Jamy Ian Swiss Illusionist takes magic to new heights at the Rainbow Room If you're in the mood to get all dressed up and pay attention - veeeeery close attention - levitate up to The Rainbow Room for Wednesdays' Magic: Close-up in Concert. In this enchanting room on the 64th floor of 30 Rockefeller Plaza, you will be mesmerized by both the view of Manhattan and by the main attraction, world-class master of sleight-of-hand magic, Jamy Ian Swiss. Snazzily outfitted in a black suit with a blue shirt and matching tie, Swiss was once called "James Bond with a deck of cards for a pistol" by Penn & Teller. Swiss' weapons of mystery are coins, cups, balls and wonderful comic timing. While regaling the audience with medieval magic facts (a feat in itself) coins spin out of the air, balls mysteriously breed under the silver cups that hide them and the cards practically deal themselves. Despite the fact that all of the spectators are already seated daringly close, Swiss even invites a few lucky patrons to join him at his own table within inches of his alchemy. He wants his viewers to see that he really does magic. To verify his shuffling sorcery, a randomly chosen patron inspects Swiss' deck of cards. Rest assured none of these spectators are in Swiss' employ. Swiss announces right up front that he is paid to fib, "..which makes me an honest liar." Every cynic knows that there's a rationale behind each of these sleight-of-hand tricks. But can they explain how Swiss correctly guesses the number and suit of a card that an audience member simply thinks of and never says it out loud? On top of his magical dexterity, this ability to read minds astounds, which is probably why Vanity Fair calls him an "astonishing close-up magician!" So pick a Wednesday-any Wednesday!       - Bridget Dengel       - On & Off magazine, November 11-24, 2002