Say goodbye to winter with a mix of indoor entertainment

While March is technically the beginning of spring, it isn’t until April that it really starts to feel like we’re transitioning from the cold weather to something more pleasant. April is the month where we move from inside activities to music under the stars, meals on patios and art shows spilling out into the street.

With that in mind, here’s a roundup of activities to say a fond (depending on your interests) farewell to winter.

Clarke’s Concert of the Week — John Mayer Solo at Ball Arena

When John Mayer rst appeared on the scene in the early 2000s, I think even few of even his most devoted fans (of which I am one) could have predicted the journey he’d take in the ensuing 20 years. He mastered the pop guitarist thing and explored a range of roles: blues maestro, folky troubadour and even jam band favorite. During all this he worked hard to stay true to himself and the result is a wonderful song catalog full of radio mainstays and hidden gems.

To celebrate the rst two decades of his career, Mayer has embarked on a solo tour, which stops at Ball Arena, 1000 Chopper Circle in Denver, at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, April 3. He’ll be joined by the fantastic folk/ blues singer Joy Oladokun for what I’m certain will be a truly special

Coming Attractions

evening. Get tickets at www.ticketmaster.com.

Celebrate the legendary Charles Mingus centerpresents.com.

Visit Brazil via Diego Figueiredo’s guitar

It is di cult to imagine a better music to get you in the mood for warmer weather than Brazilian jazz, which makes guitarist Diego Figueiredo’s performance at the Lakewood Cultural Center, 470 S. Allison Parkway, at 7:30 p.m. April 7 perfectly timed.

Clarke Reader e 14-piece band will be performing at e Robert and Judi Newman Center for the Performing Arts at the University of Denver, 2344 E. Ili Ave., at 7:30 p.m. on ursday, April 6. Anyone who loves jazz or wants to learn more about one of the 20th century’s most dynamic composers shouldn’t miss this performance.

Charles Mingus is one of jazz’s most incomparable voices — his compositions are as nuanced and innovative as the writing of legends like Miles Davis and Louis Armstrong. And the Mingus Big Band has been celebrating his music since 1979. It is under the artistic direction of Sue Mingus and was built o the Mingus Dynasty septet that she formed after his death in 1979.

According to provided information, the group “features new arrangements of Mingus compositions in a larger band format that Mingus was not always able to organize in his lifetime.” Get tickets at newman-

According to provided information, Figueiredo takes a unique approach to jazz and classical solo guitar. He’s a Grammy-nominated guitarist, who has performed in more than 60 countries and has an international reputation as one of the world’s best jazz musicians.

For information and tickets, call 303-987-7845 or visit Lakewood.org/ LCCPresents.

Explore the transience of photography at Walker Fine Art is group exhibition features the work of Melanie Walker, Bonny Lhtoka, Joo Woo, Jane Fulton Alt, Kevin Hoth and Katie Kindle, all of whom explore the exability and impact of photography in unique ways. As is always the case with exhibits at Walker, expect to be both challenged and delighted in equal measure. Find more information at www. walker neart.com/transient-presence.

Walker Fine Art’s, 300 W. 11th Ave., No. A, in Denver, latest exhibition, “Transient Presence,” began in mid-March to celebrate Denver’s Month of Photography, but runs through Saturday, May 13, to give fans of the medium more time to appreciate the work of six photographers.

Dining of the delecTABLE kind at ASLD e Art Students League of Denver is unveiling the sixth version of its biennial, functional ceramics exhibit delecTABLE: e Fine Art of Dining at the league, 200 Grant St. in Denver, where it is on display from April 7 through May 21. According to provided information, the show features 90 pieces by more than 70 ceramists, as well as accompanying 2D and ber arts works by ASLD faculty. e show was juried by Andrew Clark, a Tennessee ceramics artist and current gallery manager at Companion Gallery in Humboldt, Tennessee. ere will be an opening reception from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. on April 7 and there will also be discussions, workshops and more held during delecTABLE’s run. For all the necessary information, visit https://asld.org/delectable/.

Clarke Reader’s column on culture appears on a weekly basis. He can be reached at Clarke.Reader@hotmail. com.

Area massage therapists laud the benefits of the practice on their clients’ ailments, stress

BY DEB HURLEY BROBST DBROBST@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Caring, compassionate hands — and sometimes feet — are used by massage therapists to help improve the lives of their clients. Massage is an ancient practice, and there are more than two dozen types throughout the world, therapists say.

Four massage therapists interviewed by Colorado Community Media say massage has become more accepted by the public, and more scienti c research is being done to document the health bene ts.

Massage can help with pain and injuries; decrease muscular tension; reduce blood pressure, swelling and in ammation; release endorphins; and much more, according to massage therapists.

“Even people who don’t have speci c problems can bene t from massage,” Destine Robertson with Alpine Medical Massage in Centennial and Conifer said. “Everybody has so much stress, and massage can help relieve that.”

People’s perceptions of massage have come a long way, the therapists said.

“A lot of people think of massage as pampering and relaxing,” Ti any Shocklee with Hearth re erapeutics in Golden said, “but it can help people who have many other issues, too.”

A blend of massage styles

Massage therapy is not an easy profession, requiring hours of training, a certi cation exam and licensing in Colorado.

“It’s become a more regulated eld,” said Mary Davis with Healing Traditions Bodywork in Evergreen, “which I think is best. I think it’s needed and necessary to protect people when they are potentially vulnerable going in for a personal treatment like massage.”

But education doesn’t stop at the 600 hours of initial training for most therapists. ey continue to learn di erent techniques to add to their repertoire.

“ e single most popular, most widely done type of massage in the

U.S. and maybe in the world is Swedish massage,” Davis said. “ at is part of your basic training. It is a bit lighter, more relaxing, with long strokes. en what I do and what a lot of therapists do is integrative massage. We have received additional training in areas that have spoken to us.”

Davis said most of the time she’s integrating di erent styles and techniques in one massage.

“I have a toolbox, and I pull different things out based on what I’m feeling that day in their tissues and what they need,” she explained.

Jenna Courage of Littleton erapeutic Massage Center said she has blended together many styles to create her own technique.

“I make each session specialized for each client,” Courage explained. “Some techniques I use on one client but not another. I feel like I am learning from my clients. ey come in with something new, and I gure out how to work with it, then take that knowledge and use it on someone with a similar issue.”

A satisfying career

Some massage therapists like Shocklee chose the practice as their rst career, while others nd massage therapy along their career paths. Davis and Shocklee have been massage therapists for 19 years, while Robertson has spent 22 years in the profession and Courage 31 years.

“Massage is important for me,” Shocklee said. “It’s what I’m meant to do. It helps me stay connected to myself. For me to go to work feels very focusing and a relief from other parts of my day that may be chaotic. It’s doing something that is single-minded by working with one person.”

Courage was working on a premedicine degree when she realized she had a strong interest in alternative health care. She visited a massage school and signed up the

Ti any Shocklee with Hearthfire Therapeutics in Golden massages a client’s shoulder. Shocklee also o ers ashiatsu massage during which she uses her feet.