New Years Eve with Vanessa Williams

New Years Eve could not have been better this year.

Michael and our friends John and Mykel joined us for Vanessa Williams' fantastic concert at The Riviera here in Las Vegas.

The crowd at the concert was packed, and Vanessa - as always - was amazing. The audience clearly loved the great music and the energy of the evening.

Vanessa's band was terrific. Vanessa's daughter Jillian was on hand singing backup - looking and sounding like a star herself.  And Vanessa had Broadway's Darius de Haas with her for backup, duets and a Stevie Wonder solo that rocked.

Vanessa sang to perfection, and looked just as glamorous as expected. I love that she knows her fans not only look forward to great singing but serious glam. She sang for almost two hours, getting done about 11:20pm so everyone could get out in time to see the fireworks over the Strip.

Then we joined Vanessa upstairs in her suite to toast the New Year and enjoy the fireworks from a great vantage point above the Strip.

Sorry to gush, but normally I do not "do" New Years Eve. It's just not my holiday. But this couldn't have been better. As Vanessa said, "Fireworks, friends and fun!"

Check out some pics from the evening below (click the pics to view larger).

These were all over The Riviera

Vanessa in concert

Vanessa and daughter Jillian right after the concert

With Vanessa and Michael upstairs for fireworks

Broadway actor and recording artist, the amazing Darius de Haas

With Vanessa, still in concert gown, on the balcony watching the Las Vegas fireworks

Michael and I right after the fireworks ended over the Strip

Our group (John, me, Mykel, Michael) with Vanessa at the end of the night