Friday, Aug. 30, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.
"Monday Night Jazz," the city's first weekly presentation of nationally known jazz artists, will end its 14-year-run at the Four Queens on Sept. 23, says host Alan Grant.
The move is related to the hotel's bankruptcy and the Riviera hotel's takeover of the downtown property beginning in October.
"We felt it was something that possibly could be happening, but we weren't told the date until this morning," Grant said Wednesday, adding that he had no idea why the show was being canceled. "It could be a monetary thing."
Or it could be a competition thing. The Riviera began its own Monday night jazz show -- "Jazz on the Strip" -- in 1994.
"You can draw your own conclusions on that," Grant said.
Steve Schirripa, the Riviera's director of entertainment, had no comment.
"Monday Night Jazz" debuted March 8, 1982. It is broadcast worldwide on National Public Radio under the title "Jazz Night From Las Vegas." It is heard locally at 8 p.m. Sundays on KNPR 89.5-FM.
"Well, the feeling I have is that it's a big loss musically to Las Vegas, because of the creativity of the artists that we've had here," Grant said. "So, it could leave a major void in the town for some of the major talent that I have been able to bring in."
That list reads like a who's who of jazz greats -- Al Cohn, Zoot Sims, Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, Woody Shaw, Carl Fontana and on and on. Of late, Grant has brought in some young stalwarts, including trumpeter Wallace Roney and drummer Winard Harper.
Grant says the shows (three sets each week) have been drawing 350-400 people since "Monday Night Jazz" moved from the French Quarter Lounge, its original location, to the larger Royal Pavilion on the second floor.
"Who the hell can do that in their lounge?"
Since he just received news of the cancellation, Grant hasn't had the opportunity to shop the show around to other hotels, nor have any hotels contacted him. But he'd be willing to play host once again somewhere else, he says.
Drummer Bill Moody, president of the Las Vegas Jazz Society, called "Monday Night Jazz" one of the staples of the Las Vegas jazz scene.
"It's just really a shame to see it go," he said. "I'm sure everyone will hate to see it go. I played there half a dozen times and attended shows there many times. It's going to be real strange not having jazz at the Four Queens."
Alan Grant
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