Hawaii’s Bruno Mars is rumored to be joining the Caesars Palace stable of iconic stars, setting anchor amid the Las Vegas galaxy that has included Celine Dion, Mariah Carey, Bette Midler, Elton John and Rod Stewart.
According to the Sun newspaper in the U.K., Mars would earn nearly $980,000 per performance, and if the deal is consummated, he will bank on Vegas as his home base; this possibly will curtail or minimize his national and global tours. Simply put, folks would have to come to see him amid the glitz that is Vegas, instead of him bringing his act on the road.
The prospect of a Vegas residency makes sense. Mars sings, dances, writes his own music and has wide demographic appeal. (Or as Donald Trump might say, “This will be HUGE.”) Mars has already conquered the Super Bowl halftime show (twice), nabbed his share of Grammys and conceivably could earn an Oscar, a Tony and even an Emmy should he venture into acting in movies, playing the Broadway stage and starring on TV. I’ve often opined that Mars would make a candidate with a career beyond music, a logical transition for the king of “Uptown Funk.”
Wonder how this is playing out among Vegas bettors? …
JAKE’S TAKE: Jake Shimabukuro’s new CD, “Nashville Sessions,” won’t be released till Sept. 23, but expect a volcanic eruption. The strummer wrote “Kilauea,” one of the progressive tracks that signal a risky reach to elevate the uke to new levels. To add to this explosion, the cover depicts a dramatic Kilauea eruption photo taken by Shimabukuro’s friend Bruce Omori.
The session was recorded and completed in six days in Nashville, Tenn., hence the title. The form was free-flow, impromptu, jamlike, resulting in sounds and styles not commonly expected from the uke.
Some folks will like “Kilauea” because of its unexpected riffs that veer into new territory; others might not because it’s so out-of-the-box. But the level of expression and experimentation makes Shimabukuro a pioneer whose artistry continues to grow. Go to youtube for a video preview.
A news release from Shimabukuro’s camp dubs the CD “a new benchmark for the uke.”
Shimabukuro tapped his bassist of 18 months, Nolan Verner, who in turn tapped his buddy Evan Hutchings, on drums. So a tight jazz-like combo was initiated, and the intimate give-and-take gives Shimabukuro’s Kamaka uke a new vocabulary, embracing rock, soul and jazz. …
STARS BRIGHT: “Brighter Still,” that musical tribute to the late educator-director Ron Bright, was a singular sensation Aug. 6 at the Hawaii Theatre.
With Olympian effort and astonishing polish — call it gold medal triumph — a performing cast of 60, joined by 60 keiki chorale singers from Kamehameha Schools, paid tribute to the beloved mentor who touched and changed lives of youngsters over five decades.
With collaborative direction, staging and choreography by Jade Stice, Allan Lau, Mary Hicks and Clarke Bright, “Brighter Still” was an endearing labor of love. It had Mr. B’s fingerprints on much of the fare, with song choices that had something to say, with execution reflecting some of his ways.
There were solos, duets, trios and ensemble numbers, with cast members from his last musical, “Hairspray,” turning back the clock and reigniting memories. A clever re-interpretation of that popular “Will Rogers Follies” number “Our Favorite Son” — comprised of performers hand-clapping and singing while sitting — was a highlight, especially with the Hawaii tune “Molokai Nui Ahina” substituting. For a full review, see my blog. …
To those who asked, there won’t be a DVD for sale: The revue was taped for archival reasons, and copyright fees would be prohibitive. …
NAMES ’N’ PLACES: Erica Wong, who appeared in the now-closed “The King and I” in New York, was offered two roles: the lead dance role of Eliza, in the national touring company of “King,” and a chorus part in a national tour of “An American in Paris,” which is winding up a Broadway run Oct. 9. She chose “Paris,” with rehearsals starting in a week. Wong also completed a commercial for BMW for the East Coast market. …
Daniel Bess, son of Ben “Buddy” Bess of Bess Press and wife Ann Rayson, is appearing in Tennessee Williams’ “Baby Doll,” playing at the Fountain Theatre in Los Angeles. The actor has been completing a string of TV and film roles, including the untitled Amy Schumer-Goldie Hawn project that has been shooting here. …
And that’s “Show Biz.” …
Wayne Harada is a veteran entertainment columnist. Reach him at 266-0926 or wayneharada@gmail.com. Read his Show and Tell Hawaii blog at staradvertiser.com.
