Swingers Welcome

Big-band music swings like Muhammad Ali in his prime, like Austin Powers at an orgy. So, what do you call a guy who began his career playing bar mitzvahs in Jersey, dropped out of college to drum for Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band, followed Conan O'Brien to The Tonight Show...

By Jacob Katel

December 24, 2009

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Big-band music swings like Muhammad Ali in his prime, like Austin Powers at an orgy. So, what do you call a guy who began his career playing bar mitzvahs in Jersey, dropped out of college to drum for Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band, followed Conan O'Brien to The Tonight Show as leader of a seven-piece, and played Bill Clinton's inaugural ball in between? You call that man Max Weinberg. Then you thank Jesus Almighty that Weinberg has a brand-new 15-piece big band with a Rat Pack style that’ll debut at the Bleau Bar in the Fontainebleau Hotel for a two-night stand between Christmas and New Year’s. The only thing that could make this concert cooler is if it were free.

And holy Stella D’oro Breakfast Treats — it is free. Be forewarned, however, that reserving a table close to the action means you’ll cough up a $150 drink minimum. That’s a lot of eggnog. Both Sunday and Monday’s shows begin at 8 p.m.
Sun., Dec. 27, 8 p.m.; Mon., Dec. 28, 8 p.m., 2009

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