Lady Gaga’s new Harlequin release opens with the jazzy, vintage Hollywood classic “Good Morning.”
But parts of this album were recorded in one night in Las Vegas.
This past June and July, Gaga’s backing band and more than 20 Las Vegas musicians and singers gathered at the Palms studio.
Gaga’s bandleader and great trumpet player Brian Newman led the core band, with Alex Smith on keys, Steve Cortica on saxophone, Daniel Foos on bass, and Donald Barrett on drums.
Newman and Foos have recently been booking bands and (in Foose’s case) playing fairly regularly at Bruno Mars’ “The Pinky Ring” at the Bellagio. They will be joined by talented guitarist Tim Stewart, who has played on Dolby Live and NoMad Library.
Gaga and Grammy-winning studio wizard Ben Rice co-produced Harlequin. Rice produced “A Star Is Born – Soundtrack”.
“I can’t express how much fun this was to make a record,” Newman said by phone from New York on Saturday. “It was amazing. I hate to use the word ‘organic,’ but it all came together so naturally.” ”
Most of the Las Vegas players who participated in the “Harlequin” sessions were part of Gaga’s “Jazz + Piano” orchestra at Dolby Live. They alternated sessions at Palms Studios, playing at Dolby Live and, in the case of Newman’s band, Nomad Library’s After Dark.
Local musicians credited on Harlequin who also played on Jazz + Piano are violinists Lauren Cordell and Rahman Philip. viola Tiana Heppner and John Pollock; Moonlight Tran for cello. Trumpet: Danny Falcone, Gil Kaup, Jason Levi. Kurt Miller, Nathan Tanoue, and Islea L. Butler on trombone; saxophonists Rob Mader, Eric Tewald, Rick Keller, and Adam Schroeder;
In addition to the official “J+P” cast, “Harlequin” also stars violinist Rebecca Sabine, trombonists David Phillipas and Kirby Galbraith, and trumpeter Tom Delivero.
Las Vegas musicians performed “Get Happy,” “That’s Entertainment,” “Folie à Deux” (a Gaga original) and “Close to You.” Las Vegas vocalists Skye Dee Miles and John Morgan are credited as backing singers on “Folie à Deux” along with the Love Community Choir.
After the ensemble joined in on “After Dark” late one night, Newman asked Miles to bring in a choir.
“That’s when I thought, ‘We need these voices,'” Newman said. “That’s just how it was. Once we had the idea, we moved pretty quickly.”
That’s especially true for Gaga, who seems to envision songs instinctively.
“We had a bunch of songs and titles, and she would come to us with ideas and we would just build from there,” Newman said of the superstar, with whom he has worked for more than a decade. “She’s really great when it comes to that kind of thing, you can hear it on the album.”
History inside the venue
The Palms studio dates back to 2005, when the hotel opened along with Fantasy Tower. Over the years, recording stars such as Beyoncé, Maroon 5, Eminem, The Killers, Michael Jackson, Britney Spears, Imagine Dragons, and Jamie Foxx have recorded here.
These sessions were led by then-Palms Studio Director Zoe Thrall, who moved to Henderson’s Hideout Studios in 2021.
Thrall can also be seen in Stevie Van Zandt: Disciple, a documentary about the legendary guitarist and actor that was released in June.
Thrall worked as an engineer and musician for 11 years before Van Zandt’s first solo album, 1982’s Men Without Women. She was featured in the studio and on tour. And no one rocks the oboe as hard as Thrall.
What works in Las Vegas
David Spade and Nikki Glaser on the Strip. The dual comic headliner returns to the Venetian Theater for six dates in 2025: March 21-22, May 16-17, and September 5-6 (tickets available at Ticketmaster.com On sale Friday at 10 a.m. Pacific Time). VenetianLasVegas.com or at The Venetian Box Office).
Spade and Glazer are among the many stand-up stars who moved on in their careers after Mirage and its Ace of Comedy series ended. However, the brand will reportedly reopen at the Palazzo Theater next year alongside Shin Lim’s new show.
continue?
Classic rock band Kansas canceled their show at the Smith Center’s Reynolds Hall just hours before taking the stage Saturday. The performance was part of the band’s 50th anniversary tour.
The Smith Center cited “multiple factors” for the show’s cancellation. At least it didn’t turn out to be an “unforeseen situation” or a “schedule conflict.” It is unclear if or when the band will return.
cool hang alert
The great singer/songwriter Michael Grimm, backed by Jimmy Trippi on guitar and Bill Zappia on keys, performs Thursdays from 7 to 10 p.m. at the Dispensary Lounge, 2451 East Tropicana Avenue. I will. This group appears under the banner The Mr. Nobody Project.
There was also musical virtuosity, and Zappia developed some interesting stage tricks. No cover, minimum 2 drinks. For more information, visit TheDispensaryLounge.com.
John Katsirometes’ column appears daily in Section A. His “PodKats!” podcast can be found at reviewjournal.com/podcasts. Please contact us at jkatsilometes@reviewjournal.com. to follow @johnnykats X, @JohnnyKats1 on Instagram.