Piero’s once more ‘Pia’s Place’; Charles Checkmates the Bootlegger

A run around the scene in VegasVille, where Pia Zadora brightens the mood at Piero’s, and Bootlegger Bistro wins with a Checkmate:

The “Z” WOMAN

After a two-month hiatus to have a heart valve (her own) replaced, Zadora is back at Piero’s Italian Restaurant at 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday for her “Pia’s Place” supper-club performances.

Under the stewardship of Freddie Glusman since 1982, Piero’s is a genuine old-Vegas haunt where a killer night is either a reference to Zadora’s show, or a long-ago incident in the restaurant parking lot.

Thus, this is Zadora’s kind of place. The venerable songstress is backed by the esteemed Joe Lano Trio (Lano on guitar, Chris Gordon on bass, and Jess Gopen on drums).

Zadora’s role is as mistress of ceremonies, singing the standards, drawing on her days as opening act for Frank Sinatra, spinning a few yarns and telling a few jokes. Self-effacing to great effect, Zadora has even made light of the 2014 incident in which she was charged with domestic assault against her husband, Mike Jeffries, introducing herself onstage by her name and her Clark County Detention Center inmate number.

On her recent heart surgery, Zadora says, “I am the only woman in Las Vegas to leave the hospital after surgery with the same breasts I walked in with.” On her four-year tenure at Piero’s: “I’ve had a longer relationship with this restaurant than I’ve had with two of my ex-husbands.” On the election: “Just by winning the Golden Globe, I know more about foreign policy than Donald Trump does.”

Zadora also claims, “I don’t know who I am going to vote against yet, but it doesn’t matter. That’s why people come to Piero’s, to get away from it all.”

The cover is a two-drink minimum; the hang is priceless.

SONNY AT THE BOOT

A bona fide Vegas lounge legend, Sonny Charles, begins a run of Tuesday-night shows at Bootlegger Bistro tonight. Dinner begins at 7 p.m. and the show starts at 8:30.

Charles is famous as a member of the Checkmates, the band he fronted with the late Marvin “Sweet Louie” Smith from the mid-1960s through Smith’s death during a Caribbean cruise-ship tour in December 2007. The Checkmates hit the Strip in 1965 with a headlining gig at the music club Pussycat A Gogo (next to the Desert Inn, where Wynn/Encore Las Vegas now stand). The Checkmates went on to perform at Sands Lounge, Nero’s Nook at Caesars Palace, the lounge at International/Las Vegas Hilton and Casbar Lounge at Sahara. The band had some recording success, reaching the top 10 in 1969 with “Black Pearl,” an R&B hit produced by Phil Spector.

In their latter days, the Checkmates’ afternoon gigs at Naughty Ladies Saloon at Arizona Charlie’s were packed with local fans, but after Smith’s death the act abruptly and totally folded.

Remarkably, in February 2008 Charles’ career was given a boost when he was recruited by Steve Miller (who had seen the Checkmates play the in Vegas in 2001) and signed on to tour and record with the Steve Miller Band through 2014. At age 76, Charles is still a burner as a live performer.

PRAISE DELIVERED POSTHUMOUSLY

Tony Orlando pulled Clint Holmes aside during the Global Gaming Expo’s Casino Entertainment Awards last Wednesday to recall a long-ago conversation Orlando had with Sammy Davis Jr.

The setting was one of Holmes’ shows at the Sands in Atlantic City in the late-1980s. Davis had not seen Holmes perform an entire show, and Orlando invited him along too see the show Holmes and his longtime friend and music director, Bill Fayne.

Customarily, Holmes cut loose with a wide array of tunes that night. He sang a Beatles medley, and Sammy said, “This cat’s good!” He performed the Toots Thielemans classic, “Bluesette,” scatting his way through the number. “This cat’s really good,” Davis said. By the time Holmes dove into his “West Side Story” medley, Davis was telling Orlando, “Man this cat is just great!”

As Holmes said, “I had never heard that story until last week.” Maybe it’s time to update Holmes’ signage for his “Between the Lines” show at Palazzo Theater, which passed a modest goal over the weekend: Fifty shows in the bank. This guy, or if you will, “cat,” is something special.

ALL THAT … CABARET

I am here to introduce Michelle Johnson …

Wait. That was Sunday.

I was honored to have announced the fine Vegas vocalist for her “Tapestry Unraveled” show at Cabaret Jazz. The matinee performance did not disappoint, with Johnson unspooling her own life story while delivering a flawless account of Carole King’s classic album. Johnson recalled such events in her own life as graduating from international school at the pyramids in Egypt with, “This is normal, right?” Johnson spent a couple of years developing and framing this show, and I’m hoping we’ll see it again somewhere, soon.

Coming up at 2 p.m. Sunday at Cab Jazz is a doubleheader starring comedian Jeff Wayne’s “Big Daddy Barbecue” show, followed by Frank LaSpina’s multimedia tribute to Johnny Cash. The shows serve as fundraisers for the Musical Arts Scholarship program, which La Spina founded a decade ago with Vegas philanthropist Kathleen Ferguson. Tickets are $25; available at 702-749-2000.

Other shows of note: My buddy Frankie Moreno returns 8 p.m. Wednesday for his recurring performances of rotating themes; at 10 p.m. next Tuesday, Melody Sweets makes her Cabaret Jazz debut with “The Sweets Spot” burlesque production, with Harrah’s magician Mac King guest-starring and Vegas lounge stalwart Lon Bronson directing the music; one of the great vocalists of his (or any) generation, Jack Jones performs 7 p.m. Oct. 16-17; and Reva Rice of “Vegas! The Show” hits the stage at 2:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. Oct. 22 for her own premiere at Cab Jazz, featuring selections dating to the ’50s titled “Song Bird.”

Rice’s Broadway and touring credits include “Starlight Express” (the show that played the Las Vegas Hilton in the 1990s), “Fosse” and “Chicago.” She is a great roller-skater, but says the “quads” will not be employed at Cab Jazz. Bummer.

INTENSE SCINTA ACTION

Good news for those who favor indoor entertainment on Fremont Street: The Scintas have extended their run at the showroom at the Plaza through next spring. The family act performs at 7:30 p.m. on the last two Fridays and Saturdays of every month through the end of April.

The current lineup is Frankie and Joey Scinta, singer Janien Valentine and ever-present music director Peter O’Donnell on drums. Added to the Scintas’ Plaza schedule is a New Year’s Eve show. It’s becoming a good fit. As Plaza Chief Executive Officer Jonathan Jossel says in a news release, “So many shows come and go in Las Vegas. We are proud to have the Scintas call the Plaza home. Our guests love the Scintas’ brilliant mix of music and comedy.” And, Frankie Scinta is one of the greatest spoons players in the world. It’s true.

RECKLESS AT THE BARGE

The latest local act to play Cleopatra’s Barge at Caesars Palace is Reckless in Vegas. The band that adds rocket fuel to Vegas-styled classics plays from 9 p.m.-midnight Tuesdays and Wednesdays through the end of the year. Michael Shapiro’s three-piece rock outfit is joined by a pair of dancers for powered-up versions of, “Luck be a Lady,” “It’s Not Unusual,” and “Everybody Loves Somebody.” The Barge is becoming a whole thing.

John Katsilometes’ column runs Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday in the A section, and Fridays in Neon. He also hosts “Kats! On The Radio” Wednesdays at 8 p.m. on KUNV 91.5-FM and appears Wednesdays at 11 a.m. with Dayna Roselli on KTNV Channel 13. Contact him at jkatsilometes@reviewjournal.com. Follow @johnnykats on Twitter, @JohnnyKats1 on Instagram.