Tom Cruise visits Lady Gaga’s ‘Jazz + Piano’
BONAFIDE A-lister Tom Cruise was at the Lady Gaga “Jazz + Piano” show on Sunday night. He could have been sitting right behind me, for all I know, through I hand’t noticed. Maverick moves stealthily.
Cruise hung with Gaga backstage during the evening. We know this because Gaga has posted pictures on social media of the two together. “Thank you for coming to the show last night. I love you my friend.”
Cruise, who is 59 going on 19, is beaming like Joel Goodsen from “Risky Business.” His hair is tousled, like he just crawled out of a bunk, but he still looks like a million bucks. The guy makes you crazy.
Maverick’s landing in Las Vegas was timed perfectly.
“Top Gun: Maverick” is due for a May 27 release. Gaga’s song for the film, “Hold My Hand,” is due for release Tuesday. As a happy coincidence, Cruise’s arrival at Park MGM should generate serious pre-release buzz about the film. What luck! No wonder Gaga hits the blackjack tables after every show.
Michael Bublé was spotted at Dolby Live, too. Sax great Rob Mader, one of the Santa Fe & The Fat City Horns musicians in Gaga’s orchestra, noted on Facebook, “I just had a nice conversation backstage with Michael Buble and Tom Cruise was standing just down the hall. Crazy.”
And Kylie Minogue walked past my seat, alongside powerhouse entertainment manager Larry Rudolph. Scouting the room? Always a possibility. But for now, we understand Minogue was just interested in a cool hang at “Jazz + Piano.” Any future residency movement would be purely coincidental.
Her voice seemingly stronger than her pre-pandemic shows, Gaga finished off her latest run of “Jazz + Piano,” selling out the room once again before hitting the road with her long-delayed “Chromatica Ball” tour.
This tour was scheduled so long ago that “Chromatica” was then a new album. It’s two years old now. Gaga has actually issued a follow-up, “Love For Sale,” her collaboration with Tony Bennett, since “Chromatica” was released.
But Gaga is following through with what should be a killer tour, running from July 17 in Düsseldorf, Germany through Sept. 10 in L.A. With Gaga prepping for the tour, Newman is back at Nomad Library from June 30-July 17.
There are Vegas dates for “Chromatica Ball,” but no matter. Gaga gave a strong indication she’d be back, telling the roaring crowd, “We’re not going to be back here for a little while, so we’re all a little sad tonight.”
The superstar also said of the orchestra musicians, “These are my friends,” as she stood between conductor Michael Bearden and Brian Newman.
Gaga again embraced Las Vegas’ music heritage, in fact, as she hugged baritone sax player Eric Tewalt. He and fellow band mate Mader; Gil Kaupp, Jason Levi and Danny Falcone on trumpet; and Nathan
Tanouye and Kurt Miller on trombone brought this show home. Find them around town, primarily at 7:30 p.m. Mondays at Santa Fe’s shows at Copa Room at Bootlegger Bistro.
We’ve been trumpeting Santa Fe (as it were) for many years. Maybe one night we’ll see
Gaga herself drop in. The band can probably learn Newman’s manic arrangement of “Paparazzi” just for the evening.
As it was, Gaga found a post-concert hang to her liking Sunday.
Encore for Tom Jones
If ever we were to see an additional show, or shows, added for ticket demands, it’s for this show.
Tom Jones is returning to Las Vegas. The great vocalist and showman is playing a single show at Encore Theater at Wynn Las Vegas on Oct. 7 as part of his “Surrounded by Time” tour (tickets start at $59.95, not including fees, on sale 10 a.m. Friday at ticketmaster.com).
Jones was once a member of the legendary fraternity of entertainers to hold forth on the Strip. But the 81-year-old superstar has not performed in the city since ending a run at then-hollywood Theater (now David Copperfield Theater) in August 2010.
Jones’ career spans more than 50 years, with 100 million in sales for such hits as “It’s
Not Unusual,” “Kiss,” “Delilah,” and “What’s New Pussycat.” He was knighted in 2006. His latest album, “Surrounded by Time,” for which he is touring, was issued last year and has been a top seller.
Fall dates for Earth, Wind & Fire
Earth, Wind & Fire is set for seven shows at The Venetian Theatre this October and November.
Show dates for the legendary R&B band are Oct. 26, 28-29; and also Nov. 2, 4, 5 and 6. Tickets start at $59 (not including tax) and on sale 10 a.m. Friday at Ticketmaster.com.
The band continues to be fronted by vocal great Philip Bailey, co-founding bassist Verdine White, and percussionist-singer Ralph Johnson. The band’s longtime sax player, Andrew Woolfolk, died April 24 after a six-year illness.
EWF, as known to their worldwide following, has sold more than 90 million records internationally, has won six Grammys, is in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and in 2019 was recognized by the Kennedy Center Honors.
Cool Hang Alert
The next installment of “Viral Live” starring Sarah Hester Ross, returns to Notoriety Live at 8:30 p.m. (doors at 8 p.m.) Wednesday. Ross’ guests include Jordan Keys, Snubby J, Christal Luster, Lolita Haze, Mr. Big Stuart. The music/comedy showcase is gaining great word of mouth, and also some effective word-of-column. SHR has “Snl”-caliber talent, and is also acronym-friendly. See her show. It’s fab.
John Katsilometes’ column runs daily in the A section.
His “Podkats!” podcast can be found at reviewjournal. com/podcasts. Contact him at jkatsilometes@reviewjournal. com. Follow @johnnykats on Twitter, @Johnnykats1 on Instagram.
Lady Gaga performs with saxophone player Steve Kortyka at Dolby Live at Park MGM during the latest run of “Jazz + Piano” on Sunday.