The MISTER LUCKY Swing Syndicate

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Chapter One:	The Cast
Chapter Two:	The Script
Chapter Three:	The Shows
Chapter Four:	The Photos
Chapter Five:	The Exit
Chapter Six:	Update: 1-29-2000
Chapter Seven:	Update: 4-6-2000
Chapter Eight:	Update: 7-15-2000 A New Chapter

*** "2001 WAMI Awards Nominee" ***

My Mother had warned me not to go out on nights like that, and I probably should have listened. In all fairness, though, it had gotten pretty hard to take Mom seriously since she had taken to cavorting with Legionnaires and frequenting the all-night strip bingo parlors the ex-Catholics had opened down on Canal Street. But that's another story.

It was raining cats and dogs when I arrived at the Blue Flamingo, and the ASPCA was foaming at the mouth. The Blue Flamingo was a casino in its prime, boasting an elegant ballroom located high atop the ground floor of the swankiest hotel in all of the upper lower east side. The bouncer had seen better days, and the better days left before he could make their acquaintance. He offered to take my coat, but I declined as I was packing heat and carrying a gun. I made some offhand remark about not wearing anything underneath, and he waved me through.

Once inside, a cigarette girl named Helena Something-or-Other offered me a garter belt or a pack of Viceroys. I passed. That stuff'll kill ya, and I got enough exes working on that already. I took Helena's number. Ya can't have too many numbers, and what's one more ex?

The Blue Flamingo was proud to present (or so the announcer claimed) the song stylings of the Mr. Lucky Swing Orchestra. A menu on the table described the unusual suspects...

CAST JERRY BECKER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .VOCALS A man with a microphone. JAY KUMMER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .GUITAR The Rhythm Enforcer (packin' a six string, and he's not afraid to use it). JOHN TAMBURELLO. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .GUITAR The Jazz Man's testifyin' and State's evidence has never sounded so good. Mr. Smoothie on a lead box with strings. TIM DONDLINGER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .BASS They called him "The Preacher," but the only thing pious about him was his upright bass. The trench coat covered a multitude of sins. MARK KINDLER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DRUMS A Market Man, on the run from the lions and tigers and bears and bulls. No wonder he carries the sticks - for protection. The drums are just a cover. The envy of Roman Slave Ship drummers everywhere. BOBBY CORNO. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . TRUMPET When Gabriel blows at midnight, he'll drop by Bobby's first for a lesson. The silent man of mystery living under a pflugelnym in the Trumpet Protection Program. Here's your only chance to get a good look at this "mystery trumpet player". KEN JOHNSON . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ALTO SAX Living under the name Al Tissimo and swinging the sultry siren's saxy song. AARON SANTEE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . TENOR SAX Wailin' on a tenor with a sound so honest the library walked five miles to return an overdue book to him. LEAH DUCKERT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .BARI SAX This modern Mata Hari tamed a beast that was half sax - half Mack Truck. CHRISTINE LYRENMANN HAYES. . . . . . . . . . . . .TROMBONE In her hands, the trombone sang like 20 feet of brass plumbing with a mouthpiece attached, and the mouthpiece really enjoyed its work.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Chapter One:	The Cast
Chapter Two:	The Script
Chapter Three:	The Shows
Chapter Four:	The Photos
Chapter Five:	The Exit
Chapter Six:	Update: 1-29-2000
Chapter Seven:	Update: 4-6-2000
Chapter Eight:	Update: 7-15-2000 A New Chapter