U.S. Air Force band, the “Airmen of Note,” received a warm welcome from guests on Nov. 19 in front of LBCC’s own LAC Auditorium. Preluded by a special military guest, which featured a Sergeant on vocal accompaniment, the Airmen of Note made a notable impression on its Long Beach audience.
“No one had to twist our arms to get us to Long Beach from Washington D.C.,” Chief Master Sergeant Kevin Burns said, after the band performed a rousing opening jazz number.
The audience replied with enthusiastic cheers and laughter, flattering the city’s sunny reputation.
“Only in sunny California would we schedule an outdoor performance six months in advance in November and know the weather will be perfect,” he said.
The band was joined by Master Sergeant Emily Wellington, a vocalist for original compositions such as “I Love Being Here With You” and “My One and Only Love,” providing a stunning jazz performance with her powerful, show-stealing voice.
Seats were quick to fill up, with the warm California weather and free admission drawing in crowds. The crowd’s attention gripped from the first opening number, a high-pitched tune drew their eyes and ears straight toward the stage.
The band also received an introduction from local Space Force Commander Mia Walsh, giving the Airmen of Note recognition for the work in creating “positive, and long lasting impressions” of the United States Air Force, and commended them for their efforts in carrying on the legacy established by Glenn Miller, the founder of the Army Air Forces Band.
What came next was about an hour of songs, solos, and anecdotes from a variety of the band’s musicians. This highlighted some of the country’s best jazz solos in front of a captivated audience.
The concert ended with a performance of the Airmen’s own arrangement of “America the Beautiful,”which embedded the American spirit of jazz into the patriotic closing number.
Colonel Ryan Zyler, one of the benefactors of the Airmen of Note, also gifted a plaque to LBCC’s own Professor of Jazz, Patrick Sheng, to thank him for his participation in the effort to get the Airmen of Note out for such a beneficial performance.
After the concert, members of the band remained in front of the stage, eagerly interacting with audience members who had made a beeline towards the uniformed men.
Walking through the throng of people near the stage, choruses of praise could be heard, everyone making their appreciation for the Airmen of Note clear. In this mass, stood the director of the ensemble, Master Sergeant Lucas Brandon.
When asked about the importance of highlighting performing arts in the military, especially for the public, Brandon smiled, and asked for a second to think.
“We get to carry on one of America’s original traditions…we get to exemplify the excellence of precision in the air force,” said Brandon.