This week, Ira spoke with Chef Angelo Sosa. To listen to the interview click below.

Award-winning Chef Angelo Sosa is a two-time Bravo “Top Chef” ‘cheftestant’ appearing on Season Seven and “Top Chef” All Stars. He is the author of a cookbook, “Flavor Exposed: 100 Global Recipes from Sweet to Salty, Earthy to Spicy,” released in 2012. Now he has introduced his first Las Vegas-based restaurant, Poppy Den, an Asian gastropub that features unique combinations of spices, herbs and other fresh ingredients.

Chef Sosa was born in Connecticut and raised in a family where meals were serious affairs. Sosa, the youngest of seven, graduated from the Culinary Institute of America with high honors after running the kitchen at the Escoffier Room in Hyde Park, New York, one of the institute’s highly acclaimed restaurants.

Throughout his career, Sosa has worked with culinary masterminds including Christian Bertrand and Jean-Georges Vongerichten. After opening Acqua with Bertrand in 1998, Sosa served as executive sous chef at TanDa and worked in the Bahamas at the Ocean Club at Dune restaurant. It was Bertrand who referred Sosa to Vongerichten, with whom he worked at his celebrated New York restaurant, Jean Georges. Following his time at Jean-Georges Sosa opened Vongerichten’s highly notable and trend-setting eatery, Spice Market, as executive sous chef. Sosa then became the executive chef at Yumcha in New York’s West Village, where his interpretation of modern Chinese cuisine gained widespread acclaim.

In 2005, Sosa turned his attention to consulting, working for noted industry players including Stephen Starr’s Buddakan, Asian-Mediterranean hot-spot LOFT, Morimoto, Alain Ducasse’s Spoon Food & Wine in Paris, among others.

In 2009, Sosa launched his fast-casual restaurant, Xie Xie (shay-shay) in the Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood of New York City. This venture won him StarChef’s “New York’s Rising Star” award for “Best New Restaurant Concept.”

He then formed Sosa Consulting Group, then launched Social Eatz as executive chef and owner, designing a menu that reinterprets American cuisine with flavors from across Asia. Sosa’s Bibimbap Burger at Social Eatz earned “Best Burger in the Nation” from Eater.com. In January 2012, Sosa unveiled Añejo Tequileria in Hell’s Kitchen to rave reviews. Añejo has since earned “Best Margarita in New York” from the Village Voice, as well as a Michelin Recommendation in early 2013.

http://www.vegaspoppyden.com

http://www.angelososa.com

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This week, Ira spoke with Clint Holmes . To listen to the interview click below.

Clint Holmes, named Las Vegas Entertainer of the Year three times, Singer of the Year four times and awarded the Sammy Davis Jr. Foundation award, is celebrating the one-year anniversary of his residency at Cabaret Jazz inside The Smith Center. He will be performing Friday, March 8, Saturday, March 9 and Sunday, March 10.

Holmes comes by his talent naturally. His father was an African-American jazz musician and his mother a classically trained opera singer from Great Britain. Clint admits it was the best of two musical worlds. “My mom taught me how to sing correctly, and my dad taught me how to enjoy it.” Casual elegance describes Clint’s presence on stage. His musical selections range from contemporary to classic, with jazz and opera thrown into the mix.

In the world of theater, Clint, along with Nelson Cole, created the book, music, and lyrics for the musical, “Comfortable Shoes.” Clint starred in the world premiere of this musical at the legendary Papermill Playhouse. His latest musical, “Just Another Man” with Larry Moss and Bill Fayne, had its premiere at the Nevada Conservatory Theatre at the Judy Bailey Theater at UNLV.
In April of 2012, he premiered a major cabaret piece, “Remembering Bobby Short,” a loving homage to the man who defined New York cabaret. It was performed at the legendary Cafe Carlyle, where Bobby Short held court for more than thirty years. In July of 2012, he premiered another major work, “This Thing Called Love-The Music of Cole Porter and Paul Simon,” directed by Larry Moss, also at the Cafe Carlyle in New York, to rave reviews. He received the Bistro Award for Major Engagement at Gotham Comedy Club in New York on March 4.

http://www.thesmithcenter.com

http://www.clintholmes.com

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This week, Ira spoke with Travis Cloer. To listen to the interview click below.

Travis Cloer is presenting “Setting the Standard,” a night of timeless songs at Cabaret Jazz at the Smith Center on Monday, March 4th at 7 p.m.

After a year and a half on Broadway in the TONY Award winning hit “Jersey Boys,” Travis can also be seen playing the “falsettoed” Frankie Valli at the Paris Las Vegas. He also performed as Rusty in Starlight Express, Tony in West Side Story, John Wilkes Booth in Assassins, & as a featured soloist with The Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular.

His CD, “Setting the Standard,” features some of his favorite jazz standards from the Great American Songbook. His other popular CD is “Christmas from the City.”

http://www.thesmithcenter.com
http://www.traviscloer.com

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This week, Ira spoke with Kevin Eubanks . To listen to the interview click below.

Kevin Eubanks, who performs (along with Stanley Jordan) in Cabaret Jazz at the Smith Center, February 22-23, is a gifted musician, prolific composer, and winner of the BMI Classic Theme Composer Award. Kevin is also well known as the Music Director of The “Tonight Show” Band, appearing on the show 18 years (1992 – 2010).

Kevin, a consummate guitarist, has won over audiences with a laid back style and affability that have made him a household word. His CD, ZEN FOOD (released November 22, 2010 on Mack Avenue Records) debuted in the Top Five on the Billboard Jazz Chart and is Kevin’s fastest selling record ever. His new CD is called “The Messenger.”

Kevin and his touring band, which features Marvin “Smitty” Smith, Bill Pierce (who holds the Woodwind chair at Berklee College of Music), and Rene Comacho, continue to travel the country on tour.

http://www.thesmithcenter.com

http://kevineubanks.com

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This week, Ira spoke with Impressionist Rick Michel . To listen to the interview click below.

Rick Michel, who will be performing “Sinatra Forever starring Rick Michel” with his 24-piece orchestra at the M Resort on Saturday, February 23^rd, has been a master impressionist for more than thirty years. He has shared the stage with  Rich Little, Mickey Rooney, John Byner and Sherman Hemsley, among others,  and entertained celebrities such as Frank Sinatra, President Gerald Ford, Tony Curtis and Steve Allen.

A memorable highlight of Michel’s career came when he performed his impression of Bob Hope for the comedic icon himself, at the Bob Hope Celebrity Golf Classic in Palm Springs. Other career highlights included appearances in an episode of “Baywatch,” America’s Funniest People” and the “Larry King Show.”

Performing in Las Vegas since 1981, Michel has been up one end of the Strip to the other. From the Stratosphere Hotel to the Tropicana Hotel, Michel has enjoyed Las Vegas being home as well as his work place.

http//www.southpointcasino.com

http//www.rickmichel.com

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This week, Ira spoke with Kurt Elling. To listen to the interview click below.

Among the world’s foremost jazz vocalists, Kurt Elling has been the DownBeat Critics Poll “Male Jazz Vocalist of the Year” for the past thirteen years. The New York Times declared “Elling is the standout male vocalist of our time.” He is also a Grammy winner, and every record Elling has made has been Grammy nominated.   Elling brings his quartet to the  Cabaret Jazz at the Smith Center,  February 8 & 9.

Elling is a renowned practitioner of vocalese, the writing and performing of words over recorded improvised jazz solos. Considered the heir to jazz pioneers Eddie Jefferson, King Pleasure and Jon Hendricks, Elling has written and performed lyrics to the solos of Wayne Shorter, Keith Jarrett and Pat Metheny. Through Elling incorporating references from writers such as Rilke, Rumi, Neruda, and Proust into his work, the late poet and Bollingen Prize winner Robert Creeley wrote, “Kurt Elling takes us into a world of sacred particulars. His words are informed by a powerful poetic spirit.”

Elling’s current project is  “1619 Broadway,” a tribute to the Brill Building, the most historic music address in the world.

http://www.thesmithcenter.com

http://kurtelling.com

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This week, Ira spoke with Steinway Artist David Osborne. To listen to the interview click below.

Steinway Artist David Osborne, currently performing at the Bellagio Resort and Casino, was born and raised in Miami, Oklahoma.  He knew he wanted to make music his life after hearing the church pianist at the age of four.  Osborne began taking formal piano lessons at the age of five.  After receiving his undergraduate degree from Oral Roberts University, he studied classical pipe organ and piano performance, with a minor in French, at Indiana University.  At Pittsburg State University,  he completed a master’s degree in keyboard performance and music composition.

Known as the “Pianist to the Presidents,” Osborne has performed before Presidents Reagan, Clinton, both Bush administrations and President Obama. He is a regular performer for Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter in Plains, Georgia.  Osborne created and organized President Carter’s 75th birthday tribute in 1999. He will be performing a special concert for President Carter’s 89th birthday in October 2013.

Before the Bellagio, Osborne was a fixture at Caesars Palace for 12 years where he performed nightly on the Steinway owned by Frank Sinatra.

Osborne performs concerts worldwide with a trio. His music includes romantic,

http://www.davidosbornemusic.com

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This week, Ira spoke with Gordie Brown . To listen to the interview click below.

Gordie Brown, who is currently headlining at the Golden Nugget, was born and raised in Montreal, Canada. He began working as a political cartoonist for the Ottawa Sunday Herald. After his co-workers entered him in an industry talent competition in which he took first prize, Gordie caught the entertainment bug. Shortly afterward, he pulled together $3,000.00, jumped in his car and headed south for Las Vegas. His goal was to break into the big time and work with fellow Canadians Paul Anka and Rich Little.

The gamble paid off. In less than two years, Gordie Brown was opening for both Anka and Little for more than a year. He went on to work with Jay Leno, Louie Anderson, Kenny Rogers, Randy Travis, Barry Manilow, The Righteous Brothers and Jerry Seinfeld.

Gordie moved to Los Angeles to pursue his career in stand up comedy where he had his national television debut on A & E’s “Evening at the Improv.”  After co-hosting NBC’s “Friday Night Videos,” He  later wrote and sang the theme song for the Emmy award winning animated series “Life with Louie.” Gordie made several appearances on “Hollywood Squares,” and also landed the starring role of “Mr. Jones,” the caretaker of souls who encourages pivotal second chances, on Pax TV’s “Twice in a Lifetime,” a weekly hour-long drama series.

http://www.goldennugget.com/

http://www.gordiebrown.com/

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This week, Ira spoke with Lou Christie . To listen to the interview click below.

Talking With Lou Christie – December 27, 2012 [ 28:56 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Lou Christie, who will be headlining at the Suncoast Showroom on New Year’s weekend, December 29 and 30,  began his chart topping, multi-million selling career as a songwriter, recording artist, and performer in a two-track studio in Glenwillard, Pennsylvania.  It was his rural hometown near Pittsburgh. Lou’s first million selling song, “The Gypsy Cried,” transformed a local choirboy, Lugee Alfredo Giovanni Sacco, into Lou Christie,  national teen idol, while still a teenager himself.

Over the decade of the 1960′s Lou followed success with greater success. “Two Faces Have I” was his next big hit, followed by his number 1 multi-million selling success “Lightning Strikes.”  Lou’s chart topping success continued with two more million selling hits, “Rhapsody in the Rain” and “I’m  Gonna Make You Mine.”  Rhapsody’s success was fueled by the fact that it was the first song banned on the radio due to its suggestive lyrics.

Highlights from Lou’s performing career include appearances on “Dick Clark’s Caravan Of Stars,” sharing 72 consecutive one-nighters with Diana Ross and the Supremes, and a command performance for Queen Elizabeth and the Royal Family. Lou has shared the stage with many of the greats of Rock ‘n’ Roll including The Rolling Stones, The Who, Neil Diamond, Roy Orbison, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Little Richard.

Lou had an effect on music legends  Elton John, John Lennon, and Madonna.. Elton John played piano for Lou during Lou’s ‘London Period’ in the early 70′s and recorded Lou’s song, “She Sold Me Magic.” John Lennon repeatedly pointed out in his interviews that “Lou Christie was one of my influences,” and Madonna thanked Lou in the liner notes of her ten-million selling “Immaculate Collection” LP.

www.suncoastcasino.com

http://www.louchristie.com

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