In the 1940s, jazz was a way for American citizens to celebrate American culture and create hope and joy in a time of conflict and despair. The American River College Jazz Ensemble commemorated the spirit and music of this era in its 12th annual “A Tribute to the War Years” concert held Friday, April 25. 

The concert started with a sweet performance of an armed forces medley that honored the veterans in the room. Dyne Eifertson, the ARC Jazz Ensemble’s conductor, encouraged the veterans in the audience to stand up for recognition and applause when they heard the anthem of their branch of the military. 

The jazz ensemble played music by singers and composers like Glenn Miller, Ella Fitzgerald and the Andrews sisters. Pennsylvania 6-5000, as performed by Glenn Miller, was a crowd favorite, with many attendees getting up to dance during the performance. 

The show reflected the transition from big band music to smaller jazz groups that transpired in the 1940s by featuring performances from smaller jazz combos made up of ARC band students. One group, Macrology, performed its rendition of “Jump Up, Super Star,” from the video game “Super Mario Odyssey.” The group took a recognizable, fun, electronic song and transformed it into a bouncy jazz number that fit perfectly within the era of the 1940s. 

The standout performance of the night was the series of Andrews Sisters songs sung by Abigayle Graham, Ashli Bajone and Daletza Benitez Macias. The trio created a beautifully enchanting harmony backed by the jazz ensemble’s powerful big band to present a rhythmic and energetic production that encouraged the audience to boogie, shimmy and twist to the music. 

The ARC Jazz Ensemble’s 12th annual “Tribute to the War Years” concert was an impressive show of talent and a great introduction to jazz. The band created a great atmosphere for audience members to get lost in the music and be transported to another time.