On Monday, Oct. 26, Santa Monica College’s Music Department hosted its Jazz Ensemble for its third concert of the fall 2026 semester. Held in a small, intimate concert space in the Music Hall at the SMC Performing Arts Center, the performance featured 35 performers conducted by Keith Fiddmont.
The performance featured a medley of songs originally performed by jazz musicians such as Oliver Nelson, Bob Mintzer, John Coltrane and many more. Throughout the performance, Fiddmont interacted with and engaged audience members by giving pop quizzes and asking whose song they would be performing next. Fiddmont also joined the ensemble on saxophone during the Paul Kreibich sextet. Each performance lasted several minutes and featured different instrumental solos, which highlighted individual performers' talents.
“The last song, the last song is my favorite. Kim Richmond was a very good friend of mine. Great arranger. We’re gonna make sure that we perform one of his pieces at every concert for the next year or so,” Fiddmont said.
Alan Osmundson, who played the trumpet in the sextet, said that being able to perform in the ensemble was a lot of fun, adding that the performing arts meant everything to him.
“I think stuff like this is really special, just to be able to get together and share some music with each other, and reminisce on years past, like Keith likes to do, you know? Talking about the history of where all this stuff came from,” he said.
“I like how he programs, so I had a lot of favorite parts. I liked that he had the small group come in with the jazz band…I love the first tune, which is 3, 2, 1, 0,” said bass player Elissa Linowes.
Linowes said, “I’m so grateful that there’s still opportunity to play this kind of music, big band music, and that there’s still people, you know, willing to fund it. I’m really happy to be working as an older member of the community. I’m, like, really happy to be working with all the new players.”