Pacific Jazz Orchestra, led by seven-time Grammy-nominated Artistic Director Chris Walden, launches its 2024-25 season with a program of exceptional straight-ahead jazz, swing, soul, and traditional big band sounds at two leading Southern California venues. The 40-piece hybrid big band and string orchestra features guest artists jazz guitarist/vocalist John Pizzarelli – hailed for “reinvigorating the Great American Songbook and re-popularizing jazz” (Boston Globe) – and Sy Smith, “one of the hardest working women in soul music” (Plano Magazine).

The ensemble swings by Santa Barbara’s historic Granada Theatre on Friday, September 6, 7:00 pm.