), Kenny Soley, bass; Hap Smith, guitar; Walter Mann, synthesizer;
Mike Montano, piano; and then by the UNLV Jazz Ensemble. Stan Getz
played the Sahara Lounge with Andy LaVerne, keyboards; Bob Brookmyer, valve
trombone; Mike Richmond, bass; Billy Hart, drums.
The newsletter's "What's Happening" column listed February jazz at the Musician's
Union rehearsal hall (Wed & Fri, 10 p.m. and 2 a.m.); the Blue Heaven Motel
Lounge (jam sessions Thurs-Fri-Sat); Friday Dixieland at Pogo's; jams from 4
p.m. to 8 p.m. Sundays at Jody's Lounge; regular jazz concerts at the Foxx Trapp;
jazz at the Penthouse, the Library Buttery Pub, the Desert Inn Hotel (Joe Castro);
the Sands Hotel (Bob Sims Trio with Pat Sherrod and Don Stewart); and Tony Celeste's
Big Band at Peyton Place downtown.
The Thad Jones/Mel Lewis New York Jazz Orchestra with the UNLV
and Montana U. Jazz Ensembles performed April 9, to benefit the UNLV ensemble's
15-day tour of Japan. (UNLV won second place at the 1976 Montreux jazz festival
in Switzerland). The UNLV Jazz Ensemble gave its Spring concert May 14 at Artemus
Ham Concert Hall.
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Vegas Jazz
PO Box 60396, Las Vegas, NV 89160
Message Line: 702.313.6778