the inside out.” The band began playing initially on the “women’s music circuit,” first in coffee houses, and soon at women’s music festivals. They joined Holly Near, Chris Williamson, Sweet Chariot and others playing concerts produced primarily by and for women. “At a certain point,” says Carolyn Brandy, “we began to realize that we wanted to play to the general public, and that wasn’t happening enough because we were primarily playing before a group of people with political viewpoints who weren’t there for the music but because of the Movement. We decided that we needed to play more types of situations.” Recently, they found a producer for their second album, Call It Jazz. Helen Keane not only fits in well with the group, but has the contacts (she’s managed Bill Evans, Kenny Burrell, Joanne Brackeen and Paquito De Rivera) that will open many doors for Alive! “And Helen has been influencing us to do more material by others as well,” Brandy adds. “The first album was all originals, but Helen feels that it’s very important for us as musicians to do more standards, and important also because the listener likes to hear tunes that are familiar.” Barbara Borden continues: “We feel strongly that we’re a real bridge, and that our music could and should be heard by many people. And that’s what music is about anyway, breaking down the barriers that people feel.” “^ e Are But The Tip Of An Iceberg” Ly t is their astute combination LZ of a dense rhythmic pulse, a magnificent vocal instrument, and a clear-sighted commitment to integrate humane and egalitarian '^ e ’re all very strong in feeling that we don’t want to compromise what we’re doing. We write a song because someone in the band feels a certain thing and has to get it out.” values into a musical context that makes Alive! such a moving and dynamic group. They complement each other well on stage, playing to the strengths of each individual and communicating so well among themselves that this camaraderie extends to the audience, drawing them into a real community of spirit. So when Orin Keepnews, in his liner notes to Call It Jazz, says he doesn’t “know how Alive! came into being, and actually, I don’t care ... [because] ... they make good music and that’s all that matters,” he is missing something very important about this group. For their music represents something as valid socially as it is effective musically. “We are but the tip of an iceberg,” they write in the notes to Call It Jazz, “hopeful to be — the reflection / of a many-sided rainbow / Aspiring toward a new dream / not built on prisms of idyll fantasy / but on hard and honest work I the slow and often painful attainment I of harmony and light.” Their “hard and honest work” is reflected even in their approach to the RENTERS PROBLEMS Eviction Repairs Deposits Rent Increases Sliding Fee Scale GENERAL LAW 40 A DO IT YOURSELF CUSTOM LAB Frank Wall Attorney 430 SW Morrison Room 607 2264217 SANDERS & DIXON LAWYERS NORTHWEST PORTLAND at EIGHTEENTH & HOYT The Firm Concentrates in Financial Counseling (Chapter Thirteen Debt Adjustment Plans and Chapter Seven Bankruptcy), Small Business, Real Estate, Family Law, Personal Injury and Insurance matters. (503) 242-1440 1727 NW Hoyt OPL & Clinton St. Quarterly Acupuncture Works. EAST PORTLAND ACUPUNCTURE CLINIC Traditional Acupuncture & Chinese Herbal Counseling MICHAEL KANE Registered Acupuncturist 3703 S.E. 39th Ave. 231-4101 unique and exquisite pieces, featuring Cut glass, Art glass, Orientalia, Royal Doulton, Continental porcelains. Take advantage of our Tenth Annual Holiday sale to introduce yourself to MORE OR LESS COLLECTIBLES Open Tuesday through Saturday, 11:00 AM-5:00 PM 7828 S. W. Capitol Hwy. Portland, OR 97219 Phone: (503) 244-9534 NOSTALGIA PLUS COMICS Golden Age and Silver Age Movie, Radio and TV related items 3768 S.E. Hawthorne Blvd. 233-9302 YESTERSHADES VICTORIAN STYLE LAMPSHADES Silks & Satins with Fringes & Beads Custom Designing to Suit Your Tastes & Needs 3534 S.E. Hawthorne 238-5755 Portland, Oregon 97214
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NTc4NTAz