UCSB Jazz Ensemble Concert

The Santa Barbara Jazz Society welcomes the UCSB JAZZ ENSEMBLE to SOhO on Sunday, May 15 from 1 to 4pm.

Directed by Jon Nathan, the UCSB JAZZ ENSEMBLE is a community of nearly 60 students from across the UCSB campus community who study everything from Music to Biology and Brain Sciences, Mechanical and Chemical Engineering, Environmental Sciences and Marine Biology, Mathematics, and more. As elective ensembles, the community currently boasts 8 groups, including a full big band (23 members including 2 vocalists), a small band of 6 horns and rhythm section, as “Supersax” ensemble, and 6 different combos ranging in size from 4-10 players. 

Sunday’s program will begin with our “A” combo, featuring many of UCSB’s best jazz musicians, and will include music from TS. Monk, Pancho Sanchez, and vocal selections featuring Laura Witucka, an Education Abroad student from Poland.

A selection of music for small band (3 saxes, 5 brass) as originally arranged by Marty Paich for Art Pepper and Ella Fitzgerald follows the first set of music. Vocalist Bella Holland, who came to UCSB via Santa Barbara High School and SBCC joins us, along with the above-mentioned Laura and standout saxophonist Steven Choi in the role of Art Pepper. Tunes to be performed include “Blues in the Night”, “What’s Your Story, Morning Glory?”, “Bernie’s Tune”, “Walkin’ Shoes”, and “Whisper Not”, among others.

Rounding out the performance is UCSB’s flagship jazz ensemble, the big band includes music from a March performance,”Tribute to Chick Corea” and also will perform instrumental and vocal music by Bill Holman, Duke Ellington, Chris Walden, Count Basie, and others  including “Ain’t Misbehavin’, “It Don’t Mean a Thing If It Ain’t Got That Swing”, “After You’ve Gone”, and Chick Corea’s most famous composition, “Spain’. Jazz lovers will not want to miss this special presentation by these talented young players…the future of jazz!

Admission to the event is $25 for Jazz Society members, $10 for professional jazz musicians and singers and full time students, and $35 for non-members. Doors open at 12:30 and seating is limited, so plan to arrive early. 

It’s easier than ever to join the Jazz Society… now you can join online! Just press the join button on our website and voila, you’re in! Of course, you can still join at our gigs, as in the past, where we will distribute membership cards. Regular yearly membership is just $25. We are looking forward to seeing all of you faithful jazz supporters in May. Check our website: sbjazz.org or call 805-687-7123 for more information.

Note: SOhO requires proof of vaccination or recent negative Covid test.