Educational outreach to elementary and middle school kids, a fundraising dinner party with performances at a beautiful Montecito estate and an imaginative performance of a new work at the Granada Theatre. What better way to kick off the UCSB Arts & Lectures 60th season: a two day residency featuring Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra. The first day began with 1,500 rowdy youngsters who were spellbound learning about Thelonius Monk, then members of the band led jazz workshops for aspiring young jazz musicians at local schools including, La Colina Jr. High. That evening, a lucky few partook of a sumptuous dinner and were entertained by Mr. Marsalis and a few members of his band as well as some Jookin’ by the elasticlly brilliant Charles “Lil Buck” Riley in lthe lovely living room of hostess and patron Sara Miller McCune. The residency climaxed with a performance of “Spaces,” a new work about animals penned by the irrepressible band leader and educator punctuated by the sublime talents of Lil Buck, fellow Jook-er Ron “Prime Tyme” Myles and tap master Jared Grimes. A pretty spectacular kickoff to another great season of top-notch entertainment and enlightenment.
