The music department at Santa Barbara’s City College has a heck of a big commitment to jazz as was made abundantly clear in the first half of their benefit concert September 14th at the Lobero Theatre, which was filled to capacity with exuberant fans of this most American form of musical expression. Stellar performances by SBCC’s New World Jazz Ensemble directed by faculty member Tony Ybarra and the award-winning Lunch Break Jazz Band led by faculty member Jim Mooy, joined by SBBCC alum and powerhouse vocalist Cambria Metzinger, brought the audience to their feet. Things turned slightly more pop and rock for the second half of the show as members from both jazz groups were joined onstage by the SBCC String Ensemble under the direction of Mr. Ybarra who also contributed some spicy guitar solos. Composer, singer and pianist Phoebe Light began the set with her song “Misery” before local treasure and “star” of the evening Michael McDonald took the stage for a series of hits from the Beatles, Steely Dan, Tom Petty, Aerosmith and, of course, the Doobie Brothers. Great arrangements and musicianship highlighted by solos by destined-for-greatness trumpeter Sergio Rodriguez (among others) and Ken Riles’s vocals, everything anchored by the distinctive and passionate vocals of Mr. McDonald, it all made for an evening of unforgettable live music, capped by McDonald’s delightful solo encore, the appropriate-at-any-time Christmas song, “Peace.”
