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Vince Giordano & His Nighthawks
Times Square Grill
(Times Square Grill Website)
Mondays and Tuesdays
8:30 to 11:30 - Three Sets
1611 Broadway
at West 49th street
212-246-1960
Food & Drinks $ 25 minimum
Featuring:
Vince Giordano: Music Director, Aluminum Bass, Tuba, Bass Sax
Andy Stein: Violin, Bass
Charlie Caranicas: Trumpet
Jon-Erik Kellso: Trumpet
Brad Shigeta: Trombone
Dan Block: Saxophone
Mark Lopeman: Saxophone
Dan Levinson: Saxophone and Clarinet
Peter Yarin: Piano
Howard Alden: Guitar, Banjo
John Gill: Drums
Dr. Roberta E. Zlokower
September 16, 2004 Times Square Grill is the perfect restaurant on a Monday or Tuesday night, because Vince Giordano & His Nighthawks Orchestra are there! The food at Times Square Grill is fantastic, and tonight I dined on a large salad with Cajun shrimp and sparkling Chardonnay.
Vince brought an 11-piece orchestra tonight, and this versatile and dynamic bandleader, composer, musician, impresario is quite an entertainer; his musicians create a scintillating Big Band sound, as well. This was some of the best swing music I’ve ever heard! The Nearness of You and I’m Crazy about My Baby were played with gusto and pizzazz. Jon-Erik Kellso, on trumpet, was rousing and rambunctious. You Ought to Be in Pictures included a strong tuba solo, and After You’ve Gone featured Dan Levinson on clarinet, taking his theme from the band, and Howard Alden on guitar. Oh How I Miss Your Tender Kiss found the trumpets alternating in perfect pitch with Shigeta’s trombone.
Vince Giordano’s jokes, like “I’m dating myself; used to date myself, was a lot cheaper”, were often bounced back by Dan Levinson, who also exudes personality and pepper. Dancing Cheek to Cheek had the feel and flow of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, and Mark Lopeman on tenor sax made this song dance. Old Man Blues and Check and Double Check were transcribed by Andy Farber. Giordano on aluminum bass, with a trio of saxophones, generated a red, hot swing. A set of 1920’s dances followed, and I heard a distinctive foxtrot rhythm.
Giordano switched saxophone to tuba and then aluminum bass, seamlessly, a true pro. Shanghai Shuffle, recorded by Fletcher Henderson, brought out a Savoy Swing sensation, and Dan Levinson was superb on saxophone. Brad Shigeta, on trombone, played a Desi Arnaz ending, with Levinson on clarinet. Baby Won’t You Please Come Home, with Vince on tuba, was backed by Andy Stein on bass and Shigeta’s trombone lead. Howard Alden, a virtuosic musician, switched guitar to banjo in split second timing. Andy Stein then demonstrated quite an unusual feat, as he played violin with a wrapped-around bow.
I Must Have You, a New Orleans piece, with Giordano on tuba, was followed by This Is the Mrs., a rousing swing. While listening to these renditions, I thought of a Busby Berkley film or the Rockettes. Don’t miss Vince Giordano & His Nighthawks at Times Square Grill, appearing Monday and Tuesday nights, right in the heart of Times Square. You can even catch them after the theatre, or just stay for all the sets. You’ll be dancing out the door!
Vince Giordano and the Nighthawks
Photo courtesy of Roberta Zlokower
Vince Giordano and the Nighthawks
Photo courtesy of Roberta Zlokower
Vince Giordano and the Nighthawks
Photo courtesy of Roberta Zlokower
Vince Giordano on Aluminum Bass
Photo courtesy of Roberta Zlokower
Vince on Vocals
Photo courtesy of Roberta Zlokower
Howard Alden on Banjo
Photo courtesy of Roberta Zlokower
Vince Giordano and the Nighthawks
Photo courtesy of Roberta Zlokower
Vince on Tuba
Photo courtesy of Roberta Zlokower
Vince Giordano and the Nighthawks
Photo courtesy of Roberta Zlokower
Vince on Bass Sax
Photo courtesy of Roberta Zlokower
Vince on Aluminum Bass
Photo courtesy of Roberta Zlokower
Dan Levinson
Photo courtesy of Roberta Zlokower
Wrapping the Violin
Photo courtesy of Roberta Zlokower
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