Vegas critic gives Lani almost perfect score

As we all know, after a quick trip home several weeks ago for a corporate show (and a performance at a PLDT/Smart event in Hong Kong), Lani Misalucha is back wowing crowds at the Flamingo in Las Vegas.

Glynn Yap of Rosy Cheeks Entertainment Group, Inc., producer of Lani and the Society of Seven’s show at Flamingo, sent Funfare a clipping of critic Jerry Fink’s glowing review published by Las Vegas Sun.

"Fink gave Lani an amazing 4.5 stars out of a possible five stars," wrote Glynn. "She really makes us Filipinos proud."

Here’s Fink’s review in full, entitled SOS Sends a Message: Band Bouncing Back After Vocalist’s Death:

IF YOU GO

What: The Society of Seven with Lani Misalucha

Where: Flamingo Showroom

When: 3 p.m., Wednesdays through Sundays

Tickets: $49.95; 733-3333

Rating (out of 5 stars): **** 1/2

Las Vegas’ premier show band has weathered a lot of storms.

The winds of fate have blown the Society of Seven from casino to casino over the past five years – Hilton, Golden Nugget, Aladdin, Bally’s and finally to the Flamingo.

But the hurricane blow was the death of lead vocalist Gary Bautista, who suffered a massive stroke in April during a show in Los Angeles. The 54-year-old Bautista had been with the band for 22 years.

Although his bandmates are still getting over his death, SOS is once again sailing smoothly with an energized new production that debuted in August.

Bautista could imitate hundreds of singers and was an irreplaceable part of the band. But 32-year-old singer Mark Escueta has a wide vocal range and excellent comic timing. Although he is not yet in Bautista’s league, the former member of the dance band San Fernando takes on a good share of the production, dancing, singing and cutting up with the cast.

His imitations of Michael Jackson and Barry Gibb are superb, he does an excellent take on Stevie Wonder, and he isn’t bad when he sings Josh Groban’s You Raise Me Up in his own voice.

He quickly has fit in with a troupe that began performing 10 years before he was born. But Escueta, a native of the Philippines, is still a junior partner in this corporation.

Two of its founders, Tony Ruivivar (host, guitarist) and Bert Sagum (percussionist, dancer and comedian), have been with the group since it began performing in Hong Kong in the early ’60s. SOS also includes longtime members Hoku Low on bass, Roy Guerzo on keyboards and Wayne Wakai, who plays several instruments. Vince Mendoza has replaced Randy Abellar on drums.

Two years ago SOS added an eighth member Lani Misalucha, one of the Philippines’ most popular singers. In addition to doing imitations, Misalucha has a spine-tingling operatic voice that adds a new dimension to the group.

There was no thought of abandoning the show after Bautista died.

Three days after a memorial service in Las Vegas, SOS performed in Texas with a temporary replacement and began a national tour that continued until they landed the engagement at the Flamingo.

"There have been many deaths over the years," said Ruivivar, whose brother, Danny, died at 24. "So everybody knows the show must go on."

The production has undergone major changes since Bautista’s death. Ruivivar estimated that about 60 percent of the show is different, taking greater advantage of each of the members’ vocal and instrumental talents. The new production is faster paced.

Most of the 90-minute show is played for laughs, with a rapid series of impressions of such artists as Little Richard, Celine Dion and Dionne Warwick. The closing includes Broadway show stoppers from Man of La Mancha, Chicago and West Side Story. The finale is a rousing medley of God Bless the USA and God Bless America.

The revamped production does Bautista’s memory proud.

"His spirit is still with us," Ruivivar said.

Escueta claims he has felt Bautista tapping him on the shoulder several times – "especially in the middle of a song."

"Gary was like that," Ruivivar said. "Always clowning."

Jerry Fink can be reached at 259-4058 or at [email protected].

Another Pinay doing well in US television

Here’s more news from the US, contributed by The STAR’s L.A. correspondent Baby K. Jimenez:

Kris Vera-Phillips produces Good Morning Kansas, 49 News’ morning newscast.

Kris loves an adventure and this California girl knew one was waiting for her in Topeka with the launch of 49 News.

Traveling must be in her blood. Nearly 30 years ago, her parents left behind family in the Philippines to pursue job opportunities in the US.

After her family and husband, journalism is her next love. She is fascinated by the art of storytelling. She’s excited about utilizing the latest innovations in broadcast and on-line journalism to produce a newscast that will inform, educate and inspire her audience.

Kris earned her bachelor degree in American Studies from the University of California, Berkeley. After working in tech support for three years, she earned her master’s of science from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University.

Through the Medill News Service, Kris worked as an assistant producer for Reuters Television in London. In Medill’s Chicago newsroom, she covered the technology beat for Chicago daily papers and produced a weekly-news program for Evanston and Chicago Public Television. She also joined the D.C. Bureau of the Medill News Service where she reported on the Illinois and Kentucky delegations on Capitol Hill.

In the San Francisco Bay Area, Kris reported on politics, business and culture for KALX News on 90.7 FM. Kris created and produced a news magazine on Bay Area living. She has interviewed a diverse range of people: from filmmaker Gene Cajayon to House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. Kris also interned for CNN San Francisco and KTVU, the Fox affiliate in Oakland, California.

Kris enjoys exploring Kansas and taking pictures of practically anything the Sunflower State has to offer: co-workers, food and tourist attractions. She also has a new addition to her family, her cocker spaniel, Daisy. She adopted the adorable pooch from the Helping Hands Humane Society of Topeka.

Get an RSS feed of stories by Kris.

Fr. Corsie’s healing sked

Here’s Fr. Corsie Legaspi’s healing schedule for the rest of September:

• Sept. 25, Monday, 1 to 5 p.m., at the Coming Home Retreat and Meditation Center, Binakayan, Cavite;

• Sept. 26, Tuesday, 1 to 5 p.m., at Sta. Lucia Parish Church, Sesmuan, Pampanga, and

• Sept. 27, Wednesday, 1 to 5 p.m., at the Coming Home Retreat and Meditation Center, Binakayan, Cavite.

(Note: For further inquiries, call Michael at 046-434-8759 or 046-878-0069, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays.)

* * *

E-mail reactions at [email protected]