Ybarra Does the Beatles 

By Steven Libowitz   |   January 9, 2024
Local guitar legend Toby Ybarra takes on the (somewhat similarly legendary) Beatles (courtesy photo)

Over the years, we’ve seen Santa Barbara native Tony Ybarra in a wide variety of settings. One of the most sought-after Spanish/Latin guitarists on the West Coast, Ybarra is also an active composer and recording artist whose music has been featured in such TV shows as Dexter and Madam Secretary. He’s performed with jazz composer Maria Schneider and local legends Kenny Loggins and Michael McDonald, including serving as guitarist, arranger, and musical director for some of the latter’s local concerts and albums. More recently, Ybarra has been hosting a monthly jazz gig every first Thursday of each month at The Blue Owl where the guitarist, stand up bassist Santino Tafarella, and drummer Matt Perko serve as the core trio for jam sessions that draw jazz instrumentalists and vocalists into the closest thing Santa Barbara has to something akin to a New York City jazz club. 

This Sunday, January 7, though, Ybarra will bring his gifts and guests to SOhO for a special tribute to the Beatles that will feature frequent vocalist collaborators Melody Collins, Alison Tuma, and Leesa Beck along with bassist Ralph Lowi and drummer Elias Vasquez (both Ybarra’s former colleagues during his tenure at SBCC’s music department) and singer Karen Parkhouse. Expect lovely Latin rhythms and heavenly harmonies to give a whole new flavor to the Fab Four’s songs.

Visit http://sohosb.com for more information and tickets

 

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