Here is a little bit of cool to spice up your day. If you love cool jazz from the '50s and '60s packed with catchy lyrics and sophisticated rhythms, then dig your toes into Tri-City Rat Pack.
In one of their rare appearances, The Tri-City Rat Pack: Bringing Back Their Las Vegas Show pays tribute to the original famed Rat Packers: Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr. on Saturday, July 15 at the Arden Theatre.
The trio, composed of Terrell Edwards (high tenor), Chris Mena (mid-range tenor), and Donavan Weihmann (baritone) are master crooners weaving a unique groove. Their repertoire shifts from the Sinatra-Martin-Davis songbook to flashbacks from '60s Motown, '70s BeeGees and '90s Boyz II Men.
Each singer contributes different influences. Edwards brings a blend of Detroit Motown and East Coast soul, while Mena, who is part of the Sabor Restaurant Group that also owns Bodega Restaurant in St. Albert, performed in Broadway musicals including the '90s hit Rent. And Weihmann, who grew up on bluesy R&B, keeps the pipes in top shape singing with Thin Line Sid and Crazy Janes.
The seeds for Tri-City Rat Pack were formed in a Jubilee Auditorium dressing room during a 2013 run of The Singing Christmas Tree. Edwards, Wiehmann and original member Bernard Quilala were heavily influenced by classic jazz standards from the Rat Pack era.
Brought together by these cool classics, they dubbed themselves Tri-City Rat Pack since they lived in three different cities: Edwards (Sherwood Park), Quilala (Edmonton), and Weihmann (St. Albert).
“Sinatra; Dean Martin; Sammy Davis — their songs are universal," Weihmann said. "We liked them and went the extra step and put on tuxedos. When you have three men onstage in tuxedos harmonizing together, and it sounds really good ... for us, it’s about what we love to perform.”
Their big break arrived in 2015 when Trixstar Entertainment booked comedian Jay Leno at River Cree Casino. He requested a “classy” act and the trio were invited as his warmup group. Impressed with their smooth delivery and relaxed presentation, Leno asked for them once more when he returned in 2017.
“We were ready to hang it up at that point," Weihmann said. "There weren’t many opportunities to perform when Jay Leno called. Bernard had moved on and we had to scramble to find another singer. We found Chris and it’s worked out well.”
Leno continued to boost Tri-City's professional career during his comedy shows performed at the Mirage Casino and Hotel in Las Vegas.
“He is a longstanding performer at the Mirage and does a one-night comedy show every couple of months," Weihmann said. "He asked the Mirage to make a connection with us as openers. The Mirage responded by asking, ‘Why should we book a group from Canada when we can get someone here?' But Terrell persuaded them. It was a huge blessing for us and a great opportunity. Who gets this kind of an opportunity to perform in Vegas to a sold-out crowd of 2,500? It was great publicity for us.”
Although much of the trio's music is appreciated by Boomers, Weihmann notes the high energy and excitement of the set list’s dance music also attracts younger crowds.
“I really want to thank Michael Bublé for keeping jazz standards alive," he said. "Michael Bublé and Harry Connick Jr. sing the same type of music and have kept audiences aware and interested. People may not recognize the names of the songs, but they will recognize the music.”
Tri-City Rat Pack: Bringing Back Their Las Vegas Show is Saturday, July 15 at 7 p.m. at the Arden Theatre. Tickets are $52 to $62. Call 780-459-1542 or visit tickets.stalbert.ca.
