Events

Tucson Guitar Festival

June 7, 2014 | Eric Swedlund

Brian Lopez headlines the Tucson Guitar Festival on June 14.
photo: Jimi Giannatti

Classical, blues, rock, country, Celtic, Hawaiian, jazz, flamenco and even air.

Yes, the guitar is indeed the versatile backbone of much of the music that touches our lives and captures our imaginations.

The second annual Park Place Guitar Festival on Saturday, June 14–with a kick off-event Friday, June 13–celebrates those styles and more, featuring over 30 performances on several stages, clinics, a host of exhibitors and an air guitar competition. The Guitar Festival runs from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the mall, 5870 E. Broadway Blvd.

The event, organized by the Southern Arizona Arts and Cultural Alliance, was designed as a free mid-summer, family-friendly, fully air-conditioned event with wide appeal, says Jonas Hunter, the group’s Special Events Director.

“We’re an organization that caters to the arts in any form and we’re always looking at new creative ideas,” he says. “We’re so heavily involved in music and concert series, we thought, ‘why not do an event centered around what’s arguably the most popular instrument in America?’”

The mall reached out to SAACA for a promotion during the slow season before back-to-school shopping and last year’s success was enough to make it an annual event, Hunter says.

“We heard from them it was one of the busiest single days they’ve ever had,” he says. “As the event grows we’re hopefully able to get more budget for it. My ultimate goal is to turn it into something bigger as we progress forward. The hardest part is getting any national artists to come in with the budget we have. Keeping it local is a good thing at this point.”

The local talent includes Mariachi Aztlán de Pueblo Magnet High School, the Greg Morton Band, bluesmen Bryan Dean and Jeff Engelbert, Pascua Yaqui virtuoso Gabriel Ayala and headliner Brian Lopez.

“For me it’s been a culmination of the touring I’ve been doing over the past year, which was solo acoustic,” Lopez says. “These concerts are becoming more and more fun for me because I can showcase more of my classical training.”

In his own career, Lopez says he’s felt the push and pull of several different genres, adopting them into his own style along the way. Gathering accomplished musicians from a wide spectrum of styles is a good display of Tucson’s musical strengths.

“Tucson is a very diverse musical culture. There are so many different types of music here. When you cross into genres like Celtic and bluegrass there are just amazing players in all the styles,” Lopez says.

Ayala, who’s toured all over the world in his 25 years as a professional guitarist, says the festival is a good reminder for people in Tucson how much talent is right here.

Gabriel Ayala performs at the Tucson Guitar Festival on June 14. photo courtesy Gabriel Ayala

Gabriel Ayala performs at the Tucson Guitar Festival.
photo courtesy Gabriel Ayala

“A lot of times think they have to go somewhere else for live entertainment or wait until a traveling artist comes to town,” Ayala says. “Tucson has never really had something of this magnitude.”

Though he’s known for his signature blend of flamenco and jazz, Ayala says his listening habits aren’t confined to any one genre.

“I’m a fan of sounds, period. If people looked at my phone and saw my play list, they’d be shocked by the diverse genres I have. I listen to a lot of everything. To be a well-rounded musician you need to know what your peers are doing around you,” he says. “I’ll definitely make sure to get there a good three hours early and show my support and listen to others.”

For the non-musicians, the air guitar competition offers a chance to shine. Entry is free and competitors are split into two age groups, under 18 and 18-and-over. In the first round, each contestant performs a self-chosen song. In round two, the top competitors in each age bracket will perform a to a surprise compulsory song. Each performance is one minute of a song and is judged on a combination of technical merit, stage presence and “airness.” The grand prize is $150, second place is $75 and third place is a gift certificate.

“We wanted to focus on everything we could,” Hunter says. “We brainstormed all the different styles that are out there. Nobody before him did what Eddie Van Halen did and nobody did what Jimi Hendrix did before him and Les Paul before him. The guitar is constantly evolving and we want to highlight that.”

Visit SAACA.org/GuitarFestival.php for more information and to register for the air guitar competition.

Schedule

Food Court Main Stage
10 a.m.: Michael Nordberg (rockabilly/surf)
11 a.m.: Steve Harris (bass )
Noon: Jeff Engelbert and Clark Engelbert (blues)
1 p.m.: Billy Cioffi (classic rock )
2 p.m.-4 p.m.: Air Guitar Competition
4 p.m.: John Bujak (rock)
5 p.m.: Gabriel Ayala (flamenco/jazz)
6 p.m.: Brian Lopez (flamenco/rock)

Sears Stage (acoustic)
10 a.m.: Remi Good (classic guitar)
11 a.m.: Grace Shepard (classical guitar)
Noon: Jonathan W. Martinez
1 p.m.: Kathy Acosta Zacala (classical guitar)
2 p.m.: Mariachi Aztlán de Pueblo Magnet High School
3 p.m.: Tucson Ukulele Meetup Club
4 p.m.: Christopher Krantz (looping)
5 p.m.: Jamie O’Brien (Celtic/Hawaiian)

Macy’s Stage
10 a.m.: Pete Biedermann (acoustic finger style)
11 a.m.: Charles Lolmaugh (country)
Noon: Greg Morton Band (bluegrass)
1 p.m.: Dan Griffin (jazz)
2 p.m.: Paul Almquist (rock)
3 p.m.: David Rose (acoustic)
4 p.m.: Bryan Dean and Koko (blues/jazz)
5 p.m.: Ed Delucia (rock/blues/jazz)
6 p.m.: Matt Mitchell (jazz)

Laughter As Medicine

June 5, 2014 | Eric Swedlund

Emergency Circus, a nonprofit organization, connects patients with performers to heal with laughter and fun.
photo courtesy Emergency Circus

Not every circus travels in an ambulance. But the Emergency Circus has a mission to uplift the hurt and healing, with entertainment and fun.

“Laughter and joyful feelings have been proved to increase endorphins, which relieves pain,” says Clay “Mazing” Letson, one of the founders and performers for the Emergency Circus.

Founded in Tucson, the nonprofit troupe embarked on its first major national tour last month, “Tour to the Rescue,” which began in New Orleans. Traveling in its specially retrofitted ambulance, equipped with megaphones, musical instruments and circus props, the Emergency Circus rolls into Tucson for hospital visits and a special extravaganza on Saturday, June 14 at Hotel Congress.

The event, starting at 7 p.m., will transform the Congress patio into a superhero-themed circus, juggling, music, magic, dancing, high voltage electricity, and a costume contest for best original superhero outfit. Timed to coincide with 2nd Saturdays Downtown, the family-friendly event is a fundraiser for “Tour to the Rescue,” with a $5 to $25 suggested donation.

“Our shows are very audience participatory and interactive. It’s kind of like a show and kind of like a game. We put them (the audience) into the show,” says Letson. “It’s nice to go into some community, like a homeless shelter or a nursing home where a lot of the time they don’t get the opportunity to interact with one another in a fun, social setting.”

While in Tucson, the Emergency Circus will visit Tucson Medical Center’s Pediatric Unit and the Casa de los Niños Children’s Crisis Center. The overall Tour to the Rescue itinerary calls for visits to more than 25 “under-circussed” facilities coast to coast during a five-week, 6,000-mile tour.

“For this particular tour we’re touring with four main cast members and in each city, we link up with locals in the area to bring them in to go to hospitals and nursing homes,” says Letson. “It works out really well because a lot of these performers are really excited to be able to go into a place and provide some joy to people who don’t get to see that very often. It’s a treat for the performers and it’s a treat for the patients.”

The superhero theme for the event conveys a message about believing in yourself. Audience members are encouraged to dress up as a superhero they invent themselves based on their own superpower.

“We’re superheroes, but not the kind you see on movies or TV. We’re the kind of superheroes that dedicated ourselves to a certain super power and through persistence and perseverance we’ve cultivated these skills,” Letson explains. “We try to send the message that anybody can achieve great skills if they put their mind to it, whether it’s juggling or hula-hooping or doing whatever your heart desires.”

After the Emergency Circus formed, the group contacted The Gesundheit! Institute—the non-profit organization founded in 1971 by world-renowned humanitarian and activist Patch Adams—and the institute agreed to place the Emergency Circus under its umbrella.

In addition to the Emergency Circus, the extravaganza features America’s Got Talent Finalist “Special Head” (the levitating magician), Cirque Roots, Tucson Variety Society, DJ Carl Hanni, Dr. Drea Lusion, The Wonderfools, Circus Amperean’s Towering Tesla Coil and more.

Zack Armstrong, host of the Tucson Variety Society and a member of Cirque Roots and The Wonderfools, says there is something inherently nurturing about fun and games.

“It’s an aspect of community we as humans long for and often lack,” he says. “The reason we do live shows at all is to create a space to come together as a community, not just performers, but the audience as well. We’re able to share a connection that can be uplifting and healing in a way. That’s part of what the Emergency Circus is and that’s a part of why the Variety Society exists, to encourage people to come together and experience something new.”

Visit EmergencyCircus.com for more details about the organization. The Saturday, June 14 event at Hotel Congress, 311 E. Congress St., starts at 7 p.m. and donations between $5-$25 are requested.

Have a “Brew at the Zoo” & Help the Apes, Too

June 2, 2014 | Craig Baker

“Brew at the Zoo” will raise funds to move the white-handed gibbons to a new habitat.
photo courtesy Reid Park Zoo

This ain’t any kind of monkey business, oh no. But come Saturday, June 14 at 6 p.m., the Reid Park Zoo opens to local party animals and other 21-and-over friends for a fundraising gala aimed at helping the zoo’s white-handed gibbons move to a new enclosure.

“Brew at the Zoo: Ales for Apes” is the second annual event, partnering the Reid Park Zoological Society (the non-profit entity whose sole mission is to support the city-owned attraction) with Craft Tucson, to raise funds for a site-specific project on the zoo’s 24-acre property. Last year’s sold-out event saw 1200 visitors and served to help welcome grizzly bears Finley and Ronan to Tucson. According to Reid Park Zoological Society’s Events Director Gail Brown, the event raised enough money to pay for the educational components of the grizzly exhibit. This year, Brown says they are expecting a slightly higher turnout for the event at about 1500 participants—with a goal to raise about $25,000—though this is only a portion of what the entire relocation project will cost.

The three gibbons currently on display at Reid Park are a single nuclear family made up of a father named Billy, a mother affectionately called Moms, and their 16-year-old daughter, Lilith—a family structure which Zoo Director Jason Jacobs says is closer to that of human beings than any other species. The apes currently occupy a cage-like enclosure near the entrance to the zoo which Jacobs (formerly of the Los Angeles Zoo) says is ready to come down to make way for something more modern and aesthetically pleasing. The plan is to modify the nearby sun bear enclosure with a mesh canopy and move the gibbons in there.

Jacobs explains that Dresena, the sun bear who currently lives in the gibbons’ future home, is elderly at 35-years-old and prefers to spend most of her time in the indoor section of her habitat—complete with a swamp cooler and regular visits from peanut-wielding backstage tourists. “She doesn’t go on exhibit unless she chooses to,” says Jacobs, and those times are increasingly far in-between, leaving zoo personnel thinking about retiring her from public viewing altogether.

Vivian VanPeenan, the zoo’s educational curator, points out that Billy and Moms are also approaching their golden years; both animals are now well into their forties. Having produced multiple offspring, the pair is now officially out of the national Association of Zoos and Aquariums breeding program, but that does not mean they are any less important to the zoo, its staff, or visitors.

“We like to tell the story (of animals as they age),” says VanPeenan, “we don’t hide it, we don’t put it out of view, but we make it part of our story—how our small community zoo is leading the way in whole-life care for our animals.” She says that it is important for the zoo to serve as an example of “how important it is that when you commit to an animal, whether as a pet or at a zoo, that you are committing to that animal for life.”

Reid Park Zoo’s white-handed gibbons are slated for a new habitat.
photo courtesy Reid Park Zoo

The gibbons on display at Reid Park, though, in no way show their ages. Trying to distinguish parent from offspring is hard to do without a personal introduction (hint: Moms is the one without the white ring around her face), so it’s no surprise that the only ape species on display at the zoo—with their tendency to swing energetically around their enclosure and propensity for singing in the morning—is a visitor favorite. Jacobs says the gibbons are “the best acrobats in the animal kingdom, bar none. Not to demean them in any way,” he adds, “but they are very entertaining.”

Guests interested in helping the gibbons transition to their new homes can buy a ticket to the Brew at the Zoo event online. Attendees can enjoy live music from two bands, eat pub-style food, and sample beers from the 15 unique microbreweries that will be present. Since all of the money raised at the event will go directly into the budget for the gibbon project, VanPeenan points out that “Brew at the Zoo” is a great way for zoo supporters to see their dollars at work on a specific project rather than simply giving to the general fund.

Though the event marks only the first step toward reestablishing both the gibbons and the sun bear in their newly modified habitats, Jacobs envisions other modifications to the exhibit down the line including the addition of an overhead walkway to increase the potential for a close-up encounter. He says the new enclosure will mean easier viewing for the public and more opportunity for interaction with the apes without their current susceptibility to dietary infractions. “For better or worse,” says Jacobs, “our gibbons have learned to beg for food.”

All of these things, according to Jacobs, add up to one thing—happier primates. And that means happier visitors and zoo employees as well—just as long as no one hears you call them monkeys.

Tickets to the June 14 event range in price from $20-$65. The event runs from 6 p.m.-9:30 p.m. For more information, including tickets and room discounts at the nearby Double Tree Resort, visit ReidParkZoo.org.

Cruise Tucson’s Art Scene

June 1, 2014 | Jon D Auria

Summer Art Cruise 2011
photo: Peter L. Kresan

Tucson is widely known for having one of the most diverse and impressive communities of artists in the country and to celebrate the local scene and kick off the summer season, Saturday, June 7 marks the return of the Summer Art Cruise. Hosted by the Central Tucson Gallery Association, now on its 14th year, the event will take place Downtown at participating galleries and will display hundreds of beautiful pieces by Tucson’s talented artists.

“This is a celebration of the diverse culture of Tucson through its contemporary arts,” says Mike Dominguez, co-owner of Davis Dominguez Gallery. “Every type of medium will be represented through the galleries. The traditional mediums including painting, drawing, sculpture, photography, watercolors and studio arts with material of fiber, glass, wood and clay will be in abundance and there are always very unique and diverse expressions. This draws a lot of Tucson artists to the Downtown area and the whole art community always makes a strong showing.”

The galleries will be open all day for the free event, but the receptions will kick off at 6 p.m. where attendees can interact with the participating artists and gallery owners. 6th Avenue studios include The Drawing Studio and Philabaum Glass Gallery, while 6th Street features Raices Taller Gallery, Conrad Wilde Gallery, Davis Dominguez Gallery, Baker + Hesseldenz Fine Art and Contreras Gallery. Within a short drive is the Louis Carlos Bernal Gallery at Pima Community College West Campus.

“Once the reception begins it will start getting dark and the work will be lit at it’s very best. Art never looks better than in a gallery with light concentrated on it,” says Dominguez. “There will be artists mingling with art collectors mingling with the general public, which makes this event unique. It’s great to have the community be able to interact with all of these artists in one place. We expect to have a lot of families coming and it’s a great way for young people to get exposure to great art. We’ve had some really huge events in the past when the crowd spills into the streets as everyone walks between studios.”

Both admission and parking is free and attendees are encouraged to walk or ride their bikes between the galleries to experience each of the vastly different spaces. Many of the participating studios will feature live music, entertainment and refreshments as well as a unique look behind the scenes of Tucson’s art studios during this family-friendly event. For those who wish to beat the crowds and take advantage of a sunny stroll, the galleries will be open during the day for guests to preview the displays. And as always, diversity will be the main theme of this year’s showings, as Tucson boasts a spectacular range of themes in art that celebrate the wonderful community that embodies this town.

“We’re showing off the cultural assets that we have here in Tucson. For a town this size, we have a very significant art scene and we are especially strong in contemporary art. We have a core of cooperative and closely-knit artists in town. Tucson has an established identity and we’re not trying to be anything that we’re not,” says Dominguez. “It’s different from a bigger city such as Phoenix because the groups there run in almost the clique-based social systems. Here in Tucson I’ve found that the gallery owners know each other and help each other out and have lasting friendships. There’s a real sense of community here that translates to the art. And it’s all possible because we get great support from the community.”

Summer Art Cruise is on Saturday, June 7. For more details, and information on the locations, visit CTGATucson.org. Other queries can be answered by calling 629-9759.

Events June 2014

May 29, 2014 | Marisa Bernal

Vibrant sights, rich tastes and pulsating sounds will showcase art of a different color during Splash! charity event on Sat, June 21. photo: SAACA.org

WED 4
TUCSON WALKING TOUR Exploring the Historic Mansions of Main Avenue. $15. 6pm. Meet at the NW corner of Main Ave and Alameda. 625-8365, KruseArizona.com

THU 5
SONORAN DOGS BENEFIT CONCERT Hosted by Integrative Touch for Kids featuring bluegrass band The Sonoran Dogs. $85. 6:30pm. Hacienda Del Sol, 5501 N. Hacienda Del Sol. 299-1501, IntegrativeTouch.org

FRI 6

THE LUMIES Tucson Pima Arts Council’s arts & business awards. 6:30 pm: reception, ceremony, music (Chica Dust), $35. Just band, 8:30pm. $5. Tucson Museum of Art Plaza, 140 N. Court Ave. 624-0595 x10, TucsonPimaArtsCouncil.org.

SAT 7
SUMMER ART CRUISE Central Tucson Gallery Association’s summer of art, with self-guided tours and receptions at galleries in and around downtown. See the website for venues and exhibits. Free. 6pm. CTGATucson.org

WEIRD PLANT SALE Explore a selection of funky plants for sale. 8am-1pm. Tucson Botanical Gardens, 2150 N. Alvernon Way. 326-9686, TucsonBotanical.org

THU 11
REFUGEE 101 INFORMATION NIGHT Learn about the refugee journey and volunteer opportunities with Iskashitaa Refugee Network. Free. 6pm-8pm. Catalina United Methodist Church, 2700 E. Speedway Blvd. Room E23. Email harvesting@iskashitaa.org to RSVP. 440-0100, HarvestTucson.org

SAT 14
2ND SATURDAYS DOWNTOWN The monthly downtown street festival hosts a variety of food vendors and live, local music. Scott Avenue Stage features: V. Lundon, Roll Acosta, House Without A Sink. Cinema La Placita screens “The Lorax” at Southern Arizona Transportation Museum, 414 N. Toole Ave. Free. 5pm-10:30pm. Along Congress Street, 2ndSaturdays.com

BREW AT THE ZOO: ALES FOR APES Fundraiser for the gibbons’ new habitat. Sample a variety of Craft Beers with live music, food and animal encounters. $20-$65. 6pm-9:30pm. Reid Park Zoo, 1100 S. Randolph Way. 881-4753, ReidParkZoo.org

EMERGENCY CIRCUS BENEFIT for Tour to the Rescue: which uplifts the hurt and healing with inspiration, education and empathy by performing shows and teaching workshops to the “undercircussed” everywhere. The troupe of Emergency Circus Technicians delivers inspirational circus shows and creative workshops to hospitals, senior centers, homeless shelters and other places where health and happiness struggle. $5-$25 donation. 7pm. Hotel Congress, 311 E. Congress St. EmergencyCircus.com

TUCSON GUITAR FESTIVAL More than 30 guitar performances, and Air Guitar Competition, giveaways, mariachi performances, vendors and more. Free. 10am-7pm. Park Place Mall, 5870 E. Broadway Blvd. SAACA.org

THU 19
GUIDED HARVESTS AND PLANTINGS Hands on Harvest tour led by Desert Harvesters. $5-$10. 5pm, harvest by foot; 6pm, harvest by bicycle. Santa Cruz River Farmers’ Market, 100 S. Avenida del Convento. DesertHarvesters.org

BEAN TREE PROCESSING Demonstrations taught by Barbara Rose of Bean Tree Farm. 4pm-7pm. Santa Cruz River Farmers’ Market, 100 S. Avenida del Convento. DesertHarvesters.org

SAT 21
SPLASH! SUMMER CHARITY BENEFIT A fundraiser for The Southern Arizona Arts & Cultural Alliance. Featuring live demos from street artists and ice sculptors. See website for prices. 6pm-10pm. La Encantada, Skyline & Campbell. SAACA.org

THIRD SATURDAY ART FAIR Displays by visiting and Courtyard Artists, music, food and drink. Free. 4pm-8pm. Many Hands Courtyard, 3054 N. 1st Ave. 360-1880, ManyHandsArtistCoop.com

SAGUARO FRUIT HARVEST Gather and prepare saguaro fruits in the traditional O’odham manner and learn about other desert plants that were important food sources for native people. Native food lunch included. $65-$72. 7am-noon. Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, 2021 N. Kinney Rd. 883-2702, DesertMuseum.org

SAT 21-SUN 22
BOOK SALE A benefit for Tucson libraries. Free. 8am-noon. Friends of the Pima County Public Library, 2230 N. Country Club. 795-3763, PimaFriends.com

SUN 22
PRE-MONSOON MESQUITE MILLING Harvest before the rains! Experience a native wild food demonstration and more. 6am-9am. Exo Roast Co, 403 N. 6th Ave. DesertHarvesters.org

HARVESTER’S BENEFIT NIGHT Hosted by Tap & Bottle. Taste brews infused with locally sourced native ingredients. A percentage of sales will be donated to Desert Harvesters. Tap & Bottle, 403 N. 6th Ave. DesertHarvesters.org

TUE 24
DIA DE SAN JUAN Experience cultural activities including a procession and blessing of water. Free. 5pm-10pm. Mercado San Agustin, 100 S. Avenida del Convento. 861-4504, VisitTucson.org

THU 26
TUCSON WALKING TOUR Exploring the Historic Barrio Viejo. $15. 6pm. Meet in front of La Pilita, 420 S. Main Ave. 625-8365, KruseArizona.com

SAT 28
SUNSET SATURDAY Featuring food, drink and live local music. $9 admission. 5pm-8pm. Tucson Botanical Gardens, 2150 N. Alvernon Way. 326-9686, TucsonBotanical.org

Ongoing

SUMMER WINE TOUR A 118 day tour of weekly wine tastings and monthly wine dinners beginning Fri, June 6. Maynards Market & Kitchen, 400 N. Toole Ave. 545-0577, MaynardsTucson.com/kitchen/events/

SKYNIGHTS photo: Skycenter.arizona.edu

SKYNIGHTS Nightly tours of the universe as part of the stargazing program. 5pm nightly, lasting approximately four-five hours. $60/adult includes a light dinner. Mount Lemmon Sky Center, see website for directions. 626-8122, Skycenter.arizona.edu

PRIMAVERA COOKS! Support the programs and services of Primavera with a four or five course, wine-paired, gourmet dinner created by some of Tucson’s top chefs. June 1: Downtown Kitchen & Cocktails, 135 S. 6th Ave. June 11: Lodge on the Desert, 306 N. Alvernon Way. June 18: Feast, 3719 E. Speedway Blvd. $125. RSVP to 308-3104 or cooks@primavera.org. Primavera.org

Mondays
MEET ME AT MAYNARDS (@Hotel Congress) Southern Arizona Roadrunners’ Monday evening, non-competitive, social 3-mile run/walk, that begins and ends downtown at Hotel Congress, rain/shine/holidays included! 311 E. Congress St. 991-0733, MeetMeAtMaynards.com

Tuesdays & Thursdays
DOG DAYS OF SUMMER Unlimited admission for furry companions at Tucson Botanical Gardens is $20 or $3/visit. 7am-4:30pm. Tucson Botanical Gardens, 2150 N. Alvernon Way. 326-9686, TucsonBotanical.org

Thursdays
CINEMA La PLACITA Classic flicks screened under the stars. See website for titles. La Placita Village, 110 S. Church Ave. $3 suggested donation. 7:30pm. CinemaLaPlacita.com

¡Viva Los Guapos!

May 8, 2014 | Eric Johns

Justin Valdez y Los Guapos

Justin Valdez y Los Guapos is ready to rock your world with its CD release this month. Gonna Have a Party! is a sprawling multi-genre, Latin-heavy hip-shakin’ good time. The album begins with the band theme song “Aye Vienen Los Guapos,” full of fantastic energy and tremendous guitar.

Various influences are converging on the super catchy tracks, and singer/songwriter Valdez said via email that he thinks that is what makes the band’s sound. “I am channeling my guitar influences like Link Wray and Jimi Hendrix, while the rest of the band is channeling their influences like Santana and WAR. Vocally, I channel Hasil Adkins and Lux Interior, again that makes the sound ’cause the other guys have no clue who those guys even are! Two worlds collide to make one sound. I think if there was one act that we would compare to it would be Eric Burdon era WAR.”

In the rockin’ title cut, the listener is invited to “lose your mind for a time.” Valdez trades tasty guitar riffs with great keyboard work from Richard Verdugo. Valdez’s lead guitar work is strong throughout the whole 15-track offering.

Several tracks are instrumental. “Tortilla Maker Twist,” “The Flyin’ Mayan” and “Plethora of Piñatas” particularly stand out. Western swing guitar meets Sonoran meets Tex-Mex.

Song 10, “In the Van” is silly fun with almost a surfer rock feel prevailing, featuring more hot licks from Valdez and the band cooking away. Keys and smoking percussion stand out. On “You Got to Try, Girl,” a person of the female persuasion is urged to “try really hard if you want me to be your man.” Some sweet saxophone and a bit of a horn section make a fevered appearance. The album concludes with “El Cucuy,” a bit of a devilish scary number with organ, sound effects, Valdez’s evil laughter and killer guitar.

The different styles come together seamlessly, which Valdez attributes to setting out to make a concept album, “the kind you put on and listen to from start to finish,” he wrote via email. “I think people have gone astray from that. I don’t want someone to buy one MP3 for 99 cents, I want them to buy 15 songs for $10. It’s not just about one song, it’s about an album, it’s about an experience, it’s about a musical journey through many genres and feelings. The songs were arranged on this album to take you on a magic carpet ride, without the hangover and crash the next morning. The album is exactly one full hour, which with all the other ‘seamless’ planning, was coincidence.”

Other musicians in the band and on the album include: Adam Block, bass; Joe Cruz, congas; Philbert Mackowiak, timbales; Manny Moralez, drums; The Deacon David Clark, backup vocals; Joel Dunst, additional percussion; Marty Muerto and Eric Eulogy, additional backup vocals. Gonna Have a Party! was recorded, mixed and mastered locally by Petie Ronstadt at LandMark Sound Recorders.

Surly Wench Pub, 424 N. 4^th Ave., hosts Justin Valdez Y Los Guapos on Friday, May 30 at 10 p.m., with special guests San Crudelio. $5 gets you in. For more info, visit Facebook.com/JustinValdezyLosGuapos.

Over email, Valdez chats with editor Jamie Manser about the past, the present, the album, and future plans. (The following Q&A was edited for length and clarity).

Z: What have you been up to over the last couple of years? The last time I saw you was in 2008!

V: Time sure flies when you are having fun! Since then… I got married (thanks eHarmony!) and have a mijo on the way. I can see us having a few more too, and maybe finally forming the Valdez 5. It’s always hard to answer the question, “what have you been up to,” mainly because I have always done the same thing. I have been playing in bands since the tender age of 15 (I’m now 37). I don’t watch TV, can’t even tell you the last movie I saw and do not play video games. My life has always been about playing music and writing songs. My wife is very creative as well and supports my ventures and habits.

Z: Going back, how long were you in the Last Call Brawlers? Is that project still alive?

V: I formed Last Call Brawlers in 1999, shortly after I met Marty Muerto and Eric Eulogy and we have been together ever since. LCB is still together, we play out about three times a year. These guys are my best and longest friends. However, I have way too much music inside me to only play on a stage a few times a year. LCB released an album in 2012, and will be recording and releasing a new full length album this year.

Z: How long has Justin Valdez y Los Guapos been around? How did the band start?

Justin Valdez, left.

V: I’ve had a 4 track recorder full of songs that were just sitting there. One day I just decided to go for it and put out a solo album. In 2012 I released “Duce-Seven-Off-Suit.” I had Eric, Joel and Marty from LCB back me up in the studio for this. It got some praise here and there and some spins on Al Perry’s World Famous Clam Bake. But I needed to start playing these songs out live to do them justice. So I played a few solo shows, just me and my acoustic, and also some shows with some hired guns backing me up. People seemed to dig, so I decided to find a full time backup band. I put these songs up on craigslist and ran an ad. A few days later, Joe Cruz (congas) responded. He came over, we jammed a time or two then he said “I know a keyboard player, can I bring him over”? I said yes, and then the next jam, the keyboard player (Richard Verdugo) said, “I know a drummer and Timbales player.”

We still needed a bass player though, so I put it out on Facebook. Jamie Laboz (Modeens) sent me a message and referred me to Adam Block. Quickly, the old songs from my solo album were obsolete and I was writing these Latin sounding songs. David Clark (Chango Malo) and I have played in other bands as well, and he quickly joined as the “hype man” and backup vocals. Joe, Richard, Manny and Philbert all had been in Tejano and Tez-Mex cover bands previously. This is their first original project; they had always just been in cover bands, except Adam and Dave. Los Guapos will have been around for a full year in June and have played out about seven times only. But those shows have included The Low Brow Shakedown, HOCO Fest Latin night, opening for Reverend Horton Heat, Dick Dale and also a small AZ weekend tour; Prescott, Phoenix and Tucson back to back to back. This is all new. “Bean Dip for Two” and “In the Van” got re-vamped, originally on Deuce Seven, but all the other (songs) are brand new.

Z: How long have you been playing guitar?

V: My first guitar teacher was Robbie Lochner, Roc-Lochner, Great White, etc. I learned enough to play power chords in a punk band in high school but that was about it. However, the experience from that band, Social Outcast, left a lasting impression. We played the DPC (Downtown Performance Center) about once a month and recorded an album in Nogales. There will never be another DPC. Later, I started taking lessons from Tommy Tucker. His methods and theory have made me the player I am today. Growing up there was always a guitar around. My dad played in a band as well.

Z: How long has this album been in the works?

V: In December of 2013, I told the guys I wanted to get us in the recording studio. Coming from the cover band scene, except Adam and Dave, this was all new to them. So, I wrote out a schedule and stepped up as band leader. At that time, we were only going to record a five song EP. But, since inspiration is everywhere – many times in the shower I get an idea, and end up on the bed in a towel with my guitar and note pad – I was able to write the full length album. I write all the lyrics, and most the time will have a song about 90% complete before showing it the band for their input. At that time it’s a group effort, but just to polish it up. I always strive to do something different and something I have not done before. We recorded at LandMark Sound Recorders here in Tucson. Petie Ronstadt (Ronstadt Generations Band) recorded, mixed and mastered the album. He went above and beyond as a sound engineer. He really got into the recording and put his two cents in which was much appreciated, him being such an accomplished musician an all. Example of him getting into it: One night he had a gig and came home late and had a burst of inspiration to try something different in the mixing process. He started playing with “Flyin Mayan” and the result is it sounding like an old field recorder capturing a Zulu tribe getting abducted by aliens….

We set up in his studio on a Friday night and got dialed in. We went back Saturday morning at 8 a.m. and had all 15 songs recorded by noon. Almost all the songs on the album were nailed on the first take live, except vocals were another session. Mixing took a few sessions, but only ’cause it’s a seven piece band.

Z: Are the musicians on the album going to also be at the CD release party?

V: Yes. This is a seven piece band. With this many people, it’s on the ridiculous side and every sound man’s nightmare.

Z: Are there any other plans in the works for the band this summer?

V: After the CD comes out I intend to keep the ball rolling. I would love to continue to open up for my long time influences at places like Rialto and Congress. At the same time, I want expose this band to the scene I came from, punk and rockabilly, which is one reason we are having the album release party at Surly Wench. And also, I would love to continue to play on a regular basis in Phoenix and Prescott. I feel this band has a real good shot a going somewhere and representing Tucson and Arizona as “its sound.”

BYOB Painting Classes

May 8, 2014 | Jade Nunes

Participants paint “Red Wine” at a recent Brush & Bottle class.
photo: Jade Nunes

Staring at a blank canvas can be intimidating to the inexperienced artist. Heck, it can be intimidating to a seasoned artist too. But with the help of instructors and assistants at Brush and Bottle, and maybe even a little liquid encouragement from a favorite wine, beautiful artwork can be achieved by anyone.

“I think that it’s not as scary that it seems. After the first ten minutes, after they’ve had some wine, they realize that, ‘Hey, I can do this’,” said owner and native Tucsonan Olivia Ramirez. “I’ve had costumers come back and say, ‘When I took my painting home, my husband thought that I went out and bought it.”

The bring-your-own-bottle painting class concept is almost everywhere now, according to Ramirez who has a background in engineering, not art. After moving to Texas where she was introduced to painting by a friend, she fell in love. Upon her return to Tucson, she decided to bring painting with her; and Brush and Bottle was born eight months ago.

“People buy art. They might go to galleries or fairs to buy it. The idea that they can do it themselves is so different,” she said. “I think that art opens your mind, I really do. It broadens your mind. You get to unlock this creative part of you. That’s what art brings us.”

Located at 1785 E. Prince Rd., the art studio is conveniently situated next to a handful of restaurants and a grocery store where participants can stock up on their favorite wines, goodies and appetizers; they’ll even chill wines for their costumers.

“We allow our customers to bring in wine, beer and appetizers—anything and everything besides hard liquor,” Ramirez said.

However, the classes aren’t just 21 and over. People of all ages are welcomed to attend and bring their favorite snack and drinks as well. Brush and Bottle definitely reserves the right to ID participants who are consuming alcoholic beverages.

“The drink added a nice social element to the class also allowing you to relax and be more creative,” said a customer, Samantha Gephart. “I would definitely recommend it whether for a fun and different date night, or getting together with a friend or group.”

Four artists teach at Brush and Bottle. The classes are scheduled by painting and can be found on the BrushAndBottle.com calendar. Essentially, participants are essentially replicating a local artist’s original work, a work commissioned specifically for the classes. Step by step instructions allow participants to learn how to mix paint colors, create different kinds of brush strokes and create a one of a kind artwork.

Participants paint “Red Wine” at a recent Brush & Bottle class, with instruction by “JJ” (Jennifer Johnson).
photo: Jade Nunes

“I felt that the class was easy for someone like me who doesn’t paint or have fine artistic ability,” joked Gephart. “I think one of my favorite parts was seeing everyone’s work at the end. Although we all painted the same thing, everyone used different colors, size strokes and shapes to make them look unique and beautiful.”

Customers are provided a 16″x20″ canvas, paint, brushes, an apron and guided instructions to create their own masterpiece. Two-hour classes are $35, and three-hour classes are $40, with discounts available for private parties. The studio also provides hairdryers to ensure that customers can leave with their artwork without fear of ruining the upholstery of their vehicle with wet paint.

“The directions were simple to follow and went at a pace that everyone could keep up,” Gephart said.

Children’s paintings are available as well. Though kids are welcomed to try to recreate the adult painting taught in the class, there are some simpler designs that they can recreate if desired.

“If a family brings in a little one, we’ll actually pre-sketch it out on canvas for them,” Ramirez said. “They can paint something that they like, like animals, and can still have a fun evening with mom while mom paints the adult painting.”

And speaking of moms, Brush and Bottle will be offering a Mother’s Day special where customers who sign themselves up to paint can bring their mom to paint for free. Other examples events that are offered include non-alcoholic Family Day events, customer appreciations, birthday parties and even off-site events, or they’ll even come to you.

Brush and Bottle is located at 1785 E. Prince Rd. For more information or to schedule group events or private parties, call (520) 881-0655. To access the calendar of classes visit BrushAndBottle.com or visit their Facebook page.

Tucson Pops Concerts in the Park

May 6, 2014 | Press Release

Sunday, May 11th marks the opening of the spring season of the Tucson Pops Concerts in the Park. The Orchestra, under the direction of László Veres, celebrates its 60^th year of performing free concerts in the park. The public is invited to enjoy “Music under the Stars™” at the DeMeester Outdoor Performance Center, in Reid Park, on Sunday evenings beginning at 7 p.m. from May 11 through June 8.

The concert schedule is as follows:

Fourtissimo Saxophone Quartet

May 11: Mother’s Day Concert – Featuring special guests Fourtissimo Saxophone Quartet and Aliyah Powe Tthe Fourtissimo Quartet includes Alex Cohen, Zach Cohen, Andrew Miller, and Colin Potter – all seniors in the band program at Catalina Foothills High School. The dynamic group has performed at numerous events and venues around Tucson, and has excelled in festival performances. They have received numerous awards/accolades including being named Best in Class at the AMEA State Ensemble festival, and 1st place in the Arizona Wind Symphony Youth Ensemble competition. They will perform “Concerto for Saxophone Quartet” by B. Holcombe with the Tucson Pops Orchestra.

Aliyah Powe, 12, has played the violin since she was 3. She has won several competitions, including the Tucson Symphony Orchestra Young Artist competition in 2011 and 2012, and the Civic Orchestra of Tucson Young Artist competition in 2012 and 2014. In January 2014, she participated in a master class with former TSO concertmaster Steven Moeckel. Aliyah has been a member of Tucson Junior Strings, and is currently in her third year as a participant in the Tucson Symphony Orchestra’s Young Composer Project. She will play the 1st movement of Mozart’s “Violin Concerto No.4” with the Tucson Pops Orchestra.

May 18: Featuring the Arizona Balalaika Orchestra,a student ensemble group formed at the UA Russian Department in 1980. Under the leadership of founder and artistic director Mia Bulgarin Gay, the group is one of only a dozen Russian folk orchestras in the US. The Orchestra consists of 4 ” voices” with Balalaikas and Domras, accordions, woodwinds, percussion and a “Gusli” (Russian Harp).

Arizona Balalaika Orchestra

May 25: Memorial Day Concert – featuring the Tucson Pops Orchestra performing stirring patriotic themes including “The Official West Point March,” “Gettysburg,” “Victory at Sea,” “Hymn To The Fallen” and more.

June 1: Jack Neubeck and Crystal Stark, two of Tucson’s most popular vocalists. will highlight this show. Jack, a veteran performer of nearly 20 years in and around New York City, and over 2500 performances on Broadway, including the original Broadway casts of EVITA and LA CAGE AUX FOLLES, Jack has lived in Tucson since 1986 where he has been active in the Tucson arts community and performing in theatrical and music productions throughout the year. Recently he toured China with the U of A Jazz Ensemble along with the multi talented Crystal Stark. He currently sits on the boards of the Tucson Arizona Boys Chorus and the Tucson Pops.

Crystal Stark

American Idol finalist with a golden voice, Crystal Stark is an award winning r&b/jazz/pop singer who brings a positive message to today’s music scene. Based on her church-singing roots and her teenage success in winning national vocal competitions, she knew that she wanted to pursue a full-time career in music. Crystal attended the University of Arizona where she graduated with a Bachelor of Music degree in Vocal Music Education. The talented duo will perform crowd pleasers including “Young at Heart,” “Someone to Watch Over Me,” Georgia on My Mind,” “What Kind of Fool Am I,” “’S Wonderful,” “I’ve Got You Under My Skin” and more.

June 8: Highlighting the annual performance of the “1812” Overture. Tucson Pops audience members look forward to this classic performance each year during the final concert of the spring series where 9 lucky members get to play the role of the “cannons.” Other numbers performed by the orchestra will include, “A Trumpeter’s Lullaby,” selections from Jerome Kern’s “Show Boat,” “Duke Ellington Fantasy,” “Porgy and Bess” Selections and much more.

The spring 2014 concert series is sponsored by Long Realty Companies, the Friends of the Pops and Tucson Parks and Recreation with additional support from the Arizona Commission on the Arts. The DeMeester Outdoor Performance Center is located off Country Club just north of 22nd Street. Parking is available at the Randolph Park Golf Course parking lot, Alvernon Way just north of 22nd Street with shuttle service to the band shell beginning at 5:30 p.m. For more information on the Tucson Pops Orchestra visit the website at TucsonPops.org. Bios and photos of guest artists are available upon request.

Thanks to David Aguire and members of the Food Truck Roundup – Tucson’s best food trucks are available each Sunday to provide attendees with outstanding picnic fare.

Who: Tucson Pops Orchestra Spring 2014 Concert Season, When: Sundays, May 11, 18, 25 and June 1, 8 at 7:00 p.m., Where: DeMeester Outdoor Performance Center, Reid Park, What: Free concerts under the stars for the whole family.

Odaiko Sonora’s Taiko Passion

May 2, 2014 | Jamie Manser

Odaiko Sonora in concert. Left to right: Nicole Levesque, Rome Hamner, Karen Falkenstrom.
photo: PJ McArdle

In an unassuming, square industrial building on Downtown’s southern edge is a place of creation.

It is the Rhythm Industry Performance Factory and during a bright spring morning, Odaiko Sonora’s community taiko group is at practice. Sweating to the beats. Taiko, or “big drum” in Japanese, is ensemble drumming and it is a physically demanding art form. Beating the drums to achieve the resonance that speaks to the heart of us as human beings takes concentration and cooperative effort.

Taking turns coaching the group is Nicole Levesque and co-founders Karen Falkenstrom and Rome Hamner. With good humor, excellent leadership and teaching skills, the three women engage and guide the drummers to achieve their best. Everyone is sweaty, tired, looking happy at the end of the practice. They move into a group circle as I slip out the door.

Odaiko Sonora’s story begins approximately 14 years ago when Rome Hamner began studying taiko with Stan Morgan; Falkenstrom picked up the bachi (taiko drumming sticks) in 2001. In 2002, their sensei Morgan fell ill and disbanded his group MoGan Daiko. The drummers, still fairly nascent in their taiko knowledge, hefted up the chutzpa and started Odaiko Sonora.

Karen writes via email that, “Even in the U.S., taiko is still an art form with a strong emphasis on lineage and master teachers. It was highly unusual for anyone to found a group with as little experience as we had—actually it was crazy—but we really didn’t have a choice.

“I think both of us felt we had discovered something that embodied everything we wanted to be doing in the world: taiko is physical, empowering, expressive, fun. We both had been inspired to study taiko by seeing it performed live; there is something about the passion and power of taiko performance that speaks to the very core of many people. Once we had the experience of playing the drums—feeling that passion and power from playing, not just watching—it wasn’t something either of us felt we could live happily without.”

Karen Falkenstrom performing with Odaiko Sonora at Arizona Matsuri in Phoenix, Febraury 2014.
photo: Tracy Baynes

They didn’t have drums, they lacked resources, didn’t have a teacher and only knew a handful of songs. It didn’t matter because, “more powerful than the doubts was a deeply passionate love of taiko,” Falkenstrom writes. “We just did what we had to to make it happen.”

She states it simply, but the hard work and dedication that fueled their drive is evinced by the organization’s evolution. The 501c3 grew quickly because of “our respective skills in nonprofit arts and public administration, and partly because Tucson has a strong arts community,” Falkenstrom explains. “But much of the credit for our rapid growth is the appeal of the art form itself. Taiko has amazing crossover potential; it’s music, it’s a martial art, it’s a team sport, theater, and spiritual path. Almost everyone likes it. And it’s easy to learn the basics and very fun to do. The two of us are the leadership/administrative team that run all of Odaiko Sonora—the performances, classes, educational programs, equipment, and Rhythm Industry.”

This school year saw the nonprofit completing its first year as Opening Minds through the Arts teaching artists, reaching approximately 2,000 children. In November, Odaiko Sonora will be providing the music for the All Souls Procession grand finale, for which they are committed to “doing something really special.

“So far, the vision involves guest artists from Sacramento, L.A. and Toronto, Canada. We also hope to purchase a 4 foot gekko, or frame drum, from the world’s oldest family of taiko makers: Asano—think the Stradivarius of taiko.”

The big vision, fitting for the All Souls Procession finale, also means big bucks. The finale will feature about $70,000 in drums while the drum the group is looking to buy is comparatively reasonable, at $6,000. In order to fund it, a Kickstarter campaign is being launched this month—which also coincides with Asian Pacific Islander Heritage Month.

Besides keeping busy with elementary education, performances, and maintaining and coordinating Rhythm Industry Performance Factory, a building the organization purchased in 2006, Odaiko Sonora also offers classes.

Rome Hamner performing with Odaiko Sonora at Arizona Matsuri in Phoenix, Febraury 2014.
photo: Tracy Baynes

“Our six-week all ages recreation class is a great intro to this art form,” Rome says via email. “It introduces beginners to basic taiko form, beats, and simple drills and songs. Taiko is not like many other instruments. Most people don’t go to see Wynton Marsalis play, for instance, and think, ‘Wow, I’d really like to try playing trumpet!’ But people do say that about taiko.

“Some people come because they love Japanese culture, some because they just love drums, and some because they like the idea of a musical martial art. Almost all people who come to play saw us perform somewhere, and they want to try it because it looks like so much fun.”

The all ages class begins on May 17. Odaiko Sonoro performs at 2nd Saturdays, May 10 at 6:30 p.m. Visit TucsonTaiko.org for more details.

Who Is Linda Chorney?

May 1, 2014 | Jon D Auria

Linda Chorney with Mariachi Sol Azteca
photo: Scott Fadynich

Singer-songwriter Linda Chorney’s tale is one of unbending perseverance and extreme dedication to her dream, as her music career has endured ups and downs that would break most people in her position along the way. After releasing six albums on her own during her 34-year career and embarking on endless stretches of touring, it appeared that the Massachusetts native’s passion had finally paid off when it was announced in 2012 that she was nominated for the Best Americana Album for the 54th Grammy Awards.

If getting recognized by the highest honor in music for her album Emotional Jukebox wasn’t monumental enough, it was made even more historic by the fact that she was the first entirely independent artist to receive a Grammy nomination. Chorney was on top of the world in the weeks leading up to the event, until she was exposed to the hurtful politics of an industry that shuns those it can’t profit from.

“Honestly the Grammy nomination was in some ways a curse. The politics behind the industry slandered me and almost blacklisted me. The industry doesn’t like to lose control and because nobody profited off of my nomination, they saw me as a threat,” explains Chorney. “Record labels thought that it was my fault that their artists weren’t nominated. When people’s money and power is threatened, they go to great lengths to discredit whoever are in their way, so they buried me. But they didn’t know who they were dealing with because I had come too far to be buried.”

In the months after the Grammy Awards, Chorney went through an emotional roller coaster due to the backlash of the incident. Where one moment she thought she had reached the pinnacle of her career, the next she felt like an outcast. But if there’s one thing the 54-year-old knows, it’s how to move forward. So she decided to take a stand and chronicle her alleged scandal and expose the truth by writing her first book, Who The F$%# Is Linda Chorney. The often humorous and uniquely insightful book outlines Linda’s life in music and all of her ups and downs leading up to her Grammy nomination and all of the turbulence she experienced in the aftermath of that process.

“It was something I just had to do. The industry gatekeepers were very upset that somebody else got in and snuck past them. As a result they made up stories and tried to accuse me of cheating and so they lobbied the Grammy organization to change the rules so that an indie couldn’t get in again,” says Chorney. “This was explained to me from the inside from people who were happy to secretly fill me in on the corruption of the organization. It was so fascinating, so I had to expose it by writing a book about it all. It was hard putting it all down on paper because I had to relive memories from that time period. But like everything, I got through it all with humor.”

Linda’s Grammy recognition is far from the only impressive achievement of her long career in music. In 1991, she was invited to join Paul Simon and Jackson Browne to play in front of the late, great Nelson Mandela and a crowd of 250,000 people in Boston. And in what she claims to be her greatest achievement, Chorney was invited to Boston’s famous Fenway Park to sing the National Anthem for the 100-year anniversary of the baseball stadium during a Red Sox game in April 2012. When Chorney started playing piano at the age of four and guitar at the age of ten, she couldn’t possibly have dreamed that she would achieve the things that she has now.

“Music is my greatest passion. If I couldn’t express myself through my music and my art and my writing I would go nuts. I don’t really have a choice in that. My career started when I was 20 and I’ve made a living the whole time since I began and I haven’t been starving,” says Chorney. “I write lyrics that people can relate to. Mainly things people think but don’t have the courage to say and I put it to music to give it another dimension. People enjoy knowing they’re not alone in their thoughts and perspective.”

After living all over the East Coast and being on the road most of her life performing on all seven continents, Chorney recently moved to Tucson to be closer to her parents and to enjoy the sunny weather of the west.

This month marks her first two official concerts as a Tucsonan on Saturday, May 3 at La Cocina, 201 N. Court Ave., from 5-5:30 p.m. (during Tucson Folk Festival) and on Saturday, May 10 at Hacienda Del Sol, 5501 N. Hacienda Del Sol, from 7-10 p.m. Chorney will be premiering her new song “The Cantina” at these shows, which pairs her with local mariachi group Mariachi Sol Azteca. A music video for her new Tucson-inspired single will be completed this summer.

For more information about Linda Chorney, her upcoming shows and to purchase her albums and book, visit LindaChorney.com.