The Upper Strata’s album, “Phantastic Pigeon-Holes,” retells journey out beyond the desert and back again

 By Matt Marn

Also published in AZCulture.com

Jonathan Sanchez, guitarist, lyricist, and lead singer for The Upper Strata, sits quietly listening to his group’s new album, “Phantastic Pigeon-Holes.” His head cocked to the side, he concentrates on the music, hands tapping on the table along with the beat. When his guitar solo comes, he looks to the stereo and smiles.

“Don’t ask me to play that same way again – I don’t know how I did that,” Sanchez said with a laugh.

He passes over a composition notebook full of ideas and early lyrics that would later evolve into “Phantastic Pigeon-Holes.”

“It’s funny how these books take on their own life,” he said. “But that’s kind of what the album is about: our journeys this year. Prescott, Bizbee, Jerome… It’s kind of like a little journal.”

That is the point of the album, Sanchez said. It’s hard to define or classify into a genre, because it tells the group’s own story, their growth – something that should never be pigeon-holed into one category.

The Upper Strata at the Hard Rock Cafe Phoenix, 2-28-13

Much like the Southwest itself – the mining towns, the former attractions along Route 66, the mesas and canyons – they all figure into the album’s often cinematic tracks, turning the region into a character in the works, Sanchez said. “Phantastic Pigeon-Holes” expands on ideas born from years of traveling, writing, and performing around and exploring the Southwest, and learning from the story it has to tell.

Sanchez, along with bassist and partner-in-crime Regula Sanchez-Schmid, did not want the album to be classified into one specific genre or type of music, since they touch on many styles, and people go by genre and all too often judge based on the cover.

“I read lately in a music magazine, people were ragging on the Black Keys, saying how they were not blues, and everyone was joining in, commenting on the blogs,” Sanchez said. “It was kind of disheartening to have someone define what is good or bad, pigeon-holing every artist or song into a genre, or ‘good music’ or ‘bad music.’ It’s like telling a painter not to use red. Why limit someone like that? Is it even helpful?”

The idea of a “phantom” pigeon-hole, the inability to classify something so easily, stuck with them. So they decided to name the album “Phantastic Pigeon-Holes.”

“Besides, we want to think the album is fantastic,” Sanchez said with a smile.

Sanchez said they took a lot of chances on the new album, exploring what they could do.

“We just went nuts,” he said. “We wanted to use real sounds, real acoustics – from recording in the shower, slamming shut a filing cabinet, thumping on a table, or scraping chopsticks inside a wok – rather than just opening a drum preset from some computer program. We tried to use real effects at all costs.”

The group wanted some of the tracks to come off rough and live, without the produced feel you hear in some studio recordings, Sanchez said.

“In the early mixes, you could hear amps crackling, room noise… most of that was lost in the final mastering but some of it still comes across,” he said. “We kept hearing how much better we were live, and why didn't we come across on our CD's the same way? So we tried to get that live quality to be present on most of the tracks.”

The team worked hard on every sound from every track: they got up in the morning, began working on a song, spent all day fine tuning their work, and by the evening, they had come up with a kind of rough copy. Then they recorded it and listened to it through a surround system, as well as putting it onto an MP 3 file and listening to it in the car.

“There were other songs that didn't come together and it had something to do with the chemistry,” Sanchez said. “If it felt forced, we never got anything worth finishing, but if we took it easy and felt relaxed, we got some good stuff. We would throw ideas around, record something, try it again, add something else; in short work in a way you could never hope to in a studio where you pay for every minute. We tested it in so many ways – we analyzed it; this song needs a guitar solo here, pull back on the tambourine there. To do this largely at home – with no studio recording fees, and the freedom to test boundaries our own way; it was much more luxurious. It’s

the process of getting to that point where what you hear in your headphones is what you hear in your mind.”

Whether it is their stories of a building blaze that forever changed a small town, or the story of a little church on a hill built of dynamite boxes, these tales of The Upper Strata’s journey and growth into the powerful storytellers they have become is definitely a story to be heard, again and again.

Check out "Phantastic Pigeon-Holes" on iTunes, or visit The Upper Strata on their website:
http://www.sanchezartwerk.com/theupperstrata.html

Community Spotlight: Benevilla volunteer lives life helping others

By Matt Marn

The tradition of selfless generosity that started from Mildred Olegar’s father helping those in need in his community has continued on through Mildred’s own contributions to those in her own community, both from Benevilla and elsewhere, who need help getting around, shopping for groceries, or even just a friend to listen and talk to.

Olegar has worn many hats as Benevilla volunteer, including assisting participants with grocery shopping and transportation. She has also volunteered six years at St. Clements campus, working with participants suffering from Alzheimer’s. She came in on music days to sing and dance with them.

“They may not have remembered their name or where they lived, but they didn’t need that songbook they handed out. That love and knowledge of music is stored in a different part of the brain than what affected their Alzheimer’s. Music is a powerful force.”

Olegar’s husband had spent many years researching money management at the local library, so the pair could arrange their own financial affairs. Soon, word got out, and many people – often desperate widows with financial and legal woes – came to seek him out at the library for help.

“He began holding lectures in the library,” she said. “Others came to sell bonds or items, but when they learned he wasn’t selling anything, only the truth, they flocked in. They were so desperate for help.”

Olegar has continued that legacy now herself, helping anyone she can. Some say she does too much, but she said the love and gratitude from the people she helps more than repays what she does.

“It’s just a way of life for me,” she said. “I’ve had people say that I’m an angel sent down from Heaven, what would they do without me? …You can’t stop helping when you hear things like that.”

Olegar is amazed by all Benevilla does for their participants. It has grown by leaps and bounds from when she and her husband first learned about it in that library as a resource to help the community.

“It’s just a warm place full of great people with love for their fellow man,” she said. “I’ve never met anyone that feels that friendly, loves what they do, and who gives of themselves to others. And that’s what it’s all about.”

Community Spotlight: Benevilla Physical Therapist helps participants reclaim independence

By Matt Marn

When the unthinkable happens, such as a stroke or an injury, someone can have a long road ahead of them to recovering the facilities and skills they had before. But with a physical therapist like Dawn, who visits many campuses of Benevilla – including Sun City Restorative Day Center – they are in great hands.

Dawn sat down with Restorative Care Partner Jeannette, and Tom, a participant in the physical therapy program at Sun City Restorative. Together, the three caught up on Tom’s progress. Dawn does this with every patient every 6-8 months, when she and the participant discuss changes, progress and challenges in the their physical therapy program.

Benevilla physical therapist Dawn helps participant Tom

Jeannette told Dawn Tom has been doing very well on the stationary bike. The two shared with Dawn updates, and Dawn asked Tom if he would like to add anything new to his program to work toward. Together, they adjust Tom’s personal physical therapy goals, and congratulate him on the amazing progress he has been making.

“As a physical therapist, I talk to the participant and learn about their personal situation,” Dawn said. “I work with them to help figure out some goals to set for them that will lead to success, something reasonable that can be accomplished.  We work toward something that they will be able to achieve.”

Dawn said it all started at Benevilla with volunteer instruction and body mechanics programs, but soon she began talking with other Benevilla staff about setting up a physical therapy program.

“Some people need rehab after a stroke, but sometimes, insurance stops after awhile, and they still need ongoing therapy,” Dawn said. “We can help them stay active, and we can help keep it cost-effective. I also help in other places, like an aquatic therapy session in Sun City, where we keep the cost at $10 per year to participate.”

 Dawn said she can never promise someone will get back to the way they were, but if you sit around all day, you are going to get worse.

“For example, Tom may not normally walk again, but if he sat around all day, he wouldn’t have been able to climb those stairs today.”

Dawn added many participants, including Tom, have worked very hard at their physical therapy progress, and have achieved the goals they set, thanks also to physical therapy staff like Dawn.

Dawn said one participant earlier in the program broke her arm, and her goal was to be able to play the piano again – and she achieved that goal. Another participant had a stroke, and her goal was to be able to dance at her husband’s Christmas party. She, too, achieved her goal.

“We do as much as we can to help,” Dawn said. “In general, the toughest challenge I face is working with anyone not motivated to help themselves. They need the desire to help themselves to be successful. This desire needs to come from within… if they don’t want to, they won’t get better. … And as for Tom, he has worked very hard,” Dawn said. “He is one of the best advocates of the program.”

Dawn attributes her love for helping people recover through physical therapy to a friend and classmate she had in junior high and high school who had cerebral palsy.

“She was very independent, she insisted on walking with everyone, with no special treatment – just her crutches,” Dawn said. “I had to ask her, to what did she attribute her sense of independence? She told me it was all thanks to her physical therapist. Soon, I started to volunteer more and more in physical therapy, and I decided finally it was what I wanted to do.”

Restorative Care Partner Jeanette said participants love Dawn, and truly appreciate the work she does to help them recover what they have lost.

“Any time they have a question, they ask for her,” Jeannette said. “They love her, she does a great job.”

Participant Tom said his favorite thing about the physical therapy is riding on the stationary bike.

“Dawn is a very knowledgeable person, she gives guidance for everyone trying to achieve their goals,” Tom said. “You don’t know how lucky I feel having a place like this. The best thing about this place – I meet a lot of cool people, and make a lot of friends. Everybody gets along with everyone else – that’s the greatest thing about it. We’ve become a great big family.”

Community Spotlight:Benevillla’s Inter-generational day program spreads fun, encourages growth for all ages

By Matt Marn

They say it is better to give than to receive. And in many cases, the benefits the people we help are given can far outweigh our personal rewards. Unless... unless you see their faces light up with a bright smile. Unless you can see they are truly better off after what you did for them.

That is exactly what Benevilla’s Inter-generational day program is all about. The adult participants of the day program at Lucy Anne’s Place sit down for a weekly morning session of fun with some of the children enrolled in Wirtzie’s Child Development Center. The participants of these two programs on Benevilla’s main campus join together for fun activities, such as singing and many other fun, purposeful activities. During singing sessions adults often read the words as they sing along, while the kids sit on the floor with noise making instruments, and play their hearts out.

Today as they gather, visiting pianist Dorris Pierret leads them in the sing-along, including numbers from classic musicals, like “Danny Boy” and “Kiss Me, Kate,” mixed in with nursery rhymes like “The Itsy-Bitsy Spider,” and “B, I, N-G-O.” They ended with “God Bless America,” where the sitting adult participants rose and put their hands to their hearts. One participant, wearing a retired Navy cap, raised his hand in a salute.

As the session went on, the kids got more into the music, clapping and beating the various instruments on the floor around them. Some made their way over to the adults, and climbed up into their laps to clap along with a new friend.And soon, smiles are contagious on both sides.

Allison Koegel, director of Wirtzie’s Child Development Center, sees this each and every day. Koegel was one of the key players in starting up a similar inter-generational group in her home state of Illinois, and had already seen the benefits of what a program like this can do for both parties. When she saw the role available here, she knew it would be an amazing opportunity.

“One day during the first few weeks of the program, we captured the essence of bringing the two generations together," Koegel said. “An activity therapist brought out a set of horseshoes to play, and one little girl had never seen them before. A ‘Grandpa’ taught her how to play, right there, and they both lit up. You could see the connection; the awe in his eyes as he taught her, and she was so excited to learn this new game... it literally brought tears to my eyes.”

Koegel elaborates on the terms ‘Grandpa’ and ‘Grandma,’ saying at Wirtzie’s, the teachers and staff call the adult participants these titles in order to help teach the children to see the adults as part of the family and to address them with the same respect, and that they are not intimidating, but warm, caring people just like their own families - not to mention they have so much to share.

“That generation has so much to offer the younger generation,” Koegel said. “In the United States, they are not looked up to as highly as elsewhere, and that breaks my heart. They’re the ones with the stories, with the lessons on respect and caring... it takes a group, a community, to help everyone - especially a child.”

Now that Wirtzie’s  - as well as the inter-generational program - has been open for children almost three years, Koegel said she has an amazing team of staff she views as more of a family than a corporate center.

“Some other care centers see the family as a number, but we want them to be personally served, a part of the community,” she said. “Without that, you lose what we try to do here, what we believe in. Everyone here really has a smile, knows everyone by name, asks about the participant’s family... Without that, you lose the compassion, the community. We work hard to keep that community, to protect it each day. That is my goal, in particular: for families to feel safe, to not worry where they drop off their kids. Without that, if we don’t instill that in a young age, we lose that forever.”

Koegel also knows the benefits of the inter-generational group are physical as well as mental. Through activities this duo partakes in, be they games, heading outside to the garden, making cookies, crafts with marshmallows (the adults set a bad example and began to eat them - the kids soon followed), or bringing in musical performers like harp players, harmonica players, clog dancers, or the pianist sing-alongs that got everyone clapping along, there are many more benefits than you would think, for both generations involved in the activity.

She mentioned that these activity sessions can enhance fine motor skills for both generations. Keeping muscles moving through activities like watercolor painting can help children develop these fine motor skills, while the adults can help prevent arthritis. Other benefits for both groups can include language skills, and improved self-esteem, which is key for the adults.

“In these sessions, kids learn when a grandpa or grandma tell stories from earlier in their lives, and it also helps them keep those mental connections in place and working,” Koegel said. “It is so interesting to see what a child will say that will jog an adult’s memory. One day, we were headed for the garden, but it started to rain, so we had to stay inside. A child said something about digging in the mud, and a grandpa started telling stories about how he used to work construction, and drove giant earth-moving equipment. All the kids were listening, with eyes wide - they were so excited.”

Cindy Morales is the Activity Lead of Lucy Anne’s Place - the adult day program that meets with Wirtzie’s. She said her participants love the inter-generational program sessions.

“They love to see the kids,” she said. “One of our participants reminds one little boy of his own grandpa. They love the interaction, especially the sing-alongs, and when they get up and start dancing... Even for just those 30 minutes out of the day, they really love it. They have fun, and they make it fun for me, too... it’s great. I love the interaction between them.”

Morales said some adult participants look forward to the sessions with Wirtzie’s most of all. One adult even wants to read to the children, and one comes to Lucy Anne’s only for the inter-generational group sessions. The changes they make on each other is hard to miss.

“One little girl was just sitting there, doing nothing one day,” Morales said. “An older participant reached over and took her hand and just started patting it, rubbing her hand. The girl looked up and smiled.”

Koegel said the greatest benefits from this program are the respect and comfort that stem from the children's’ interaction with the adult participants. For the adults, just having someone to talk to, someone to release to, who is genuinely interested, can make all the difference. And in turn, the children learn the more senior generation is not intimidating, and they begin to warm up and interact very differently with them.

Morales agrees this can make a big difference, not only with the children, but with her adult participants, as well.

“Some of my participants were teachers, so they have that interaction with children still in the back of their minds,” Morales said. “Their own kids may now be too far away, and it benefits them to see kids again, to see youth... they love the interaction, both nourishing the children and themselves.”

Koegel also sees this impact, and the lives it can change along the way.

“I can’t tell you how many times, particularly around the holidays, when we hear from a parent, ‘My son did so great around Christmas, he was no longer afraid of his grandparents,’ or ‘my daughter and I were in line at the store next to a senior, and my daughter just started talking to the lady, she had no fear, just started chatting...’”

Koegel's voice falters, and she trails off.  But soon after dabbing her eyes, she continues.

“Hearing that what we do, what we care about so much here, really does matter and change things for the better, it leaves such an impact, for the staff as well as for the kids,” she said. “Even at a store, if it’s even about bubble gum, you never know - you don’t really think how much it could play a part in someone’s mindset."

http://www.benevilla.org/

Community Spotlight: Benevilla Caregivers Month article - Local wife cares for husband through illness, still finds joy in "the little things"

By Matt Marn

Susan P. has been married to her husband, Bob, for 16 years. He was already retired when they met, so when Susan went on business trips, he got to tag along. And when she also retired in 2003 and the pair moved to Arizona, that’s when the real adventures began.

“That’s when we really got to travel,” Susan said. “We went somewhere every year. We traveled to Australia, Italy… once we even took a boat from San Diego to Hawaii.

Susan said she is glad the two of them got the chance to travel, and they “got it out of our system.” Because once things began to change, she admitted it would be a lot of work, and not very relaxing to travel now.

“There were things I noticed, after a while,” Susan said. “He was a lineman for the power company, where he did electrical and woodworking jobs. Eventually he started calling his buddy over to help with things he should have been able to do.”

After that began to happen, along with an alarming was a driving incident, she knew something was changing with her husband. They began to run tests through the summer, and it took until fall to get in to see the neurologist. It was a six-month process. By the first of the year, they had the diagnosis.

“It was an early-on thing, too,” Susan said. “I got a call one day from a police woman, who said Bob had taken the dog out for a walk, like normal, but today couldn't find his way home. Someone found him and called the police for help. It’s hard to get a call from the police.”

Susan was not sure what to think, and was afraid of where this road would lead the two of them.

“My fear was that there was no hope,” Susan said. “I was afraid there was not really a lot you could do; just a long and painful process.”

Susan said the pair doesn't have a large family. While Susan’s mother has helped a lot, she is elderly and understandably can’t always be around. She said she and Bob have really used the Benevilla care systems, such as the day care programs and support groups.

“Benevilla adult day care, then the Area Agency for Aging… these helped a lot,” Susan said. “It’s a wonderful thing. You start learning about the others in your group, as well as the spouses. It’s like a whole other family. We even occasionally go out to eat, or go see a movie with some of them.”

Susan said it was very hard to go to the support group the first few times.

“You hear all these people, and you know you’re going to be in those shoes later on down the road,” she said. “It was very hard for me. Now I go more regularly, most of the time. I know most of them, you start to care about them… some are quite inspiring. They may be having a lot harder time than you.”

Susan also said Care Pro was also a great service that helped them with this journey. The program, run not by Benevilla, but through Arizona State University, is a form of training for caregivers – it helps family members know what they can expect, what to be ready for, when they care for someone with Alzheimer’s or dementia.

“Care Pro should be required for every caregiver,” Susan said. “I’m an R.N. but I still learned a lot. It is specifically for caregivers; it teaches you to appreciate the little joys, to look past the big ugly of it. When I see people come in towards the end, at the end of their rope, at their wits end, I feel they could have been helped sooner by this group… They could have had that training.”

Susan said her advice to people in the same situation would be to get help – to stay connected. In addition to looking online and in the community for resources that can help, she said most importantly, they need to find others in the community to connect with… others who have gone through the same.

“If you don’t have that connection…” she began, “Sometimes I go online and read these support blogs – but sometimes I can’t even read them… they are so sad… But the people in these support groups have that physical contact. Those people have compassion for each other. And the members of the group need to encourage each other to come back sometimes. Not every week’s session is easy, but again, it’s kind of a family. That’s how a family is.

But the most important part for Susan – what she hangs onto the tightest – is the joy she finds in the little things. And the love she has for her husband, which grows stronger every day.

“You try to realize … To not dwell on what was, but what is – as they say in the support group, ‘the new normal,’ whatever that is,” Susan said. “I still find joy in things. He’s a very sweet man. Many have fewer resources than I do. I enjoy the small things now a lot more. I could do a lot worse.”

Benevilla Press Release sent to local media:

New Jivemind Music Labs features Glendale Jazz Jam, outlets and opportunities for musicians

By Matt Marn

Also published by AZCulture.com

The organizers behind one of Glendale’s best kept secrets are ready to share.

People from all over the valley, musicians and supporters alike, gather in the performance lounge of Jivemind Music Labs to enjoy the Downtown Glendale Jazz Jam.  Performers of all ages and skill levels, from seasoned professionals to a grade-school student with a ukulele, take to the stage with their guitars, drumsticks, and voices every Thursday night to share their talents and have fun in a friendly, supportive atmosphere.

But there is more at work in this building than the Jazz Jam, and whether you are a passionate musician, or you just want to try a new hobby, Jivemind Music Labs may become your second home.


Getting the Jazz Jam started

The Downtown Glendale Jazz Jam, which meets at 7:30 every Thursday evening, got its big break when the organizer, Elizabeth Doré, was offered a booth at Glendale’s annual Jazz and Blues Festival.

“We have been after a space to perform for 2 years,” Doré said. “I was working with Glendale, and they gave Jazz in AZ a booth 3 years ago. I met Gabriel Bey, the founder of AZ Culture, and told him we were looking for a venue. When he heard about Jivemind this year, he told them about us.

As Doré met with Jeff Rose and Dustin Chaffin, the two founders of Jivemind, they got along instantly, and she liked what they were working on opening the facility. Rose and Chaffin thought Doré wanted to hold the Jazz Jam once a month, but she insisted the jam be held weekly, to “keep it fresh and popular.”

Doré said so far, the Jazz Jam is getting a great reception.

“I’ve met a lot of my goals,” she said. “The word’s getting around, and we’ve hired a lot of good musicians. But right now, we are working on the financials. I’d love to see it pay for itself, through increased support, as well as sponsorships.

“This Jazz Jam is out of pocket for me and my husband,” Doré said. “It’s a hardship, paying out of pocket, but if we can keep money coming in, that would be great.”

Doré said the Jazz Jam hires a new professional jazz band every month to facilitate the jam, and people from all over the community are welcome to play. She said the arrangement with Jivemind is great, since the Jazz Jam satisfies Jivemind’s needs through the city, and it also gives Glendale nightlife business, as well as helping Jazz in AZ recruit new members.

“It’s a good opportunity for them,” she said. “We also have music promoters that come in, and they have hired people who perform there.  What I’m trying to do is establish relationships with people who are doing these things in the community.”

Doré said it is a dream come true holding a jazz performance in downtown Glendale.

“There are millions of people on the west side, and they don’t have anywhere to go. And the new performers get to play with professionals. Everybody wins; that’s how we roll.”

Doré wants to use the Jazz Jam to share the west side’s musical talent, and hopes to become a satellite for Jazz in AZ live music.

“We now have a west side center for live music on a regular basis. With this low cost and high-quality entertainment, we strive to bring young students out to play with seasoned professionals. It is such a wonderful outlet… there are so many well-educated musicians here.”


Jivemind Music Labs: A place to call home

Jivemind Music Labs, the home of the Jazz Jam, is also starting its own rise through the valley’s music scene. On the corner of 58th Avenue and Glenn Drive in downtown Glendale, the founders describe Jivemind on their website as “a community workshop where musicians, producers and hobbyists realize their projects, practice their art, and connect with others.”

Jivemind offers rehearsal space and a growing collection of accessible instruments, recording studio space, as well as regular clinics, workshops and performances, including the Jazz Jam. With nearly a dozen varieties and levels of membership plans at Jivemind, Rose and Chaffin believe everyone interested in music should be able find a comfortable environment to enjoy and practice music, and meet others who enjoy doing the same.
“I’d like Jivemind to continue to gain momentum, said Rose. “It’s going to be the happening spot, with lots of events, lots of really awesome equipment. We’ve gotten to funnel performance opportunities to younger performers. I’d like to see musicians playing, learning and networking.”

Jivemind, now open, held an open house the weekend leading up to when Rose and Chaffin opened the doors. They got overwhelmingly positive feedback, and a news network affiliate also came by to help spread the word. They are excited about the publicity, but they remain most excited about the good it will do for music enthusiasts in the area.

“Dawell, a drummer and regular here, said it best: ‘Everyone has a voice, however developed, and everyone should have a right to develop it,’” Rose said. “And we’re trying to do that. We want to foster a culture that is growing. We’re not in it to make money; we want to help by doing what we love to do.”


Different roads to the same song

Rose said he and cofounder Chaffin arrived at the need for a place like Jivemind separately, knocking on doors, making contact with musicians and organizers in the area.

For Rose, it started when he played his drum set at home, and with the paper-thin walls of his apartment complex, that didn’t go over well.

“It was not a healthy environment to play and practice,” he said. “I got my drums out of home, and I took them to another sketchy place, and soon they were trashed. I just wanted to play my drums…”

Rose said he wanted to also go out and meet musicians, and have a good, safe place to play.

“There ought to be a place in town that can provide you with contacts, instruments, and a place to play, a central location in Phoenix that provides that,” he said.

Rose said when he asked around for who he should talk to in the area to get started in the music industry, Kimber Lanning’s name kept coming up.

“She’s a player, well-connected and approachable,” said Rose. He said Lanning put him in contact with other active members of the music community, including Nate Anderson.

Meanwhile, Chaffin grew up an hour north of Austin, Texas.

 “Any day of the week, you can just walk down the street, and see a show,” Chaffin said. “The music scene is incredible. Here, there’s less places to just drive to and see what’s happening. Plus, I’ve been writing and recording music since I was able to read at all. Anything I did in music, I was very encouraged, coming from a musical family.”

Chaffin said when he looked into the issue; he found most recording studios in the traditional sense weren’t making money. So he formulated the idea for a “lean and mean” studio. He, too, approached Kimber Lanning, who also led him to Nate Anderson.

This was when Rose and Chaffin were introduced to each other.

“Together, we came up with a holistic concept,” Chaffin said. “Venues, recording, and gear usually get expensive, and can stifle you. We provide these resources, and a great chance to meet other musicians.”

Chaffin added with a smile, Jivemind is “like a gym for musicians,” and advised enthusiasts not to buy an expensive elliptical, but to go to the gym.

“And there are people there with you, with a shared interest, a like mindset you can’t get at home,” Rose added. “However serious or recreational it is, there ought to be a place like this.”


Taking it from the top

Now that Jivemind has opened and the facility is prepared, Rose and Chaffin are astonished, seeing their dreams for what the local music scene deserves turned into a reality.

“It’s amazing, seeing this come together,” Rose said. “I don’t know about Dustin, but it’s better than I had imagined. We’re happy with where we’re at now, but we know what we have to do to keep improving. It will grow so much greater from here.”

As part of that list of ways to grow, the duo is working more heavily on spreading the word through outreach to the community.

“We have great press and a lot of marketing,” Rose said. “But selling this building and getting people on board is only possible with the finished product. We have spent months developing, finishing our product, and now we are really pushing our promotional efforts. It’s just a matter of building word of mouth.”

Rose said the pair is working now on workshops and activities based around various musicians’ topics. Many are still conceptual ideas, and would-be facilitators are still expressing ideas, or are being approached by Rose and Chaffin themselves, but Rose mentioned a possible drum lab as an example, facilitated by a teacher, where music lovers can jam, practice and socialize.



“For sure, we want to expand our membership base, and the continued growth of what we have to offer musicians, from instruments and performance space to fun, interesting programs,” Rose said. “That’s the kind of stuff we like to do.”


The Start of Something Great

Now Thursday evening’s Jazz Jam wraps up at Jivemind Music Labs, and everyone in the crowd who wanted to take the stage has gotten the chance to jam with professionals in the valley music scene. The crowd is clapping for great performances, and tapping toes and bopping heads can’t help keeping the rhythm that fills Glendale’s newest spot for live music and music lovers. And off to the side, Jivemind cofounder Jeff Rose works the sound console, and in the back of the room, Rose’s cofounder Dustin Chaffin stands with Jazz Jam organizer Elizabeth Doré, all three nodding and tapping along with the rest of the crowd.

Their smiles, however, may be just a bit larger.


Downtown Glendale Jazz Jam
Every Thursday, 7:30-10:00 pm

Jivemind Music Labs
5754 West Glenn Drive
Glendale, AZ 85301
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“Tuesday Bluesday 2.0:” The Blues can smile once more

Popular blues jam reopens at new venue as fans look forward to bright future

By Matt Marn

When the Glendale blues jam known as “Tuesday Bluesday” ended along with the closing of its home venue, Next Coffee Company, they went out on a high note, with a packed house – the largest turnout of the event’s history. It was a bittersweet night for all, as everyone gave their best performances onstage, unsure what the future would bring for both Tuesday Bluesday and for the group of regulars who support it.

But the following week, “Tuesday Bluesday 2.0” opened at Zendejas Grill, right next door to their former coffee shop. Without missing a beat, the group had found a new home.

Tuesday Bluesday organizer and band leader Tom Mein breaks out his familiar guitars, takes the stage with his usual band mates, bass guitarist Rich Alfano and drummer “Rumblin’” John Rumbaugh, and begins their set with their favorite medley. As cheers grow louder from the audience, he welcomes the crowd, “Welcome to Tuesday Bluesday 2.0!”

Mein explains to the crowd how grateful he and the band are to have Zendejas as their new venue to continue this event. He said, as he always does, how important it is to continue to support live music, particularly on the west side of the valley, where local talent can have a place to perform and grow.

After the band’s intro blues set,  Mein starts moving through the list of performers in the crowd who wanted to step onto this new stage and jam with other local performers. The night featured a variety of blues, jazz, funk and even some country, as Tuesday Bluesday is admired as featuring a variety of genres for all tastes to share and enjoy.

“One thing I have noticed in the past year, there’s been an explosion of all sorts of jam sessions around here,” said Mein later. “But we have one of the best varieties. That’s our niche; we’re the most varied jam session. I don’t want to be just a blues or a jazz jam, I like mixing it up. I hope it stays that way.”

One of the performers to take to the stage was Blair Robertson, a guitarist and longtime blues admirer.

“I thought the whole night was phenomenal,” said Robertson. “I’m amazed at the amount of talent. It’s great we found a new place, and so quickly. Tom deserves a lot of credit. When something goes really well, you’re under pressure to keep that up, and Tom’s doing a phenomenal job.”

Robertson said the only problem is Tuesday Bluesday hasn’t grown, it has exploded.

“I see that as a good thing, since it brings better and better talent,” he said. “Tom just has the problem of getting everyone that wants to play onstage.”

That difficulty of organizing and ensuring everyone makes it onstage is the greatest stress for Mein.

“It can get hectic, scheduling everyone,” Mein said. “A lot of players drive a long way, and if they don’t get to play, they leave. That’s the last thing I want.”

Mein said he is very pleased with Zendejas Grill, and is sure it is a move in the right direction.

“Next was nice, but there’s good food here, a family atmosphere, everything we could want,” he said. “Here at Zendejas there’s more space, nicer seating, and they stay open later than 9 p.m. We always got to the end of the night at Next, and had to cram everyone in. This will help getting everyone onstage.”

Robertson celebrated the new venue’s opening night by performing the favorite “Honky Tonk Woman.” He said later this was a new song for him, a song he has wanted to perform since high school.

“This kind of event inspires you to learn a new song,” he said. “The beautiful thing is, I screwed up, but when you play with so many other musicians, they can help cover you, and together, you all sound great. It encourages people to come up and try new things.”

Regular Tuesday Bluesday supporters Jim and Paula Cowley didn’t expect the amount of talent they started seeing on a regular basis when they started attending the jam, and were also impressed with the great job Mein does every week organizing the jam.


“I didn’t expect this,” said Paula Cowley. “It grew from a little Tuesday night coffee shop to something much bigger. Tom is one of the better players I’ve ever seen. I was also surprised at how friendly everyone was. They are so supportive of young people or all the first timers. It’s a great group of people that go do it.”

Cowley said she is certain the jam will only get bigger from here, and the new venue will help them grow their reputation further.

“Everyone was starting to notice the crowds we were drawing in at Next,” she said. “I think Tuesday Bluesday will keep growing.”

House bass guitarist Rich Alfano agrees this is a good move for the Tuesday Bluesday group, and everything he’s heard from regulars suggests this was surely an upgrade.

“We’ve retained our core of regular jammers, and seem to be adding new faces all the time,” Alfano said. “The best part for me is working with talented players like Tom and John every week, and being a continuing student of the art of music, the variety of material we run through… Country, jazz, blues, funk, there’s always something different being offered.”

Mein said he has a great time performing at and leading Tuesday Bluesday, and said it is the most fun gig of his busy week. He also enjoys seeing new players come up and perform along with the group.

“That’s part of the great thing,” he said. “It’s not just about playing with others; I really enjoy giving people an opportunity to play onstage, and watch them grow better and better. After all, one gig is worth ten rehearsals. Once you play onstage, that experience multiplies your growth. And everyone is welcome at Tuesday Bluesday.”