Night Clubs Reviews

Oct 21, 2007 - Sony Holland sings her songs of love and life at Reno's Peppermill Hotel Casino

By Jack Neal

Silver Star Productions Cabaret Concert Series continued its high note of excellence last night (10/19/07) at Reno’s Peppermill Hotel Casino. Silver Star presented singer Sony Holland and she was never less than mesmerizing – a stylish, gracious singer who spins magic with every note and phrase she sings.

Holland sang through eighteen songs of love and life with her satiny voice sculpting each melody and lyric into art songs of jazz and popular standards. Backing her in a velvet-glove collaboration was pianist Benny Watson, bassist Joe McKenna and drummer Rufus Hiarty. It was Holland’s show, but she’s wise enough to know that the art of selling songs is who sells them with her. Holland was gracious to a near fault, giving continuous praise to the inventive stylings of her marvelous trio of musicians.

Whether it was a soaring “Come Fly With Me,” or the revelatory Peggy Lee tune, “I Love Me Here With You,” the Holland sound caressed each song in an inimitable way making each a personal statement on the way things are.

A haunting rendition of Clint Eastwood’s “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face,” a sultry “Sentimental Mood,” and a moody “Rainy Day” set the pace for a host of special revelations in song.

“Midnight Sun,” “The Shadow of Your Smile,” “What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life,” “It Might as Will be Spring,” and a thrilling “At Last” brought the just-right balance of musical values that Holland uses to embroider her storytelling in song.

Holland’s respect for melody and lyrics plus her artistry for breathing freshness into both make her transposed “I Remember Paris, Will Paris Remember Me?” into “I Remember Reno, Will Reno Remember Me?” a moot point for one as memorable as Sony Holland. Sony Holland is unforgettable for all the right reasons.

Kudos to Diane Dragone and Dennis Wigent, the co-powers behind Silver Star Productions, and to the management of the Peppermill Hotel Casino. Accessible sophistication is what the Cabaret Concert Series is about. Silver Star Productions just might be ushering in a new golden age of entertainment for the World’s Biggest Little City. That’s very good news.

For information about Silver Star concerts and other events call 775-851-1638 or 775-741-2626.