Daily News from New York, New York • 32

Trio Swings at Michael's 00 'Desert Song' Opens New Seas By DOUGLAS WATT When standout studio musicians merge into a new combo, it takes a while for a warm, collective musical personality to emerge from the cold-as-ice professional Reprinted from yesterday's late editions) TWre doinff "The Desert Song" at the Uris. All of it. And the extent of your susceptibility to this revival of the 1926 Romberg' operetta, which last night opened a new Miss Callan, a small and handsome brunette, treat the enthral-lingly stupid book with splendid aplomb. The others, too. A rubber-legged Jerry Dodge and bouncy Britt Swanson are a fine comic pair.

Dodge is particularly good, actually making the old wheezes come to life from time to time. In other parts, Shepperd Strudwick (the general), Stanley Grover (Margot's fiance), and P5 3 C4 fa to 1-1 smoothness. The Hank Jones trio is still in the melting process, but the three showed signs of getting it together on the piano, bass and guitar during their opening night set at Michael's Pub, 211 E. 55th an unlikely jazz haven. Hank is a song-writing pianist flanked by Rene Palmier on guitar and George Dvivier on Playing It Cool They play it cool, keeping their sounds cooking on a low flame.

"Anybody can get up there and jam," said Hank. "We don't want to do that. We want to play good, solid jazz the kind you don't hear enoutfh of any more. Forming the combo was one of those decisions you have to come to. You have td play so you don't lose what you have.

What the Hank Jones trio has going for it i3 more than half a century of experience. Hank got eoin? with "Jazz at the Phiihar mouic" in '49, worked with Ella Fitzgerald for several years and toured with Lester Young, Cole man Hawkins, Artie Shaw and even lammed with Benny Good man on a Far East trip that had them playing a set with the King of Siam A Lot of Background Hank has been playing with CBS studio bands for 15 years. Remo has been strumming his guitar for Arthur Godfrey even longer, while nurturing jazz roots that go back to the o2nd fet. jazz era and stints with the likes of Dizzie Gillespie. George, who may just be the best bass player in town, uses the Dick Cavett show as his musical base to de- 1ST TIME David Cryer (left), Michael Kermoyan and Shepperd Strudwick Broadway season, is likely to depend largely on how often you're willing to listen to Margot and the Red Shadow belt out "Blue heaven and you and I Shadow, mysterious leader of the rebellious Riffs, and Pierre Bira-kuan the sppminclv milksoD son Not that there aren't plenty of nfhpr sone-s far too many of them, in fact and a couple of them, -0ne Alone" and "The Riff Song," are almost as deathless as the pretty title tune.

Also, Lehman Engel, who is responsible for this revival and who conducted last night, has assembled some extremely attractive performers for the principal roles. The dual role of the Red of the general in charge of the desert garrison In rencn Morocco, is excellently set forth by TtxAA Cnrvr and the vivaClOUS Margot is fetchingly presented by Chris Caiian. Both Cryer, a first-rate singing iiifp-nilii xrhn has vet to lav 1 -hi3 hands on the right part, and fjfit DIRECT FROM SPAIN! TIIFS SFPT 11.hn.SIIU SFPT llTtl DIRECT FROM SPAIN! New Flav In the Wind "Children of the Wind," a play by Jerry Devine, goes into rehearsal today with James Callahan in the leading role of a 1930s actor. The play opens Oct. 24 at the Belasco Theater.

It will play a four-week engagement in Chicago starting Sept. 26. Ann Thomas, Sarah Hardy and Barry Goss also are in the cast. velop techniques that made him a standout with the Bobbie Rosengarden band. They started shakily, perhaps because of opening-night lighting problems Tuesday.

They then settled dow-n to play a groovy 40-minute set. Their best number was a jazzily slow, untitled ballad that composer, clarintist and arranger Bill Stegmeyer completed just before his death. They jumped with numbers like "I've Got Plentyl of Nothing," "Interlude" and "Jerry's Blues" and had a deft, soft touch with jazz waltzes. For variety, they did numbers ranging from "H'ip Rock 'n' Roll Tune" to al Call." Michael Iachetta Benefit Auction The Children's Circle, an educational and child care community group, will hold a fund-raising auction from 2 to 7 p.m. Sunday at La Martinique.

Proceeds will go toward the development of permanent quarters for the organization. Items to be auctioned off will be varied. IN AMERICA TCM'W. (SAT.) at 2 fc 8 PM SUN.at2&6PM NATIONAL BCX OFFICE hC OPEN FP.Ci i. f-PfCRMANCES 644 4400 TOR LOCATION NEAREST YOU a i They said it would take an army to get the mob out of Harlem.

THIS IS THE ARMY! Michel Kermoyan (a Berber, chieftain) play their parts with manly assurance and nary a snicker. But the book Otto Harbach, Oscar Hammerstein and Frank Mandel contrived (though oddly inspired by very recent history in the form of an actual Riff uprising) is incredibly si'ly. And Romberg's score, though tuneful and soaring, was predictable even in it3 day. Though "The Desert Song" has had an astonishing career, it was a bit passe even 1926. There were Broad way operettas yet to come, but the form was dying out, replaced by the breezy world of authentic ally American musical comedy.

Though this is a low-budget production, the company is adequate in size (some of the girl singers double as harem dancers) and Clarke Dunham's scenery and Sara Brook's costumes are suitable. Henry Butler has staged the production with stiff authority and David Nillo has designed a few dances. And, "The Desert Song" being what it is, it is a dancer who succeeds in stopping the show most emphaticallv. She is Gloria Rossi, who plays the rejected and vengeful native girl, Azuri. hen Miss Kossi Is not busy slinking on and off stage, leering and tossing her black curls to the amusement of the audience, her oiled body is writhing and leaping this way and that in nifty displays of nautch dancing.

Miss Rossi has more movement than either book or score. Still, draggy as it is, "The Desert Song" has been given a respectable mounting here. And if your patience doesn't wear too thin, you may even find an evening's amusement. After all, what other current show has lines in it like this: "Every woman is a slave and she must have a master. Women seem to like it." At the Forum The Latin Queenstaks, featuring La Lupe, and the Soul Queensstaks, led by Barry White, give separate shows tomorrow night in the Felt Forum.

The La Lupe bill goes on at 7 p.m. The Soul Queenstaks perform at 10:30 p.m. There will be separate admissions for each show. Ilelly Han ee At Center Belly dancing will be on display tonight at a performance in the Damrosch Park Band-shell, 62d St and Amsterdam Ave. at Lincoln Center.

Serena and Troupe, a group of four dancers and three musicians, will give a free performance beginning at 7:30. HOTEL RESTAURANT lhjlian is its Apsearinr Friday. 7 anj Saturoaj. Sejien-uer 6 STFVn WAMCMD Two s3w BigTitfy 9 p.m. irt 12 p.m.

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