Columnist Joe Delaney: Lippia and Co. are at home at Rio

Singer Steve Lippia and the magnificent 22-piece Vincent Falcone Orchestra in the comfortable, affordable 200-seat Rio Hotel's Rio Bamba Lounge is the best $20 worth of great songs, sung extremely well and impeccably played. ... That includes tax, gratuity and two drinks. ... The room was full at 7:30 p.m. last Tuesday.

The 15-song program varies from show to show. ... The second performance, also capacity that night, is at 9:30; they're off on Wednesday. ... At the show caught, there was an overture followed by "Come Fly With Me," "The Lady Is A Tramp," "I've Got The World On A String," "For Once In My Life" and "Come Rain Or Come Shine."

It's the Frank Sinatra songbook throughout except for Billy Joel's "Just The Way You Are." Lippia closes with "New York, New York," "Send In The Clowns" with Falcone on piano, and "My Way."

Anent Lippia

Lippia, born and raised in Connecticut and "discovered" performing in Florida, sings like Sinatra but remains very much his own person. ... His is not a Sinatra impression; what you're hearing is the singer's natural sound, backed by what were Sinatra's original arrangements, updated in part and enhanced by Vincent Falcone.

Lippia's support team includes Tino Barzie, who was associated with both band leader Tommy Dorsey, Sinatra's first mentor, and with Frank, guiding Frank Jr.'s career. ... He was later involved in making Pia Zadora more successful than she would have been, otherwise.

Falcone was the elder Sinatra's musical director for 10 years. ... The third member is the venerable Lee Solters, Sinatra's publicist for most of Frank's career, succeeded in recent years by his daughter, Susan Reynolds. ... Lippia's future seems assured.

The experience

What you will experience musically is the best argument for "live" music that could possibly be made. ... It would be good if every marketing maven, hotel accountant and attorney would come in and see the audience response as well. ... Old-timers will recall the excitement of Vic Damone with Joe Parnello's orchestra, another kick-butt band, that featured Joey Preston on drums.

The orchestra

Vincent Falcone conducts at the piano with a fellow musical director, Frank Leone, on keyboards, along with John Jacobson and Peter Radd. ... The rest of the rhythm section includes Tommy McDermott, guitar; Brace Phillips, bass; Jerry Fischer, drums; and Jack Cenna, percussion. ... Fischer conducted for Liza Minnelli, among many others.

Tommy Porrello plays lead trumpet, Dick Alber, Danny Falcone (Vincent's son), Rocky Lombardo, Mario Pino and Rocky Winslow alternate in the four chairs. ... The trombone chair occupants are Walt Boenig, Earl Green, Dick McQuary, Ralph Presler, Barry Ross and Gary Russell.

Rod Adams, Gary Freyman, Fred Haller, Gordon McKenna, Sam Pisciotta, Jay Rasmussen, Jay Volney and Denis Wilson are the reed section stalwarts. ... The show's options have been picked up; Steve Lippia and the Vincent Falcone Orchestra appear to have a home at the Rio.

It's Irish time

Only 19 more days to St. Patrick's Day, March 17. ... The annual Sons and Daughters of Erin St. Patrick's Day Parade will start at Fourth and Coolidge at 10 a.m., proceed north to Ogden, turn left, disband and quickly reassemble at the Maxim for a day-long block party with food, drink and entertainment by Brendan Boyer and the Royal Irish Show Band.

On March 15, the entire Doyle's Cabaret Show, direct from Dublin, Ireland, starring comedian Owen V. Ginnity, will perform in Arizona Charlie's big ballroom.

Poet Seamus Heaney, winner of the 1995 Nobel Prize for Literature, had a turn-away crowd for his reading and lecture, Feb. 19, at UNLV. ... We'll keep you posted on other upcoming Irish activities.

Friday addenda

Columnist Clarence Page, a 1989 Pulitzer Prize winner for commentary, will be the Barrick Lecture Series guest speaker Monday in UNLV's Ham Hall at 7:30 p.m. ... Admission is free but by ticket only. ... See you Thursday.

archive