SPECIAL TO THE PVT Members of the Pahrump Nugget All-Star Swing Band are, center, Kellie Wright, and from left, Wyatt Rackich, Steve Fillippini, Phil Schwart, Dick Kostel, Roger Simon, Robert Acencio and Angelo Stefanelli. The band will perform at the Stagebar Lounge 7 to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 3 to 7 p.m., Sunday. Advertisement

Entertainment in the Stagebar Lounge at the Pahrump Nugget has seen local and Las Vegas performers grace the stage playing mostly country and some classic rock. This weekend, however, will prove to be something new and novel in performances by the newly formed Pahrump Nugget All-Star Swing Band.

From music classes at Great Basin College, and through word of mouth and shared friendships found among musicians, players in the band are from all walks of life and hail from here and from Las Vegas.

Sheldon Finkelstein, manager and backup trumpet player, said, the band started out as a fun jam session. Musicians want to perform and he took the idea of playing at the Nugget to Jeremy Jensen, the general manager. From there, the idea has grown into a trial run in an attempt to have the swing band provide music for a brunch tea dance every Sunday afternoon in the events center.

The style of music encompasses country, big band and sing-a-long selections where everyone knows the lyrics.

The musicians are all accomplished. The lead singer, Kellie Wright was the star of "Tony and Tina's Wedding," a Las Vegas show at Planet Hollywood. "She has a phenomenal voice," said Roger Simon, another member of the band.

Wyatt Rackich is a bass player from Las Vegas and when word got out that the swing band was looking for a good bassist to fill the spot, he was recommended.

Steve Fillippini plays lead trumpet and has performed with the Lawrence Welk Orchestra, Bobby Vinton and Wayne Newton.

Phil Schwart is on keyboards and he too comes from Las Vegas and has played with Newton as well.

Dick Kostel lived in Pahrump before moving to Las Vegas. He plays tenor saxophone for the swing band. His past performances include company like Harry James, Buddy Rich, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Neil Sedaka.

Roger Simon is a local musician and plays drums for the band. He's spent quite a lot of time playing in jazz and swing bands in California.

Robert Acencio plays alto sax and draws on his experience of playing with the Tony Paul Swing Band

Angelo Stefanelli is probably the anchor for this venture. He is the director of music at Great Basin College and his classes at the college were the magnet drawing the performers together, either directly or indirectly.

Stefanelli plays trombone and has also played with the Tony Paul Swing Band as well as playing with the Navy band during his stint in the service.

The band will debut 7 to 11 p.m., Friday and Saturday evenings, and again 3 to 7 p.m. Sunday at the Stagebar Lounge in the Pahrump Nugget.