Don't bother booking a flight to New York City this weekend because the New York Connection is coming to you. Instead of yearning for big city sounds, live it up with a full-blown dance band as it blows into the River Run Lodge for a three-night stand.
Paul Tillotson and the New York Connection will return to the River Run Lodge for the third year for a mind-blowing display of musical talent and dancing merriment, Thursday through Saturday, March 8 through 10.
Direct from Manhattan, pianist and bandleader Tillotson will reunite his cronies, Brooke Lundy on vocals, Pete Levin on organ, James Wormworth on drums, Mike Merritt on bass, Craig Dreyer on sax, Pete Francis on guitar and Jake Stigers on guitar. It's the seventh year Sun Valley has hosted this show.
To put it into perspective, Pete Francis and his band, Dispatch, are booked into Madison Square Garden, with all proceeds benefiting various charities in Zimbabwe, in July.
"That's the kind of quality we're talking about," Tillotson, an Idaho native, said. "We used to do it at Boiler Room, but we outgrew it. It's a party. Dancing, drinking, singing, smiling. Eight pieces from NYC. Good times. It's like a slumber party in the nice, big, beautiful, loving environment that River Run provides. The magic. I love it."
A one-time protégé of jazz legend Gene Harris, this is Tillotson's 10th year of playing in Sun Valley. His weekly gig is playing après ski in the Duchin Lounge from Tuesday to Saturday. He also regularly does shows at such places as the Egyptian Theatre in Boise, the Gene Harris Jazz Festival and Jazz in the Canyon, in Twin Falls.
"We play a combination of swing, rock, pop, jazz and originals," Tillotson said. "Whatever it takes to shake your booty."
Tillotson has played with some of the top names in music over his 30 years at the piano, including Gene Harris, Vernel Fournier, Lynn Seaton, Luther Hughes, Red Holloway, Ernie Watts, Lew Soloff, Mark Pender, Jerry Vivinno, Chris Minh Doky, Matt Wilson, Anton Fig of the David Letterman Band, Chris Bodi from Sting's band, and Lenny Picket and Shawn Pelton, both of the Saturday Night Live Band.
Band mates Michael Merritt and James Wormworth are both longtime members of the Conan O'Brien Band. With Tillotson, they make up The Love Trio. There are several Love Trio CDs out, as well as a New York Connection CD, which will be available at the shows.
Dance Party Pointers
- Paul Tillotson and the New York Connection.
- River Run Lodge.
- 9 p.m. Thursday, Friday, Saturday, March 8, 9 and 10.
-Tickets: $20.
Paul Tillotson and the New York Connection will play River Run Lodge, Thursday through Saturday at 9 p.m. From left to right, they are Pete Francis, Craig Dreyer, Jake Stigers, Brooke Lundy, (front) Paul Tillotson, James Wormworth and Mike Merritt.
