Have you been to Bodega at Market on Holly?

On Fridays from 6pm-8pm, catch LAMA musicians providing acoustic music for locals and shop guests. Last week we saw Lorenzo Grassi play and upcoming performances include:

May 31st – Mary Whisenhunt

June 7th – Mariela Arredondo

And more to come….

Bodega is Pasadena’s one-stop-shop for local and organic dairy, fresh flowers, produce, citrus and a host of housemade soups, fresh baked breads, imported pastas, local preserves and much more. We look forward to hanging with you at the next performance. See you at Bodega!

-LAMA staff

LAMA Musicians Play Open Market at One Colorado

This past Sunday, two LAMA bands played the Art + Design Open Market, a one-day event showcasing the art and talent from Pasadena’s leading cultural institutions including LAMA, Pasadena City College and Art Center College of Design.

Lorenzo Grassi (pictured) performed with his trio.

LAMA musicians The Lorenzo Grassi Trio and Maracas provided music as people checked out one-of-a-kind photos, paintings, illustrations, ceramics and handmade apparel and jewelry lining the cobblestone alleys of One Colorado‘s historic property.

Since its launch in 2003, Art + Design Open Market has provided visibility for more than 1000 artists and has served as a go-to destination for countless art collectors and enthusiasts.

-LAMA Staff

Music as Medicine

We love this new video from University of Iowa. In the vid, Kirsten Nelson, one of three music therapists at UI Hospitals and Clinics and UI Children’s Hospital, uses music to help the youngest heal.

-LAMA Staff

Join LAMA at Make Music Pasadena, June 1st!

What are you up to Saturday, June 1st? If your answer was “don’t know yet” then you better make plans to be on Colorado Blvd in Pasadena. The event is Make Music Pasadena 2013. The reason we are so passionate about it? LAMA will be heavily represented there with current students and alumni bands performing. There are two stages where these performances will be taking place the “Old Pasadena Indie Rock Stage” and “Vroman’s Jazz Stage”.  We have posted the schedule and stage info below. Hope to see you there! Make sure to RSVP on our Facebook event page here.

Old Pasadena Indie Rock Stage (Map: http://goo.gl/maps/dkU9H)
83 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91101

12:00pm Killola

Vroman’s Jazz Stage presented by LAMA
695 E. Colorado Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91101
1pm-8pm (Current students and alumni bands)

1:00pm Maracas

2:00pm Kira Hooks

3:00pm Felicia Andolong

4:00pm Afrotango

5:00pm The Grey Beret

6:00pm The Lorenzo Grassi Trio

7:00pm Gabriela Teran

-LAMA staff

Meet LAMA’s New Director of Admissions – Ashley Roberts!

We are very excited to introduce LAMA’s new Director of Admissions, Ashley Roberts! She joined our staff earlier this month so be sure to say hello and help give her a warm LAMA welcome! From Ashley:

I am so pleased to have joined the LAMA Staff! LAMA is at a great time of growth and I am happy to be working with such a successful team in a dynamic college. I look forward to contributing to the team’s efforts and helping students along with their musical careers.

-LAMA Staff

LAMA Video Quick Tip – Triad Inversions

LAMA Guitar Instructor Bill Fowler has released his newest quick tip video, focusing on different triad inversions. Thanks for the great advice Bill!

To our readers — please leave a comment to let us know which video topics you’d like to see Bill and other LAMA instructors tackle in the future.

-LAMA Staff

New LAMA Concert Announced

John Daversa Small Band featuring LAMA’s Bass Department Chair Jerry Watts

Open up your calendar and add this date! LAMA has just announced the John Daversa Small Band will play a concert at LAMA May 22, 8-10pm in the performance hall. If you’ve never experienced this group before, it is a real treat. Daversa leads the powerhouse ensemble which transitions with ease from sections of incredible sensitivity to vignettes of intensity rivaling that of John’s own Big Band. The cast of characters:

EVI/Trumpet: John Daversa

Tenor Saxophonist: Robby Marshall

Keyboardists: Brandon Coleman & Tommy King

Guitarist: Zane Carney

Bassist: Jerry Watts

Drummer: Gene Coye

Check out this performance of “The Bridge” — amazing.

-LAMA Staff

Jody Offers a New Look at LAMA’s Guitar Program

In this new video, brought to you by LAMA College for Music Professionals, Guitar Department Chair Jody Fisher explains what you can expect as a student in the guitar program and why choosing a music school like LAMA is the best choice today for your advancement as a musician.

For more information, visit the guitar department page here:

-LAMA Staff

LAMA Grad Wins Indie Music Award

Meli with her award backstage at House of Blues

LAMA Grad and Costa Rican native Meli Malavasi (https://www.facebook.com/melimalavasimusic) won an Indie Music Channel Award for “Best Female Dance Artist ” at the Indie Music Channel Awards at House of Blues.

We’re so proud of you Meli — congrats!

-LAMA Staff

LAMA Announces Newest AIR, Andrew Gouche

LAMA’s new AIR, Andrew Gouche (from the @LAMAinstagram Instagram feed)

LAMA Bass Department Chair Jerry Watts Jr. today announced Andrew Gouche will join Juan Alderete, Abe Laboriel Sr. and Lee Sklar as Artists-in-Residence at LAMA, effective immediately. Gouche, considered to be a premiere gospel bassist (who also plays across many other genres), has more than 30 years of experience. He is best known for playing or recording with Reverend James Cleveland, Prince, Chaka Khan (also music director), Madonna, Destiny’s Child, Whitney Houston and many others as well as for his production work on Kelly Clarkson’s Grammy-winning album Thankful.

We’re ecstatic to have Andrew on board. Read the entire press release on LAMA’s site here: http://bit.ly/10kYN3R

-LAMA Staff