Images Arizona October 2021 by Images Arizona Magazine

October 2021

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October 2021

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S SA AN ND DE ER RS SO ON N L L II N NC CO OL LN N

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Arizona Musicfest

THE STARS RETURN TO MUSICFEST Over 30 Concerts Between October and April • Pick Your Own Seats Online

ABBA THE CONCERT

LeANN RIMES

RAY ON MY MIND

CHRIS MANN 1/ 7

JOHN LLOYD YOUNG 1/ 10

BERNADETTE PETERS 1/28

SERGIO MENDES

STEVE TYRELL

KENNY G

SARAH CHANG

BEETHOVEN’s 9th PAUL ANKA 3/14 & 16 — ODE TO JOY! 2/27 ANKA SINGS SINATRA

10/ 3 1 & 11/ 1

2/ 19

11/ 13

2/22

PINK MARTINI 3/22 50 YEARS OF ROCK & ROLL 3/28 WITH CHINA FORBES

11/ 19

1/ 31

CELEBRATES THE TONY BENNETT SONGBOOK

2/4

THE TEXAS TENORS 4/ 1

EMANUEL AX 4/21 IN RECITAL

480.422.8449 • AZMUSICFEST.ORG All Concerts In North Scottsdale

October 2021

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CONCRETE AND CLAY Writer Shannon Severson Photography Courtesy of Grace Renee Gallery

COMMUNITY EVENTS Writer Joseph J. Airdo

CONCERTS OF CONNECTION Writer Joseph J. Airdo

FRIGHT FILTERS Writer Joseph J. Airdo Photography by Rycardo Bia

RYAN SIMS: HOMETOWN BIG Writer Amanda Christmann Photography Courtesy of Ryan Sims

BAKED STUFFED EGGPLANT WITH ITALIAN SAUSAGE Writer and Photographer Francine Coles

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October 2021

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PUBLISHER Shelly Spence

MANAGING EDITOR Joseph J. Airdo

GRAPHIC DESIGNER Meaghan Mitchell

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Joseph J. Airdo Amanda Christmann Francine Coles Shannon Severson

PHOTOGRAPHERS Bryan Black Francine Coles Loralei Lazurek Carl Schultz

ADVERTISING SALES Shelly Spence 623-341-8221 shelly@imagesaz.com

Images Arizona P.O. Box 1416 Carefree, AZ. 85377 623-341-8221 imagesarizona.com

It is finally October and, among many other things, that means that the fall arts season has officially arrived! There are so many things to do, see, hear and experience throughout our community. For starters, Arizona Musicfest is back with its biggest and most star-studded season in its entire 31 years of entertaining area audiences. LeAnn Rimes is just one of several celebrities that the nonprofit organization is bringing to the Valley between now and April. Country Thunder is also back and in full force with a lineup that includes some of the biggest names in country music — including the Valley’s own Ryan Sims. That is just the tip of the iceberg, though, as there is also an amazing amount of stage productions and concerts courtesy of our community’s own performing arts organizations, many of which will be putting on their first shows in more than 18 months. These artists have been itching to get back to doing what they love — sharing their passions and talents with audiences; telling stories or playing music that moves our souls. In fact, if you are like them and have been watching your musical instrument gather dust, members of the Fountain Hills Saxophone Quartet and the Sonoran Brass Quintet are inviting musicians throughout the community to play along with them on two selections of music during a “crash” concert. What a fun and unique way to bring the community together! Fine art will also finally see the return of the spotlight this season. In addition to the 25th anniversary of Hidden in the Hills, the premier event of the nonprofit Sonoran Arts League, there are countless events showcasing the wonderful work of our community’s talented artists — including Carefree Art Night, during which guests can be shuttled around to participating art galleries while also enjoying live music and refreshments.

Submission of news for community section should be in to shelly@imagesaz.com by the 5th of the month prior to publication. Images Arizona is published by ImagesAZ Inc. Copyright © 2021 by ImagesAZ, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction, in whole or part, without permission is prohibited. The publisher is not responsible for the return of unsolicited material.

Local First A R I Z O NA 8

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These concerts, plays, festivals and events — each of which can be found in the pages of this month’s issue of Images Arizona — are proof that we live in one of the most talented and abundantly artistic places on the planet. And I am so proud to call it my home. Cheers! Shelly Spence Publisher, Images Arizona magazine shelly@imagesaz.com 623-341-8221

October 2021

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i m a g e s a r i z o n a . c o m Oc tob e r 2 02 1 Shannon Writer

Severson // Photography Courtesy of Grace Renee Gallery

The idea of art might first bring to mind a canvas; a swath of color splashed across a flat surface. That would be accurate but what a delight it is when our eyes witness the broader definition and take us into beautiful frontiers we had not at first considered. Concrete and Clay, which comes to Carefree’s Grace Renee Gallery Nov. 4, is a showcase of rich complexity in material, pattern, style and inspiration by two remarkably talented artists: Kathleen Hope and Jodi Walsh. An art consultant began putting their work together. When they first spoke by phone there was an immediate connection. “After the first telephone call, our careers just meshed and we pass information and leads back and forth constantly," Walsh says. The pair eventually met in person in Arizona. Hope, a native of Minnesota who now lives in Fountain Hills, counts their meeting and path to working together as serendipity. “There is a saying in the art field, ‘Art that can live in the same space has a similar sensitivity,” she explains. Walsh adds that she and Hope immediately felt a connection personally and in their work. The two struck up a friendship. “Serendipity is this chance occurrence when something unexpected happens in a beneficial way,” Hope explains. “To truly make serendipity happen, it takes a leap of faith. It is not enough to have insight and allow the accident to occur. It requires action because there is great courage in being OK with not knowing what is possible but pursuing it anyway. “In art, this marriage of voice and material is difficult to find. It has to stand the test of time while allowing an infinite amount of creating outcomes.”

THE IMPRINT OF THE WORLD

Walsh is a native of Toronto, Canada. Art and design have always been part of her DNA. She has lived around

the world — from Taiwan to Europe, East Africa to Bangladesh and Calcutta, India — working with world bank, U.S. aid projects and in marketing for U.S. tech companies. Even when resources were exceedingly scarce, she would seek out and find textural elements to create art or clothing. “I was caught in several internal wars and was evacuated by ship from Bangladesh, East Pakistan at the time to Calcutta, India,” Walsh recounts. “I have lost everything twice in my life. I have a great appreciation for water and electricity. I live in daily gratitude and appreciation.” She left the U.S. tech industry 20 years ago to create full-time, primarily in mixed media. She was ready for a change and ceramics came to the fore six or seven years ago. She created the process of “Oritatami Nendo” — folding clay. While inspiration is key to any pursuit, Walsh prefers the term discipline to describe her journey and the honing of her entirely unique art form. “It’s very difficult to come up with something new in the art world — almost impossible,” she says. “I’m a believer that the answer to everything is behind you. “I looked back on my travels, the countries and people I admired most, how they lived, their lifestyle, what they valued and everything came back to an appreciation of a simple lifestyle. Nothing complicated; minimal esthetics — something as uncomplicated as a fold. “Every human has their own style. You can see it in their clothes, everything in their house, the food they eat, the company they keep and how they earn a living. My meditation and yoga practice allows me to function during these difficult times. I can’t imagine what it would be like without my artwork.” Walsh uses a special, environmentally-friendly waterbased polymer product without chemicals or waste to create textures. She doesn’t use traditional glazes and her work is in black and white, but within that simple color scheme is an enormous range of pattern and visual interest.

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“

In art, this marriage of voice and material is difficult to find. It has to stand the test of time while allowing an infinite amount of creating outcomes. Kathleen Hope

The pieces all vary and invite the viewer to move in close, examining the shape and flow — something that is so curious to the eye that one must peer at each corner and strand to see what is happening. She uses birch panels, clay, wax-covered hemp, metals and stainless steel thread to create cubes, seed pods, scrolls and cocoons. “I paint, make markings with slip and add texture to slabs of wet clay,” Walsh says. “I then cut, fold and fire to 2,200 degrees so the clay pieces are vitrified, or sturdy. Much of my work is installed in lobbies and conference rooms so it needs to be strong.”

CEMENT PIONEER

Walsh’s dedication in creating this new art form was mirrored in what she saw Hope doing with concrete — also something entirely new and different. Hope’s background was as a color consultant for interior and exterior design — particularly stucco, wall paint and staining — but she has also worked as a fine artist. She studied decorative painting with a master painter from Berlin with whom she apprenticed for a year. At the time she worked in oil, pastel and then collage and mixed media. No matter the material, it was color that Hope perceives so acutely and allowed her to take that talent into new surfaces and forms. Her desire to create art using a material with texture and uniqueness led her to choose cement as her medium. She mixes it with varying materials like dried pigment, paper and marble dust, applying color using stains, inks, acid, pigment and acrylic. “Color has always come easy for me,” Hope says. “It is learned, but you also realize that no one sees color the same. I can see minute changes in color and I can also look at a color and know what combinations of tint go into making that color.”

To further her career education, Hope completed accredited coursework through the International Association of Color Consultants/Designers in North America. Color is very personal to her and it was always something about which she closely consulted with her clients. She believes every person has connections with color throughout their lives and it plays an enormous role in our personalities, experiences and how we live and work in our own space. “Everyone has an emotional response to color, negative and positive,” Hope says. “Sometimes this response can come from childhood. We can all recall a time that some incident has triggered a response to color; this can sometimes carry throughout our lives. Some are more sensitive to color, as well. I tend to be more introverted than extroverted. Introverts tend to like less clutter, less color saturation. In other words, I prefer Sedona versus Las Vegas.” Her start in concrete began with a client request for an outdoor painting when she moved to Arizona. She had to master its use in a painterly way with lots of trial, error and determination, becoming “fluent in cement.” “My response was, ‘Could you give a year?” she says. “Concrete kept coming top in my research as being most reliable for outdoor application. I started experimenting with different mixes and, after a year, painted the outdoor art for that client. I never looked back because it gave me what I was looking for; I could tint into the mixture, paint over it and pour it for texture.” The unpredictable and porous nature of cement, as well as its extreme temperature sensitivity, requires a precise studio temperature and exacting attention to detail for consistent results. The material dries very quickly and color is difficult to erase once applied.

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Hope’s work has a magical quality that results from all of the elements she adds, sometimes with brushes, squeeze bottles and industrial tools. It draws you in to see what, exactly, you’re witnessing — beautiful, colorful permanence with texture, pattern and intriguing little surprises.

CAREFREE CONVERGENCE

Concrete and Clay is a celebration of these art forms — an inspiring treat to expand the mind beyond any canvas. Both women are excited to bring the exhibition to Grace Renee Gallery with the help of owner Shelly Spence. “When you find a good fit with a gallery, it really is a gift to be treasured,” Walsh says. “It’s such an honor to be included in the Grace Renee Gallery group of artists. Shelly Spence is a delight to work with and her commissions test my creative abilities, which I love.” Hope concurs. “Shelly contacted me to be a part of her gallery and I’ve been showing with her from the start,” she says. “She is an excellent businesswoman and has a great eye for art. I am fortunate to be a part of this outstanding group of artists.” gracereneegallery.com

EXPERIENCE Concrete and Clay

Thursday, Nov. 4 | 4–7 p.m. Grace Renee Gallery | Historic Spanish Village 7212 E. Ho Hum Road, #7, Carefree | Free 480-575-8080 | gracereneegallery.com

October 2021

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COMMUNITY

2021 OCTOBER

Writer Joseph J. Airdo

Oct. 9

GOLDEN REEF STAMP MILL DEMONSTRATION Arizona’s only fully operational ten-stamp ore crushing mill will run several outdoor demonstrations at The Cave Creek Museum. Watch history come alive as the ten 1,000-pound stamps slam down in synchronized precision and hear the pounding echo against the desert foothills — just as it did more than 140 years ago. $7; youth, student and senior discounts available. 11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m. The Cave Creek Museum, 6140 E. Skyline Drive, Cave Creek. 480-488-2764; cavecreekmuseum.org

Through Oct. 3 MATILDA, JR.

Through Oct. 15

an opportunity to visit with the

Musical Theatre of Anthem presents

FOOTHILLS EMPTY BOWLS ART AUCTION

its production of “Matilda, Jr.,”

The Empty Bowls Project is hosting

art. Numerous mediums will be on

a story about a special little girl

an online sale and auction of art

display, including painting, ceramics,

with an extraordinary imagination.

and bowls created and donated by

jewelry, textiles, digital art and more.

$25+. See website for times. Musical

members and friends of the Sonoran

Free. 10 a.m.–4 p.m. See website for

Theatre of Anthem, 42201 N. 41st

Arts League. The 22nd annual

locations. prescottstudiotour.com

Drive, Anthem. 623-336-6001;

fundraiser, which benefits Foothills

musicaltheatreofanthem.org

Food Bank and Resource Center, will conclude with a lunch and art auction

Through Oct. 6

KATALIN EHLING ART EXHIBIT an exhibit of Katalin Ehling’s artwork — from fashion drawings

artists, observe the creative process and purchase one-of-a-kind works of

Oct. 1–10

a.m.–1 p.m. Friday, Oct. 15 at Harold’s

CAREFREE RESTAURANT WEEK

Corral, 6895 E. Cave Creek Road,

Carefree Restaurant Association will

Cave Creek. foothillsfoodbank.com

host an opportunity for participating

to honor World Hunger Day 11

Desert Foothills Library hosts

local restaurants to showcase their

Oct. 1–3

menus at discounted prices. Some restaurants will offer a special two-

autobiographical collages. Free.

PRESCOTT AREA ARTIST STUDIO TOUR

Desert Foothills Library, 38443 N.

The Prescott Area Artist Studio

dine-in guests. Lunch $18; dinner

Schoolhouse Road, Cave Creek.

Tour will feature more than 100

$35+. See website for locations.

480-488-2286; dfla.org

artists throughout the Prescott/

carefreerestaurants.com

and batiks to watercolors and

Quad-City area, offering attendees

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course lunch while others will offer a special three-course dinner for

Oct. 3

THE MICHAEL KOCOUR JAZZ TRIO CONCERT Pianist, composer and ASU Director of Jazz Studies Michael Kocour and his talented compadres Ben Hedquist and Dom Moio will perform original compositions as well as jazz classics as part of Art at the Rocks. Free. 4 p.m. Desert Hills Presbyterian Church, 34605 N. Tom Darlington Road, Scottsdale. 480-488-3384; deserthills.org

Oct. 4

HALLOWEEN HAUNTED HOUSE AUDITIONS Musical Theatre of Anthem will audition potential cast members for its upcoming haunted house. $5 non-refundable registration fee + $95 if cast. 7 p.m. Musical Theatre of Anthem, 42201 N. 41st Drive, Suite B100, Anthem. 623-336-6001; musicaltheatreofanthem.org

Oct. 8 and 22

WHISPERS IN THE DARK GHOST TOURS The Phoenix Arizona Paranormal Society will explore the Victorian homes and cabins at Pioneer Arizona Living History Museum by flashlight. $35. 7–10 p.m. Pioneer Arizona Living History Museum, 3901 W. Pioneer Road, Phoenix. pioneeraz.org

Oct. 9

GO GREEN EVENT Anthem Community Council will host an event during which Anthem residents may recycle computer equipment, pointof-sale equipment, telecom equipment, printing equipment, A/V equipment, batteries, electronic components, household appliances, paint, paper and household hazardous waste as well as prescription and non-prescription drugs. Donations of clothing, toys, bedding and household furniture items will also be accepted. Free. 8–11 a.m. Anthem Community Park, 41703 N. Gavilan Peak Parkway, Anthem. onlineatanthem.com/go-green October 2021

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Oct. 16

HIDDEN IN THE HILLS ARTISTS’ RECEPTION Desert Foothills Library will host a reception for the artists participating in this year’s Hidden in the Hills event. Free. 4 p.m. Desert Foothills Library, 38443 N. Schoolhouse Road, Cave Creek. 480488-2286; dfla.org

Oct. 9

ONCE ON THIS ISLAND, JR. AUDITIONS

will host an event with the Arizona

N. Schoolhouse Road, Cave Creek.

Science Center during which children

480-488-2286; dfla.org

may explore how superheroes use their powers and learn the science behind them. Free. 2–4 p.m. RSVP. The Cave Creek Museum, 6140 E.

LET MUSIC LIVE

audition potential cast members

Skyline Drive, Cave Creek. 480-488-

ProMusica Arizona Chorale and

for its upcoming production of

2764; cavecreekmuseum.org

Orchestra will open its season with a concert that celebrates the joy

“Once on This Island, Jr.,” a highly original theatrical adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale

Oct. 12

of music in our lives. $25; youth, student, senior and military discounts

“The Little Mermaid.” Auditionees

GET LIT BOOK CLUB

aged 6–18 should prepare a musical

Desert Foothills Library will host a

Creek Performing Art Center, 40404

theater song. Audition preparation

happy hour book club featuring Yaa

N. Gavilan Peak Parkway, Anthem.

workshops are available for an

Gyasi’s “Homegoing.” Free. 5 p.m.

Sunday 3:30 p.m. American Lutheran

extra charge. $325; sibling discounts

RSVP. The Spotted Donkey Cantina,

Church, 17200 N. Del Webb Blvd.,

available. 10:30 a.m. RSVP. Musical

34505 N. Scottsdale Road. 480-488-

Sun City. 623-326-5172; pmaz.org

Theatre of Anthem, 42201 N. 41st

2286; dfla.org

Drive, Anthem. 623-336-6001; musicaltheatreofanthem.org

Oct. 14 and 26

available. Saturday 7 p.m. Boulder

Oct. 21

book club featuring Erik Larson’s

FROM LIBERATION AND LOSS TO LOVE, LEMONADE AND LAUGHTER

Sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of

“The Splendid and the Vile.” Free. 10

Desert Foothills Library will welcome

Carefree, the Cave Creek Museum

a.m. Desert Foothills Library, 38443

Dr. Ettie Zilber for a discussion that

Oct. 10

SUPERHERO SCIENCE

Oct. 16 and 17

Musical Theatre of Anthem will

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LIBRARY BOOK CLUB Desert Foothills Library will host a

presents a different chapter of the Holocaust story. Free. 2 p.m. RSVP. Desert Foothills Library, 38443 N. Schoolhouse Road, Cave Creek. 480-488-2286; dfla.org

Oct. 21–24

PRESCOTT PLEIN AIR ART FESTIVAL The Highlands Center for Natural History and the city of Prescott will present the second annual Prescott Plein Air Art Festival, featuring 16 renowned Arizona artists who have been invited to create art in outdoor settings with a focus on highlighting the area’s diverse natural landscapes, historical and architectural beauty. Free. See website for times and locations. highlandscenter.org/prescott-plein-air

Oct. 28–31

WAR OF THE WORLDS Desert Foothills Theater will present its production of “War of the Worlds,” a radio play within a radio play that pays homage to the form's golden age and serves as a timely reminder of what fear can do to a society. $25+. See website for times. Cactus Shadows Fine Arts Center, 33606 N. 60th St., Scottsdale. 480-575-2039; dftheater.org

Oct. 29

ANTHEM TRUNK AND TREAT Anthem Area Chamber of Commerce will host a festive event featuring trunk and treat booths, a car show, games, prizes, food, music and other activities. Free. 5–8 p.m. Anthem Corporate Center, 3715 W. Anthem Way, Anthem. anthemareachamber.org

Oct. 29 and 30

WITCH’S LAIR HAUNTED HOUSE Musical Theatre of Anthem will host a haunted house. $10 + a canned food donation for Foothills Food Bank and Resource Center. 6–10 p.m. Musical Theatre of Anthem, 42201 N. 41st Drive, Suite B100, Anthem. 623-336-6001; musicaltheatreofanthem.org

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623-742-6866

nanettemiller.com Fry’s Shopping Center: Next to Verizon and Tru Burger October 2021

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Oct. 23 and 24

ANTHEM AUTUMNFEST The Anthem community will host its annual Autumnfest event, featuring arts and crafts vendors, carnival rides and games, family activities, a pumpkin patch and live entertainment as well as a food court and the Rotary Club of Anthem’s beer garden. Free. 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Anthem Community Park, 41730 N. Gavilan Peak Parkway, Anthem. onlineatanthem.com/ autumnfest

Oct. 30

BRANDY CLARK CONCERT

celebration featuring afternoon teas,

lighting event on Nov. 20. Free. 6:30

gift bags and special guests. Adults

a.m. 4250 W. Anthem Way, Anthem.

$45; children $25. 10 a.m.–5 p.m.

outletsatanthem.com

English Rose Tea Room, 201 Easy

Musical Instrument Museum will

Street Suite 103, Carefree. 480-488-

welcome singer-songwriter Brandy

4812; carefreetea.com

Nov. 4 and 5

Nov. 1

Musical Instrument Museum will

Clark. $38.50+. 7:30 p.m. Musical Instrument Museum, 4725 E. Mayo Blvd. Phoenix. 480-478-6000; mim.org

Oct. 30

HALLOWEEN TRICKOR-TREAT TRAIL Pioneer Arizona Living History

ABBA: THE CONCERT

who come in costumes. 10 a.m.–2

for a concert of unique and

stage as part of Arizona Musicfest.

extraordinary melodic and jazz-

$49+. 7:30 p.m. Highlands Church,

infused vocals. $33.50+. 7 p.m. and

9050 E. Pinnacle Peak Road,

9 p.m. Musical Instrument Museum,

Scottsdale. azmusicfest.org

4725 E. Mayo Blvd. Phoenix. 480-

Nov. 4

CHRISTMAS TREE ARRIVAL

Phoenix. pioneeraz.org

Outlets at Anthem will welcome the

Nov. 5–7

arrival of Arizona’s tallest fresh-cut

CAREFREE FINE ART AND WINE FESTIVAL

Christmas tree. Santa Claus will

Thunderbird Artists will host an

lead a flatbed truck carrying the

event boasting 160 juried artists,

70-foot white fir, which will then

live music, local food vendors and a

be lifted into place via an industrial

wide array of vintage wines. $3; $13

English Rose Tea Room will host

crane and decorated ahead of the

includes eight wine-tasting tickets

a Harry Potter-themed Halloween

shopping center’s 20th annual tree

and a souvenir glass). 10 a.m.–5

Oct. 30 and 31

HARRY POTTER HALLOWEEN

478-6000; mim.org

Museum, 3901 W. Pioneer Road,

p.m. Pioneer Arizona Living History

welcome The Manhattan Transfer

ABBA: The Concert will take the

Museum will host a Halloween trick-or-treating event. $5 for guests

MANHATTAN TRANSFER CONCERT

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p.m. Downtown Carefree, 101

civic organizations, McCartin’s

Easy St., Carefree. 480-837-5637;

hobbies include hiking, gardening

thuderbirdartists.com

and spending time with her family. anthemareachamber.org

Nov. 5–7

REBELS AND REDCOATS

Air Conditioning • Plumbing • Water Treatment

It’s time for your

Heating

System

Safety Inspection!

ARTISTS OPEN NEW GALLERY A group of Arizona artists has

Pioneer Arizona Living History

launched a new gallery that will

Museum will bring history to life

exhibit the work of 36 fine artists

with exciting battles and educational

in mediums including jewelry, glass,

demonstrations. $10; youth, senior

fiber sculpture, ceramics, bronze,

and military discounts available. See

gourds, textile, photographers, metal

website for times. Pioneer Arizona

sculpture, wood live edge, graphite,

Living History Museum, 3901 W.

acrylic, pastel and oil. Tuesday–

Pioneer Road, Phoenix. pioneeraz.org

Sunday 11 a.m.–6 p.m. The Finer Arts Gallery, 6137 E. Cave Creek

Nov. 14

CHARITY CLASSIC GOLF AND PAR-TEE/ DINNER Anthem Golf and Country Club will host its 15th annual charity golfing event, which will benefit Smiles 4 Sick Children and the Clubcorp Employee Partner Care Program. In addition to the game itself, the event will feature a four-course dinner, silent and live auctions and a live helicopter ball drop. Email for sponsorship opportunities and registration information. Anthem Golf and Country Club, 2708 W. Anthem Club Drive, Anthem. jennifer.moore@ clubcorp.com

ANTHEM CHAMBER NAMES NEW DIRECTOR

Road, Cave Creek. 480-488-2923; thefinerartsgallery.com

PROMUSICA ELECTS BOARD CHAIR ProMusica Arizona Orchestra has elected Malcolm Smith as its new board chair. A founding member of the nonprofit performing arts organization. Smith played the cello all the way through his high school years, was part of the San Antonio Youth Orchestra and was the president of both his middle school and high school orchestras. After earning his Master’s degree from the University of Chicago, Smith joined

Community College Orchestra in Glendale, California. He moved to Anthem in 2003 and was informed of the formation of ProMusica Arizona Orchestra by his mother, Juereta Smith — a founding member

McCartin as its new executive

of ProMusica Arizona Chorale.

director. Coming to the chamber

pmaz.org

and considerable experience with

Cleaning of Combustion Section Testing of all Furnace Safety Controls Furnace Control Board Operation Inspection of Gas Valve & combustion cycle Inspection of Blower motor operation Inspection of Draft Inducer operation Inspection of combustion gas venting

and later played with the Glendale

Commerce has welcomed Kimberly

entrepreneurship background

• • • • • • •

the San Diego Youth Symphony

The Anthem Area Chamber of

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community-based nonprofit and October 2021

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Writer Joseph J. Airdo // Photography by Michele Celentano

“

It is the spooky season and everybody wants to do something that immerses them in something quintessentially Halloween. So I think that this will be a fun thing for families to do and see because we do not have anything else like it in the area. We are here. We will fill that need. Sierra Litman

Earlier in her life, Sierra Litman used to turn her garage into a haunted house for Halloween. She invited neighbors to walk through the small space but, feeling cramped and therefore limited, she aspired to create something spooky on a much grander scale. She gets the opportunity to do that this year in a way that is perhaps even bigger than she had ever imagined as Musical Theatre of Anthem hosts its first haunted house. “I have always loved watching the home haunt videos that people post on YouTube and going to people's haunted houses that they do in the community,” Litman says. “I have always wanted to do something like that and Musical Theatre of Anthem is a pretty big house. We have got a lot of space to do it and a lot of effects already built into the building.” The idea of hosting a haunted house was conceived when Musical Theatre of Anthem’s staff and instructors began discussing new ways to engage the community in the arts.

H E M N T

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OCTOBER 23-24 Saturday: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday: 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Carnival opens Thursday evening.

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Event F eatures

Arts & Crafts Fair Business Vendors Food Court & Beer Garden Decorated Pumpkin Contest (prizes) Pumpkin Patch Live Music Strolling Magician Balloon Artists Kids’ Zone (fees apply) Train Rides (fees apply) Hayrides Carnival (opens Oct. 21)

OnlineAtAnthem.com/Autumnfest

“I am a huge Halloween fanatic so one of the first things that we talked about was doing some sort of haunted house,” Litman explains. “That spiraled into something that would make sure that the kids are involved and learning from it, so we turned it into a workshop.”

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After Oct. 4 auditions, youth aged 14–18 will collaborate to create creepy characters, design macabre makeup and costumes and decorate a hair-raising haunt — all of which Litman says provides them with a theatrical experience through a different lens.

is the spooky season and everybody wants to do something that immerses them in something quintessentially Halloween. I think that this will be a fun thing for families to do and see because we do not have anything else like it in the area. We are here. We will fill that need.”

“For the kids who are participating, they have to go through an entire design process,” she explains. “So it is more than just, ‘Here's your script, play a character.’ It goes a lot deeper than that and starts with them having to actually create — which I think is really educational. It becomes this storytelling experience so it is not as simple as jumping out and saying, ‘Boo.’”

Litman adds that she will guide workshop participants into creating a relatively family-friendly haunted house for the community, resulting in an imaginatively insidious experience as opposed to something that will nurture nightmares. After all, the ultimate goals are to bring kids into theater in a different way and create something for the community in the process.

In fact, it may be an even more challenging theatrical experience than simply performing on stage.

“I think a lot of times kids see an actor on the stage and do not want to do that,” Litman says. “But there is so much more to the theater. I think that something so universally loved like Halloween is a great way to introduce kids to the arts.

“When you are playing a character on stage, the audience is just watching you while you perform,” Litman says. “This is more interactive. People are interacting with you in the middle of the haunted house. You have to be able to come up with dialogue without breaking character. It is very improvisational.” Best of all, the workshop will result in a haunted house that the entire community is invited to experience.

“We are a very community-based theater. The goal is to have an annual event and change the theme of the haunted house every year. If it goes well and everybody enjoys it, we will keep coming back for years to come and make it an annual tradition that people can look forward to.” musicaltheatreofanthem.org

“I am the type of person who is always looking for something to do in the community around the holidays,” Litman says. “It

EXPERIENCE

Witch’s Lair Haunted House October 29 and 30 | 6–10 p.m. | Musical Theatre of Anthem | 42201 N. 41st Drive, Suite B100, Anthem g e s a r i z ofood n a . c odonation m Oc tobfor e r Foothills 2 02 1 Food Bank and Resource Center | 623-336-6001 | musicaltheatreofanthem.org 24$10 +i ma acanned

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Writer Joseph J. Airdo

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Like most of us, LeAnn Rimes spent more time at home over the past year and a half than she ever has in her entire life. The singer, songwriter, actress and author describes the feeling that she experienced during her first concert since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic as a shock to her system. She had missed the stage and the audience, yearning not only to entertain but also to connect. “Ultimately, that is what I feel music and art does,” Rimes says. “It connects us to these places within ourselves — if we allow it to — that we do not normally go. We get to feel in a different way and experience life, the magic of life and all of the complexities of life in a different way.” Rimes is just one in a lineup of stellar musical artists set to connect with audiences in the Valley as part of Arizona Musicfest’s 31st season. This year, the nonprofit organization is presenting its largest season yet, producing 30 concerts between November and April. Arizona Musicfest executive and producing director Allan Naplan calls Rimes — whose highly-anticipated concert is scheduled for Nov. 13 at Highlands Church — “one of the absolute superstars of country music.” “Although what is so important about her is that she has gone beyond the country realm,” Naplan says. “LeAnn Rimes is an American artist of such renown. So many of her songs, while they may have a country DNA to them, have really just become part of the popular lexicon of pop music. So we are really excited to have her.”

EMOTIONAL DEPTH

Although she had been singing for several years prior, Rimes’ career officially took off in 1996 when, at just

13 years old, her single “Blue” peaked at No. 10 on Billboard’s country music chart. The following year, she became the youngest person to win a Grammy when she took home awards for Best New Artist and Best Female Country Vocal Performance for “Blue.”

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“When she came out with ‘Blue’ as this young kid with this really mature musical sensibility, she took the music world by storm,” Naplan says. “She has continued and has even more maturity now. And her music has expanded beyond so much of what she was originally known for.” Rimes acknowledges that just as her perception of the world around her has changed over the past 25 years, so has her music. “It is weird starting out so young because the things that you are drawn to at 13 years old are very different than [those at] 39,” Rimes explains. “I always joke that ‘How Do I Live’ and ‘I Need You’ are two of the most codependent songs that have ever been written. As I have grown older, my idea of love — and what love is — has changed. I think, as a writer, my songs are a bit more grounded and on the earthier side these days. There is a bit more complexity to them.” That does not mean that Rimes is any less passionate about her earlier hits, though. “Do I completely agree with them?” Rimes asks. “Probably not. But I still love singing them. They have actually shown me a lot about love, where we write love songs from and what we think love is. My music has really taught me a wide range of emotional depth. Music has always been the place where I have felt the most open and free to speak wherein other parts of my life, ever since I was a little girl, I felt more contained and confined. Music has always given me that freedom.”

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LeAnn Rimes

In 1997, LeAnn Rimes became the youngest person to win a Grammy when she took home awards for Best New Artist and Best Female Country Vocal Performance for “Blue.” Photo by Norman Seeff

“

Ultimately, that is what I feel music and art does. It connects us to these places within ourselves if we allow it to that we do not normally go. We get to feel in a different way and experience life, the magic of life and all of the complexities of life in a different way.

Moreover, she acknowledges that there is room for everything — her earlier hits in which you can completely lose yourself or totally jam out to as well as the more recent ones that really dig into some deeper themes and topics. It is that perfect mix that she will be bringing to Phoenix for her performance during Arizona Musicfest. “We run the gamut,” Rimes says. “I have a setlist but my shows change. Sometimes I get a vibe from the audience and we go down a completely different road. I am much more flexible on stage these days than I used to be as a kid, which makes it a lot of fun for everybody.” In addition to possibly playing some of the songs off her yet-to-be-released new album, including “Throw My Arms Around the World,” Rimes expects to share with the audience versions of her earlier hits that she has reworked a bit. “It has been really interesting to play around with a lot of my older material, reimagine things and bring them into the now where it feels like one cohesive thought,” Rimes says. “It makes it challenging to start as young as I did but I have fun with that challenge along the way.”

AN ESSENTIAL THREAD

Naplan notes that, like several other of this season’s esteemed performers, Rimes was actually scheduled for Arizona Musicfest’s 30th anniversary season. However, the COVID-19 pandemic forced the nonprofit organization to pivot to a delayed and abbreviated season of socially distanced outdoor concerts. “We did 12 concerts in all — six artists with double concerts,” Naplan says. “And it was a great success. We had more than 2,700 attendees. Our venue, which had 320-odd seats, ended up being one of the largest outdoor venues during the pandemic, so we really were a destination for safe outdoor performances. We felt so proud to be able to provide some music in the midst of such a difficult year.”

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Naplan adds that Arizona Musicfest’s outdoor season’s success was a source of pride as the nonprofit organization aspired to re-engage audiences. It also inspired his team to consider possibly adopting additional outdoor concerts in the future, thereby providing audiences with an opportunity to enjoy evenings of amazing music in the incredible environment for which Arizona is known. “We are also grateful to our community because, during the challenges of last year, individuals were so steadfast in their support — not only giving generously but calling and saying that they really care about our organization and our staff,” he says. “That was such a wonderful statement about the role that we play in the community.” Ticket sales from the concerts that Arizona Musicfest produces benefit a variety of music education programs throughout the Valley. These programs, which are provided at no charge to area schools, include Musicfest Strings, Musicfest Mariachi, Musicfest Winds, Musicfest Strummers, Music and Sound/ Found and Around, Musicfest Jazz and The Music of Arizona — the organization’s signature multicultural program. Meanwhile, Musicfest’s Young Musicians Competitions, Young Musicians Performance Series and the Musicfest College Scholarship Program serve the finest young musicians in the Valley, while Music Alive! — a unique lifelong learning and creative aging series — features dynamic programs for the community’s older adults. Needless to say, the nonprofit organization is an essential thread in the cultural fabric of our community. “We were very fortunate to come out of the COVID year in health as an organization,” Naplan says. “So much of that is because this community stood by us during this challenging time.”

A SEASON OF STARS

Although Arizona Musicfest’s outdoor season was spectacular, many of the stars who — like Rimes — were scheduled to perform were ultimately unable to take the stage. Therefore, Naplan is thrilled that the nonprofit organization was able to reschedule many of them for this season — as well as add a number of other previously unscheduled musical artists to the mix. In fact, the act that kicks off the entire season is even more than just one year in the making. Naplan first tried to bring ABBA: The Concert to Arizona Musicfest eight years ago but a scheduling conflict required

October 2021

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Bria Schonberg will take the stage Nov. 15 at La Casa De Cristo Lutheran Church as part of Arizona Musicfest. Photo Courtesy of Arizona Musicfest

Arizona Musicfest will present “Ray on My Mind” starring Kenny Brunner Nov. 19 at Highlands Church. Photo Courtesy of Arizona Musicfest

ABBA: The Concert will take the stage Nov. 1 at Highlands Church as part of Arizona Musicfest. Photo Courtesy of Arizona Musicfest

him to book an alternate ABBA tribute group instead. Now, Naplan has finally been able to book the group that is recognized as the leading ABBA tribute show in the entire world. “[ABBA: The Concert] is a Swedish-based ensemble that only occasionally comes to America,” Naplan explains. “And when they are here, they are playing the Hollywood Bowl, the Ravinia Festival and the biggest venues in America. So for Arizona Musicfest to be able to present a group of this caliber is really special.” ABBA: The Concert will perform Nov. 1 on the stage at Highlands Church. “Certainly the music of ABBA, whether you were listening to it when the actual band was performing or so many years since, is part of the soundtrack of the world,” Naplan says. “With ‘Mama Mia’ — the musical and the two movies — ABBA’s songs have been able to last and sustain for so long.” After Rimes wows audiences on Nov. 13, Bria Schonberg will take the stage Nov. 15 at La Casa De Cristo Lutheran Church.

MUSIC

“Bria Schonberg is such an exciting jazz artist — especially because of her double threat of being a really terrific jazz singer and jazz trumpeter,” Naplan says. “When you can come in with two talents for the price of one, that is pretty special. She is honoring the tradition of classic jazz and also breaking new ground with original compositions that make her a modern artist as well.” Then, on Nov. 19, Arizona Musicfest will present a concert lovingly titled “Ray on My Mind.” Naplan says that the show is particularly special as its star— Kenny Brunner — is not only a musician but also an acclaimed actor. “He embodies Ray Charles — not just in the performance of the songs but all night long,” explains Naplan, noting that the show will be filled with stories about the history and culture that had an influence on the iconic artist’s life and career. The Young Musicians Fall Concert will close out the fall offerings Nov. 21 at Musical Instrument Museum. After a pair of holiday concerts in December, Arizona Musicfest’s season will continue in January as the nonprofit organization presents performances from musical artists such as Bernadette Peters, Kenny G and Paul Anka through April.

SOUL LANGUAGE

Naplan says that Arizona Musicfest has evolved as a professional organization to be ready to receive and solicit a high caliber of musical artists like those that fill out the remarkable roster of the nonprofit organization’s star-studded 31st season. “What has been so wonderful about that evolution is that we are now one of the biggest presenting organizations in the region,” Naplan says. “We have arrived as a major destination for major artists.” Major artists like Rimes, who knows that there is extraordinary entertainment value to her music and performances but is ultimately driven by the desire to connect. “I find that I do connect in my shows and with my music and I think that is expanding more and more, just on a personal level,” Rimes says. “But I think that is what we are in need of. I am very aware of what I put out into the world and the kind of change and shifts that I want to help create. “I think that we, [as artists], have an opportunity to speak truth in places where it needs to be spoken and do that in a way that is a bit of a soul language more than it is just speaking to the mind. Music and art have done that throughout the ages. And I am grateful that I have the gift to be able to do that.” azmusicfest.org October 2021

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Neighborly Values and State-of-the-Art Conveniences There is nothing in the world that makes a house feel like a home more than a safe, friendly and vibrant community. The cul-de-sac location of this cozy 2-bedroom, 2-bath Anthem Country Club home ensures all three qualities, leading you to feel as though you are living in a classic TV sitcom with the simple neighborly values of yesteryear. Although the aesthetics are quaint and quixotic, the individual features are modern, with many new and state-of-the-art attributes making absolutely certain your life is filled with as much convenience as it is comfort. Starting with the kitchen, a 2021 remodel boasts brand new cabinets with soft-close doors and drawers as well as stunning slab granite countertops. Stainless appliances from 2017, such as a refrigerator, are all included. A washer and dryer, also from 2017, are here, too, as are laundry cabinets and sink. Everything you need to perform life’s daily housework is present and accounted for, but with the sophisticated elegance and amenities that make it all feel less like chores and more like relaxing routines — the completion of which allows you to enjoy this home’s many amazingly luxurious offerings. Pre-wired for stereo and surround sound, the entertainment possibilities are extremely exciting, taking movie nights to an entirely new level. A turf backyard ensures that outdoor gatherings are just as enjoyable. Experience every evening under Arizona’s gorgeous sky with picturesque mountain views that will make you grateful for the desert landscape that surrounds you. Or open your front door, take a stroll around the cul-de-sac, meet your neighbors and discover the unparalleled joy of living in such an incredible community. This favorably situated home offers an affable living experience you thought was obsolete with all of the convenient luxuries of today.

Please call Linda for your private showing. Linda Rehwalt RE/MAX Professionals 602-402-1136 lindarehwalt@azrealty.com

October 2021

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Darkness falls across the land. The Midnight hour is close at hand... You need only read those iconic words and your mind immediately transmografies them into their audible form, menacingly spoken by Vincent Price in Michael Jackson’s “Thriller.” Chances are, you heard Price’s foreboding voice and felt your hair stand up on end. It is simply one of the many fantastic phenomena about how our brains process and perceive information. The same phenomenon applies to the images that we see right in front of us in real life. Have you ever woken up the middle of the night and, wanting to get a glass of water or needing to use the restroom, walked across your home? What is normally the space in which you feel safest is suddenly a potentially haunted domain filled with immensely ominous objects hiding around each and every corner. Do not even think about stepping outside, for, under the moonlight, that same street on which you had a block party last weekend now may as well be the setting of the most terrifying horror movie you have ever seen. You are one coyote howl away from performing the classic Scooby Doo run back to bed, where you will pull your blanket over your head and hope that it was all just your imagination. It was. And, when you really think about it, that is a pretty cool mental anomoly. Places and things that are perfectly innocent or even joyous by day give off an entirely different vibe at night, in the middle of a rainstorm, cloaked by fog or accentuated by shadow or silhouette. They are natural fright filters — no Snapchat required.

Most photographers will tell you that the best time to take a picture is the golden hour. Far fewer photographers pick up their cameras and go out at night. Everything looks totally different at night. It gives the viewer a certain feeling and that is what my photography is all about. Rycardo Bia

Photographer Rycardo Bia excels with such imagery and, in honor of spooky season, we at Images Arizona thought it would be appropriate to share some of his most sinister shots. Each one proves not only that our mind loves to play tricks on us but also that, under the right aesthetic, Arizona’s sublime scenery can send shivers down your spine.

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Beauty can be found at night — even in some of the most unlikely conditions. When it rains, everybody else runs inside. I run outside. Rycardo Bia

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I might be a night owl. I see a scene with interesting light and I try to reinterpret it a little bit differently. Right now, I am having the most fun with night photography as I look for dramatic scenes — especially if there is fog or rain. Rycardo Bia

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I like to photograph things that tell a story or make you feel a certain way. A lot of people tell me that my photos give them a spark of nostalgia. I like to look for moody, atmospheric aesthetics. Rycardo Bia

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ABOUT THE PHOTOGRAPHER

Although he was born in New Mexico, Rycardo Bia moved to Tucson, Arizona upon starting school. Later, when he became a father and started a family of his own, Bia made the conscious decision to stay in Tucson — an Arizona city that he believes has a lot to offer.

Bia began a career in law enforcement but, bridled with job-related stress, decided to go back to school with aspirations of a career in nursing. However, during this time he discovered and developed a love of photography. After graduating, he opted to instead pursue this newfound passion. With a little help from tutorials on YouTube, taking pictures of the sunset with his cell phone quickly turned into processing professional-looking photos taken with his DSLR. Bia found that the camera not only made it possible for him to share his extraordinarily unique view of his surroundings with others but also benefitted him therapeutically. “Over the years, I have had my own challenges in life — serious challenges, too — and I find that photography is a very therapeutic way of coping,” says Bia, noting that this newfound stress-reliever makes him comfortable enough to consider going back to school, getting his nursing license or even returning to law enforcement. However, he will first and foremost focus his attention on his family and his photography, the two things that enrich and make his life such a rewarding experience. rycardobiaphotography.com

October 2021

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Writer Amanda Christmann Photography Courtesy of Ryan Sims

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After all these years, Ryan Sims is still the same. Though his star is rising to levels he’d only dreamed of a decade ago when we first met, he’s still the same humble guy that any girl would be proud to take home to meet their parents.

“You can only write about what you know,” he explained. “Of course, I always write about relationships, but this world that we’re living in has definitely got me feeling some kind of way.

As his voice has shifted from the raspy tones of rock to the twang of country, this hometown singer-songwriter has a way of creating music that resonates with people from all walks of life.

“It’s like old country singer Harlan Howard used to say, most great songs are made from three chords and the truth.”

Over the years, Images Arizona has done a few stories on Sims and his music, from its beginning at Harold’s Cave Creek Corral and other area honky-tonks with his band, Easton Ashe, to his natural ease into country and a growing worldwide audience. At times it has been a rocky road, but never has the world of opportunity been opened as it has now. With his next big appearance slated at Country Thunder later this month among headliners like Luke Combs, Eric Church and Old Dominion, he’s primed for the big stage. It’s been three years since Sims’ last release, mainly due to the pandemic. For Sims and many other artists, that period of quiet has meant lots of creative time. With the sleeves of his plaid shirt rolled up and his shirttail hanging loosely over a pair of comfortable jeans, Sims sat down to talk about what’s new in his life and in his career. “These are exciting times,” he began. “It’s been an odd time to be a musician, not being able to reach fans in person. The good thing is that every artist has had a whole year to put their best stuff together — including me. This next year we’ll be hearing the best of everybody.” Sims has used his time away from fans to write and record songs. Some are about love found, and some are about love lost. Still single, he’s had his share of both. Other songs are about our country’s current state of affairs and the divides they have caused.

He and his management team — led by radio titan Steve Smith, Liz Burns of Cave Creek Records, former Entercom vice president of programming and KMLE program director Tim Richards and renowned head of Spotify Country John Marx — began releasing singles last month. “The music I will be putting out this year will, by far, be the best-produced songs I have ever had the pleasure of recording,” he said, adding that just a couple of years ago, getting his music in front of Marx seemed a bit like a pipe dream. Recorded at Sound Emporium and Benchmark Sound, one of the best studios in Nashville’s Music Row, Sims’ songs came to life with a studio band, the likes of which he’d never heard before. “These seven guys went into the studio and would listen to my acoustic version,” he explained. “Within three takes, they were not just nailing it; they were making it better than I’d ever imagined it. It blew my mind. “As a songwriter, you hear it in your head one way. Hearing it come to life like that got me. It tugged at my heart really bad.” Even for a talented songster like Sims, straddling the traditional music world of live audiences and handshake deals with the contemporary “right now” digital age we’re all in can be tough. Spotify, Pandora, Apple Music, Amazon and iHeart Radio are the kings of music platforms, influencing not only what we’re listening to, but how we are listening to it.

October 2021

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“

With his next big appearance slated at Country Thunder later this month, Ryan Sims is primed for the big stage.

[T]here’s something about this Sonoran Desert we live in. I remind myself sometimes that people come from all over the world to see this place, and I am blessed to wake up every day and see it out my front door. It’s magical and I will always call it home. Ryan Sims

“In today’s music world, it’s more about putting out singles instead of the whole album as a work. I like it this way. It’s a good way to put out music,” he said. He also would prefer to avoid being pigeon-holed into a genre. “I would much rather call myself a musician and let people pick what I am to them,” he said. “The music Easton Ashe was putting out would probably fit into the country category today. There is so much crossover, it’s really a shame that artists have to choose. I think my style is able to reach a lot of people, and I like it that way.” As he has grown through the years, so has his music — but in unexpected ways. “I have learned to simplify what I used to complicate intentionally,” he explained. “I used to focus on the technical aspects and concentrate on doing musical things that were not easy to do. I wasn’t allowing a song to be what it was. I’ve learned to let go of that as a writer, and I like what it has done for my music.”

MUSIC

Ryan Sims i m a16 g e s aand r i z o17 n a . |c o m website Oc tob e r 1 and times | Country Thunder “B” Stage | 20585 E. Water Way, Florence | countrythunder.com See for2 02 price 42October

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FREE UPGRADE on 0% financing offers As Ryan Sims’ voice has shifted from the raspy tones of rock to the twang of country, this hometown singer-songwriter has a way of creating music that resonates with people from all walks of life.

Sims’ music has taken him across oceans and through cultural differences. He’s played in venues big and small, and been grateful for every chance he’s had to share his passion for song. “My career demands that I go so many places, and the majority of those have been great places,” he said. “But there’s something about this Sonoran Desert we live in. I remind myself sometimes that people come from all over the world to see this place, and I am blessed to wake up every day and see it out my front door. It’s magical and I will always call it home.”

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As for the future, who knows what it will hold for this hometown musician. Right now, it’s looking bright. “Pinch me,” he said with a grin as wide as an Arizona sunset. “Or wait; Don’t pinch me. If this is a dream, I don’t want to wake up.” Air Conditioning • Plumbing • Water Treatment *Call for Details. Expires 12/1/2021. October 2021

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Writer Joseph J. Airdo // Photography by Carl Schultz

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Anthem resident Steve Adelson recalls the exact moment that music engulfed and therefore changed the trajectory of his entire life. As a 17-year-old recent high school graduate in 1969, Adelson was encouraged by one of his friends to pick up a guitar and play a single chord. “I was addicted,” says Adelson, noting that he became determined to master the music of The Beatles, Led Zeppelin and other popular rock groups of the era. “There was this song called Alice's Restaurant by Arlo Guthrie. It was a finger-picking song. To me, it sounded outrageous but I figured if I learned that song, I would be the happiest guy in the world. I learned it and I said, ‘There has got to be more.’ I am still addicted now and, 52 years later, I am still playing.” However, the guitar served only as a gateway instrument for Adelson, who, two-and-a-half years into college, switched majors from chemical engineering to music. “I studied with many different teachers,” Adelson says. “It was not just entertainment. I wanted to learn how to play the guitar as much as possible to be creative. So I studied creative guitar players like Wes Montgomery, Jimi Hendrix and Michael Hedges.” In 1983, Adelson encountered a crowd of people on the corner of Bleecker Street and University in Greenwich Village. Curious, he decided to investigate. “I looked over the top and there was a guy tapping on the guitar,” Adelson says. “Tapping means you are hammering with both hands and playing it like a piano. His name was Stanley Jordan. I immediately went home and started playing like that on my guitar. Six months later, I discovered the Chapman Stick and it changed my life.”

A CRAYON OF A DIFFERENT COLOR

The Chapman Stick is an electric musical instrument invented by jazz guitarist Emmett Chapman in 1969. “He said he was playing the guitar and, by divine intervention, his right hand went over the top and he started touching the string,” Adelson says. “He delighted in this new technique that he discovered. Within the

next five years, he developed this instrument that accommodated the new technique” A member of the guitar family, a Chapman Stick typically has 10–12 individually-tuned strings and is used to play bass lines, melody lines, chords or textures. Designed as a fully polyphonic chordal instrument, it covers several of these musical parts simultaneously. The Chapman Stick resembles a wide version of the fretboard of an electric guitar. However, unlike the electric guitar, it is usually played by tapping or fretting the strings rather than plucking them. The player hammers onto the strings with his or her fingertips the same way that one would strike a piano key. One hand plays the melody on the treble strings while the other hand plays the rhythm on the bass strings. “So, basically, when you tap, you can play two parts at one time — if not more,” Adelson explains. That level of control and creativity is what drew Adelson to the Chapman Stick in the first place and is also what has sustained his interest in the instrument for the past 37 years. “Everything on the guitar has been done already,” he explains. “So I am either going to copy Wes Montgomery or Django Reinhardt — who is another one of my favorites — but I am never going to be at their level. They are geniuses. They created music that will never be copied again.” Adelson describes the Chapman Stick as a crayon in a color that far fewer people have seen or played with. “When I was young, I had an eight-count box of crayons,” Adelson says. “My friend had 64 crayons with a sharpener. It is like that. There is no limit to this. Plus, it has no history so I have been fortunate to be one of the instructors and I have written method books on how to play it. So I am part of the new history.” Adelson adds that while there are millions of guitar players around the world, Chapman Stick players are a rare breed.

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Anthem resident Steve Adelson has been playing the Chapman Stick for the past 37 years.

This is due to a couple of different reasons. For starters, Chapman’s Stick Enterprises is the only company that manufactures the instrument. “Only one person makes it and he only makes about three or four hundred each year,” Adelson explains. “He has made 8,000 instruments in almost 50 years. That is not a lot. They have sold 8,000 guitars this morning alone at Guitar Center.” Moreover, Chapman Sticks are extremely expensive, with prices starting at $2,000.

EXPLORING THE CREATIVE PART

Prior to moving to Arizona two years ago, Adelson owned a guitar school in New York where he taught both the guitar and the Chapman Stick. During a trip to Phoenix, he visited Musical Instrument Museum and was surprised to discover that the Chapman Stick was not represented among its vast collection. He then helped the museum incorporate the instrument into its collection alongside innovative inventions like Adolph Sax’s saxophone and John Philip Sousa’s sousaphone. He also invited Chapman himself to join him for a clinic and concert at the museum. Since then, Adelson has continued working to expose more people — both musicians and audience members — to the Chapman Stick through performances and clinics all around the world. He also offers lessons via Skype from the cozy casita behind his gorgeous Anthem Country Club home. Noting that his upcoming performances include Oct. 7 at Sacred Ground Jazz Coffeehouse and Nov. 16 at Musical Instrument Museum, Adelson says that being part of the Chapman Stick’s evolution and exposure has been one of the greatest gratifications of his entire life. “It has given me a purpose for my brain,” he explains. “We all look for things to do, whether it is traveling or expanding your mind. Some Scan this QR code with your phone to listen to the podcast version of this story, featuring samples of Steve Adelson’s music.

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Anthem resident Steve Adelson works to expose more people — both musicians and audience members — to the Chapman Stick through performances and clinics all around the world.

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The playing itself gets my creative mind going. The outreach to other communities and other cultures has made me grow as a person. Steve Adelson

people are content just watching TV. I like to travel and see other parts of the world and other cultures. It makes me a better person. So I do no mind practicing 3–5 hours each day because I am exploring the creative part of me. “Most people do not have that outlet. I am very fortunate because, while playing the [Chapman] Stick, I have gotten to talk with people in the Czech Republic, Germany and Japan. It is cool to sit with people after a show — maybe just as a tourist — and get a different perspective. “I find that, whether I am living in New York or here, a lot of people live in their own little environment. I think that you can make better decisions if you are more worldly. So this is giving me an opportunity to — even on Skype — talk to people in Hong Kong and Australia and get a different perspective. “The playing itself gets my creative mind going. The outreach to other communities and other cultures has made me grow as a person.” steveadelson.com

MUSIC

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Baked Stuffed Eggplant with Italian Sausage This is the perfect recipe as we head into the fall season! Baked eggplant is stuffed with roasted eggplants, tomatoes, Italian sausage and feta cheese and served with a zippy marinara sauce. It is as healthy as it is hearty! Serves: 6

Ingredients:

7 tablespoons olive oil, divided 1-1/2 cups fresh breadcrumbs 2 teaspoons lemon zest (from 1 lemon) 1-3/4 teaspoons kosher salt, divided 3 small eggplants (about 1-1/2 pounds) 1/4 pound Italian sausage, casing removed 1 cup chopped yellow onion (from 1 small onion) 1 pound plum tomatoes, seeded and roughly chopped (about 1-3/4 cups) 3 garlic cloves, finely chopped

Directions:

Heat 3 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium. Add breadcrumbs and cook, stirring occasionally, until golden brown, 5–6 minutes. Remove skillet from heat. Stir in lemon zest and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Set aside. Cut eggplants in half lengthwise. Scoop out pulp, leaving a 1/4-inch shell. Chop pulp into 1/2-inch cubes. Sprinkle eggplant shells with 1 teaspoon salt and invert onto a clean, dry towel. Let stand 30 minutes to drain. Preheat broiler to high with oven rack 5–6 inches from heat. Pat eggplant shells dry and brush with 1 tablespoon oil. Place eggplant shells, cut side up, on a baking sheet and broil just until tender, about 5 minutes. Remove from oven and reduce oven temperature to 375 degrees.

Writer and Photographer Francine Coles

thefancypantskitchen.com

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Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large skillet over medium-high. Add sausage and cook, stirring often with a wooden spoon to break up large pieces, until sausage is browned, 7–8 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer sausage to a bowl lined with paper towels. Reserve drippings in skillet. Heat remaining 2 tablespoons oil in the same skillet over medium-high.

1/2 teaspoon black pepper 8 ounces feta cheese, crumbled (about 2 cups), plus more for garnish 1 large egg, lightly beaten 2 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons chopped fresh oregano, divided 2 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons chopped fresh mint, divided 2 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley, divided 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar 1 cup jarred marinara sauce

Cook reserved eggplant cubes in hot oil, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned, 2–3 minutes. Add onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until just tender, 2–3 minutes. Add tomatoes, garlic, pepper and remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, 2–3 minutes. Transfer tomato mixture to a large bowl. Add sausage, feta, 1/2 cup breadcrumb mixture, egg, 2 tablespoons oregano, 2 tablespoons mint, 2 tablespoons parsley and vinegar. Toss until combined. Divide mixture evenly among eggplant shells. Top evenly with remaining breadcrumb mixture and place stuffed eggplants, in a single layer, in a 13x9-inch baking dish. Bake at 375 degress until filling is golden and bubbly, 25–30 minutes. Meanwhile, stir together marinara sauce, remaining 2 teaspoons oregano, remaining 2 teaspoons mint and remaining 2 teaspoons parsley in a small saucepan. Heat over low just until warmed through, about 5 minutes. Drizzle over baked stuffed eggplant just before serving. Sprinkle with additional feta, if desired.

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