The night was filled with the sweet sounds of big band jazz, yet again, as Soho lit up with the professional styles of Monday Madness.
The show was standing room only when the band started to play. As the night went on, chairs were added so that more people could enjoy the music.
Monday Madness is directed by City College professor Isaac “Ike” Jenkins, and rehearses every Monday in the college’s band room. It is made up of mostly professional players from around the Santa Barbara area.
Three faculty members and three students play with the band as well, and all of them are as good as they get when it comes to big-band jazz.
“The band is made up of such great individuals,” Jenkins said. “Each one of them is a professional.”
All around the room, heads bobbed and toes tapped as the inescapable rhythms penetrated the atmosphere.
Classic tunes like “Central Park West,” by jazz legend John Coltrane, were complimented by new tunes like the funky “Dangerous Cuves Ahead,” by contemporary composer Matt Harris.

Jenkins dug his fingers in to pull out the rich, full horn sound of “Central Park West.” A tenor sax solo by L.A. studio player Steve Rosenblum floated up and out, while the harmonies dropped back. Rosenblum, covering for a sick player, had his first night playing with the group that night, Jenkins said. He never missed a beat.
“The number that stole it that night was ‘Dangerous Curves Ahead,'” Jenkins said. The piece featured another rousing solo by Rosenblum, whose clean, crisp sound stuck out from the muted trumpets and fat trombones.
Trombone player Tom Secor was also featured on a number of pieces. He has been with the band for three years. Secor started playing with them three years ago, when he was living in Santa Maria. He has since moved to San Luis Obispo, but didn’t want to give up this gig.
“I like Santa Barbara, and I like playing with Ike and the guys,” Secor said.
Between two hour-long sets, band members sat around the bar to drink a quick beer and chat. A good comradery exists between the players, and that friendliness was evident as they played on stage.
It was evident that the musicians were all professionals, and phenomenal players. Clearly outstanding musicians – all having a good time – but they were also there to get the job done.
After the break, they came back in, full swing with “It’s Just Talk,” written by Pat Metheny and arranged by Bob Curnow. The band played a total of four such pieces that night, each one seemingly better than the last. The theme worked well for them.
“Not to be Forgotten,” another Metheny-Curnow creation, featured Secor at the beginning, and later trumpet by Dr. “Doc” Chuck Wood.
Wood created Monday Madness, some 20 years ago. He still teaches at City College, and is active in the jazz studies program.
“What we get together to do is study and philosophize and improvise music,” Jenkins said. “Of course, we cover the classics, but we get into charts that no one else has heard of,” he added.
According to Secor, the band is given new material every week.
“Some of the stuff is really hard,” said Secor, giving the example of “Every Summer Night,” which features challenging chord changes and tempo shifts.
“They’re a challenge for me, as well as for them,” Jenkins said.
Well, the audience would never know. After three years under Jenkins’ direction, this group continues to bring consistently impeccable playing, with no sign of slowing down.