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

1980 Continued

LVJS locked in the Buddy Rich Big Band to play the main showroom at the Sahara for the late, late show, at 2:30 a.m, September 14.

In 1980 the Jazz Society won an Addy Award for excellence for its 60-second TV spot promoting jazz featuring Harold Land and three Las Vegas musicians, given by the Greater Las Vegas Television Advertising Foundation. More spots followed featuring Freddie Hubbard, Louis Bellson with Joe Williams and Milt Hinton, and Tony Bennett [with LVJS officer Judy Tarte, left] singing "My Funny Valentine."

Monk wrote in the August Think Jazz, "in support of jazz and LVJS, we get a huge response" from these ads. That year the Jazz Picnic was held October 14 at City View Park with Benny Bennett's Latin Orchestra, Jay Cameron's Valuable Reserve with Lee Lally, Adaba and Bob Hammer's Big Band.

LVJS cosponsored a Tribute to Horace Silver, November 24, 1980, with the National Endowment for the Arts; the legendary pianist/composer attended but did not perform. Joe Williams was the master of ceremonies at the Desert Inn Crystal Room. In an entire program of Horace Silver originals, the Carl Saunders Quintet played: Carl on trumpet and flugel; Hadley Caliman, tenor sax; Kirk Stuart, piano; Rudy Aikels, bass; Roy McCurdy, drums with some arranging and conducting by Bob Hammer. Donald Byrd was a guest soloist with Joe Williams and Joe Darro on vocals. At the program conclusion, Horace came onstage to be introduced and receive his portrait in oil. From left: Monk Montgomery, Horace Silver, Donald Byrd, Kirk Stuart, Joe Williams.

The fifth year of the Las Vegas Jazz Society closed with a Holiday Party December 21 at Monk Montgomery's house on Nakona Lane, also known as Las Vegas Jazz Society Headquarters.

Vegas Jazz
PO Box 60396, Las Vegas, NV 89160
Message Line: 702.313.6778