A great tribute act is so much more than just a performer singing the songs of a well-known entertainer.  When it works, it can be a transporting experience; but when it doesn’t, it can fall flat.  Fortunately for our purposes, Purple Reign – THE Prince Tribute Show, now appearing at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino, falls into the former category.

Starring the charismatic and talented Jason Tenner as the late, great Prince Rogers Nelson; Purple Reign is comprised of capable musicians who make the most of Prince’s expansive catalogue, and clearly have a great time so doing.

And while Tenner is the driving force (as was Prince in anything he touched), the evening contains a few show-stealing numbers by Drew James as Morris Day and Kendrick Harmon as Jerome, of The Time; as well as Sabrina Coleman doing double-duty, performing “Sex Shooter” (by Apollonia 6) and “Nasty Girl” (by Vanity 6).

But there’s a reason that David Letterman (who’s seen his share of bands) selected Purple Reign to be the first tribute act to appear as the musical guest on CBS’s The Late Show with David Letterman (November 2008), and then brought them back to ring in the New Year, a mere month-and-a-half later, to be The Late Show’s first musical performance of 2009.  And that reason is Jason Tenner.

While the likeness is pretty good (albeit with a disparity in height, as Prince stood only 5’3” tall); it’s the manner in which he channels The Purple One’s mannerisms – the onstage cockiness, that seemingly insouciant swagger, and the sparkle in the eye – all the while radiating the knowledge that he was indubitably the most talented, most bad-ass, and all around sexiest MF, in whichever room he was in, at that moment.  That’s what makes Purple Reign work.

For instance, at one point, a pair of ladies strolled in late (about 30 minutes into the show).  Tenner, in character as Prince, stopped the show, and said to them “Y’all late!  But, you’re just in time for the sexiest part of the show!”

In addition to the vocal talents, the musicality of the group is fantastic.  Prince was widely considered to be one of the great music prodigies of our time, having become a virtuoso on dozens of instruments (he played all 27 instruments on his debut album); and while Tenner sticks to his guitar (and rather beautifully, I might add); he’s got strong support from musical director D’Andre Farley on guitar, Damon “Dr. DB” Bartlett on keyboards, Jason Underwood on bass, and LC Crawford on drums.

And now the funktacular party doesn’t stop, when the curtain falls; because on Friday nights, the International Theater at the Westgate hosts Purple Reign After Dark.  In addition to taking over “the big room” for the weekend audience, post-concert, the party moves upstairs to The Crown Room, where the band turns it out with a funk-fusion after-party for VIP guests, in a sophisticated 21-and-over setting.

Never the same show twice, it might take you three or four visits to hear all of your favorites (a true sign of the band’s wherewithal with regards to Prince’s catalogue); but the most recent time I went, I was thrilled to hear such evergreen hits by The Artist Once Known as The Artist Formerly Known as Prince, as “Controversy,” “Love Bazaar,” “Little Red Corvette,” “Let’s Go Crazy,” “Raspberry Beret,” “Darling Nikki,” and “Erotic City” as well as “Gett Off,” “Cream,” and Purple Reign’s de rigueur closing number, “Purple Rain.”  So, now, if I wanna hear “I Wanna Be Your Lover” or “The Beautiful Ones” I’ll just go back and see the show, again (though perhaps I’ll drop Jason a line, first…).

If you’re a fan of Prince’s oeuvre, or just find yourself in the mood for some fierce rump-shaking funk, then join the beautiful ones at the Westgate, for an evening with Purple Reign.

Purple Reign After Dark | Fridays
International Theater | Westgate Las Vegas
Click HERE for info

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