What an exciting afternoon! The members of the UCSB Jazz Ensemble played some great tunes to an appreciative audience of jazz lovers this day at SOhO. Besides being totally entertained, it was so heart warming to see and hear these YOUNG musicians loving and playing jazz. Interestingly, there were no music majors in the group, but obviously, all those young players LOVE this music, but are thinking of their futures in professions like engineering, environmental science, marine biology and more.
There were some wonderful instrumental selections like Walking Shoes and Bernie’s Tune arranged by Marty Paich with some truly fine solos by band members. With an infectious beat and a Poncho Sanchez flavor, the band rocked with the old standard, Yesterdays with director, Jon Nathan wigging out on the timbales. We were also treated to some swinging vocals by two wonderful singers, Bella Holland and Laura Witucha. They both have strong, full voices, and with the super band backing them up, sounded great on standards like Blues in the Night, Ain’t Misbehaving, and a duet on the last tune….Ellington’s, It Don’t Mean A Thing.
Jon Nathan, needs to be congratulated on this band. This is Jon’s 27th year of leading the Jazz Ensemble and I don’t remember another band as strong as this one. No doubt they are talented young people, but he certainly needs credit for choosing great selections and wonderful arrangements and getting the most out of the band members, musically. We are so fortunate to have this fabulous music in our backyard.
Photos by Rob Hoffman
UCSB Jazz Ensemble May 2022
