All that JAZZ

Mike Sciacca

The name of Tom Kubis is synonymous with success in the world of

musical arrangements.

From New York City’s Carnegie Hall to the Kennedy Center in

Washington, D.C., Kubis’ work has been performed by singing legends

of both jazz and big band.

The 52-year-old, who has taught arranging, synthesizer and improv

at Golden West College since 1978 and is the school’s music

instructor, is taking on the role of musical director for the major

production, “Like Jazz,” at the Music Center in Los Angeles’ Mark

Taper Forum.

Kubis arranged the music for the Cy Coleman and Allan and Marilyn

Bergman musical, now running through Jan. 25.

Coleman is a three-time Tony, three-time Emmy and two-time Grammy

Award-winning artist who wrote the music for “Sweet Charity.”

The Bergmans have won three Oscars and multiple Grammys and wrote

the Barbra Streisand hit, “The Way We Were.”

Kubis, a resident of Huntington Beach, has worked extensively with

the trio throughout the years.

“I’ve had a wonderful time with this project,” Kubis said. “It’s

been very worthwhile and quite educating.”

“Like Jazz” is a 2 1/2 hour program that features 16 songs

performed by an 18-piece jazz band on the Mark Taper Forum stage. It

weaves a story about the jazz genre while celebrating the music of

its artists.

Some of the jazz impresarios to perform are Patti Austin, Jack

Sheldon and Lillias White.

“Patti and Jack really steal the show,” Kubis said.

Playing before packed audiences, the show has received critical

acclaim. One critic even called the collaboration “a hot rum toddy

for the soul.”

“We’re thrilled with the reviews,” Kubis said. “The last musical I

did was in 1968.”

That’s when Kubis was a student at Huntington Beach High and the

production, he recalled, was “Bye, Bye Birdie.”

Since graduating from Huntington in 1969, Kubis has been involved

in some aspect of band.

He plays the saxophone, piano, flute and clarinet. He studied at

Orange Coast College and went on to graduate from Cal State Long

Beach. It was while studying 20th century composition at Long Beach

that his interests turned toward jazz composition and arranging.

His musical credits included several television specials and his

arrangements have been performed at virtually every major jazz

festival in the world.

Kubis also was an arranger for Steve Allen the last seven years of

the composer/comedian’s life, and he had worked for five years

arranging and playing for singer Helen Reddy.

His arrangements can be found on more than 100 CDs.

Working with “Like Jazz,” Kubis said he has felt a sense of

family.

“It really is like old home week with this show,” he said. “We had

a chance to hand-pick members of the band and a lot of these talented

musicians -- and most of them are seasoned performers who have done

major theatrical productions -- went to either Orange Coast College

or Long Beach State. It’s been worth the drive up from Huntington

Beach to LA, just to work with them on this show.”

Kubis, who leads the Monday night jazz band at Golden West

College, has had the added thrill of having his son, Jon, serve as

the show’s assistant musical director.

Jon Kubis originally was the show’s second piano player who worked

rehearsals. He plays the piano twice weekly with a jazz band at the

French Market at Disneyland.

“It’s been really wonderful to work with my father,” said Jon

Kubis, 23, a 1998 graduate of Huntington Beach High. “It’s really

been interesting to watch the birth of a new show grow from the

thoughts of several people, become a concept, then finally make its

way to the stage. Watching my father work has been inspiring.”

What Tom Kubis said has inspired him with “Like Jazz” has been the

opportunity to work with a bevy of talented performers.

“I’m extremely honored to be working with the top echelon of

artists,” he said. “I’m extremely comfortable working in this type of

environment. Jazz is something I’m really passionate about.”