World renowned jazz singer, Carmen Lundy, brought the audience to their feet with applause and cheers following her superb performance last Friday night, as part of this year’s “Festival of the Arts” program organized by the School of the Arts at Sacramento State.

The rich, soulful voice of Carmen Lundy filled the auditorium with songs of love lost and happier days. Her charmingly playful demeanor and intuitive connection with her band members lent the impression that the audience had been transported out of the dull central valley and into a smoky jazz club, far from the day-to-day rigor and hum-drum of life.

Lundy was accompanied on stage by some of the jazz community?s greatest players; on piano, Grammy nominated Billy Childs; on bass, member of the Tonight Show Band Bob Hurst and the all-around show stopper Ralph Penland on drums.

During the sexually charged “Willow Weep for Me,” just one of nine songs performed by the group, Lundy enveloped the crowd with her smooth, deep vocals while Hurst nearly floored the audience with a flowing bass solo beyond description.

Lundy and her band ended the show with an unexpected jazzy encore performance of “The Sound of Music” classic, “My Favorite Things.”

Lundy was preceded on stage by the very talented CSUS Vocal Jazz group, directed by Julie Adams.

The group’s diverse range and talents were best showcased during the Van Morrison selection, “Moondance,” featuring vocal solos by Noah Hayes and Toni Scruggs, with Reggie Graham on piano.

While Hayes’ playful scat swept smiles across the audience, and Graham’s stunning piano work kept the song moving right along, it was the smart, sassy vocals and dynamic stage presence of Toni Scruggs that stole the show.

Her influences and talent clearly audible, Scruggs stepped forward from the group and infused the air with a tone as smooth as Ella Fitzgerald and as soulful as Billy Holiday.

Under the skillful direction of Adams, the CSUS Vocal jazz group presented a wonderful performance fit to share the stage with such a legendary jazz vocalist as Carmen Lundy. The combination of talent, both young and refined, created a magical night of music that won’t soon be forgotten.