Stage: Feels like Holmes

By Barbara Scherzer

Entertainer Clint Holmes is a multiple threat: a powerhouse singer, songwriter, dancer and storyteller. In his fourth year as a Strip headliner, Holmes continues to captivate your eyes and ears while arousing your soul.

In a new, deeply personal, interactive production, Holmes and his 11-piece band deliver multiple musical genres, including pop, jazz and opera. Holmes sets the tone with his opener--the self-penned "In This Moment"--vocalizing his hope that the upcoming musical journey will fill the audience with wonder and joy.

He gets the groove going with "Bring Me a Higher Love," which showcases Holmes' dancing ability before turning into an audience clap-along. Guests morph into backup singers for "Playground of My Mind," Holmes' self-described "medley of my hit." His pipes get another workout on "If I Rule The World," a tribute to his two musical heroes Sammy Davis Jr. and Tony Bennett. Most remarkable is Holmes' superb scat singing that provides the tap dancing sounds for "Mr. Bojangles."

The personal moments also resonate. Holmes lets us into his life with the poignant original song "America Was Waiting." While his family photos slide by onscreen, Holmes tells the story of his father, a black jazz singer, and his mother, a white British opera singer, as they begin their new life together in this country. He also shares a clip of his mom who at 88 can still belt out an operatic rendition of "Summertime."

Laughter erupts when Holmes does his impersonations. His Johnny Mathis is near-pitch perfect and is followed by the voice and gyrations of that present-day chick magnet, Tom Jones. Holmes puckishly dedicates his "We Have to Go Through Hell to Get to Heaven" to those with relationships lasting more than one weekend.

The accomplished band members are artists in their own right and take their turn in the spotlight. Highlights include lead guitarist Jerry Lopez, who provides the Flamenco guitar flourishes to the salsa number, "Canta Con Migo"; Lenny Lopez and Eddie Garcia's percussion work add more Latin flavor to the "West Side Story" segment; and show musical director Bill Fayne and singer Janien Masse impress with their singing salute to opera.

New lighting effects and designs enhance the production. The multitiered platform stage enables each musician to be readily seen as well as heard. A must-see for live music lovers, Clint Holmes and his bandmates are adept roof-raisers from the get-go.