HISTORY:
1975 | 1977 | 1979 | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 to present

1979 Continued

Another important idea to help support and further jazz in Las Vegas was a radio show. Monk convinced KORK radio station, and later KLAV radio, to air "The Reality of Jazz" with Monk Montgomery as host, Sunday evenings from 8 to 11 p.m. The show was structured around recorded music alternating with live guest interviews/raps either in the studio or by long distance phone. In the course of just a few years of doing the show, Monk rapped with an amazing array of jazz stars.

While producing concerts and radio shows, contacting talent, schmoozing the powers that were and writing a column for Think Jazz, Monk used his "spare time" flying to and from Washington D.C. to serve on the National Endowment for the Arts' Music Advisory Panel, where he helped promote "America's Classical Music" nationally. Establishing a youth group was another LVJS idea to help keep jazz alive in Las Vegas. Vanguard, the youth arm of the Jazz Society, was formed in October, 1979 to help make jazz accessible for young people.

One of Monk's dreams was to see jazz headlining on the Las Vegas Strip. He made the dream come true by convincing some of the hotels to participate in "Jazz Night on the Strip." The Desert Inn headlined trumpeter Freddie Hubbard in a show opened by guitarist Herb Ellis (with bassist Carson Smith and drummer Pat Sherrod) and singer Marlena Shaw in 1979. Heymon Washoppn'n (who had recently changed the spelling of his name) reported in Think Jazz that "the excellent music so transcended the usual Strip fare that the audience wanted more, even at 6 a.m."

LVJS closed 1979 on December 28 with a Happy Holiday Bash at LVJS "Headquarters," Monk Montgomery's house. Jamming at the party were Joe Locatelli, Jake Hanna, Bob Pierson, Jimmy Cook, Jay Cameron, John Lindner, Monk and 17-year old Dennis Mackrel, a drummer but playing bass guitar.1980 marked the Las Vegas Jazz Society's fifth year. Much had been accomplished; jazz was thriving. Even Monk was amazed that "everything is going right." He pointed to the 53 free events of that year's Jazz Month and the increased jazz on the Strip: The Desert Inn headlined jazz and the Hacienda featured Monday night jazz. The Sahara was to join the trend in 1980.

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Vegas Jazz
PO Box 60396, Las Vegas, NV 89160
Message Line: 702.313.6778