Altadena artists are going the hard way together – Daily News

The breadth and span and variety of artists who call Altadena home is as wide as the sky above the town historian Kevin Starr called a “place, city, reality, and dream, (encompassing) the range and richness of American life.”

Of course there are the writers, from Zane Grey to Octavia Butler, and Naomi Hirahara, Michele Zack and Jervey Tervalon. But as a piano-lesson-dropout, I knew of Altadena’s art and music scene tangentially at best, writing about its concerts and art shows, and occasionally about the myriad people who worked in renowned theaters and companies, galleries and Hollywood productions.

So many Altadena artists are big deals in their crafts who savored the grounded, low-key, friendly community they found in town.

“One of our strengths here is that participating in the arts is accessible, and that’s because we center community,” said writer and artist Chloe Zofia, who lost her home on Marengo Avenue in the fires. “The Altadena Library is an excellent example of this idea in action. They have a fantastic zine library, fun workshops, a monthly music series, and poetry events; you can even check out a sewing machine.”

The library, thankfully, has reopened, ramping up its offerings as we speak, including a new lecture series with the Foothill Catalog Foundation and Pasadena and Altadena Heritage, celebrating Altadena architecture, diversity, heritage and more.

The Eaton Fire Relief Benefit at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 27, at the Alex Theatre, 216 N. Brand Ave., Glendale It boasts artists from wildfire-impacted areas performing everything from Caribbean rhythms, hip-hop, magic acts, and country to blues great Brother Yusef.

Music on the Corners: Altadena volunteers are on their third wandering concert, and feature recital-ready young musicians as well as seasoned pros.

Rhythms of the Village, which lost its store and inventory in the fire, but said “we are the village. We will rise again from this,” is still performing and offering best-selling Altadena merchandise.

Best of all, enduring this hardship, struggling through the pains of this reality, local artists are wielding their instruments, their pianos and paintbrushes, pens and dance moves.

Pianist and composer Quinn Johnson, 54, his wife Vania and their two sons didn’t evacuate until 2:30 a.m. on Jan. 8, receiving no evacuation warning or order. What there was were 80 mph winds and fire embers shooting over their heads. The fire was a block away.

“Trees falling down, big road signs tumbling end over end as we drove down the hill,” Johnson said. “No police or fire or communication of any kind from officials.”

What he left in the fire: a recently purchased Steinway B grand piano, brand new save for its harp and case, which were from 1908.

“I also had an upright I bought when I was 21 and just starting out professionally,” he said. “I learned almost everything I know on that piano.”

Lost is so much of evidence and souvenirs from his storied career living in four different countries on three different continents and performing for luminaries such as Rod Stewart, Diana Ross, Rita Coolidge, Martin Short, Lea Salonga, Jack Sheldon, Diane Schuur, Tom Scott, Richard Carpenter, Judith Hill, Poncho Sanchez, Flora Purim, Wayne Brady, John Densmore of The Doors, Elba Ramalho, Down to the Bone, Jerry Seinfeld, and Airto Moreira.

Johnson, who spent 16 years serving as music director and pianist for American songbook singer Steve Tyrell, works now with pop singer Debby Boone. He is also piano/keyboardist for the Clare Fischer Big Band, which received the 2013 Grammy for Best Latin Jazz Album.

He has performed on many TV shows including “The Tonight Show,” “The Today Show,” “The View,” the Emmys, “America’s Got Talent,” and his playing can be heard on many TV shows as well as feature films.

Professionally as busy as ever, he and his wife are also getting a crash course on post-wildfire recovery, hiring surveyors, interviewing architects, meeting contractors and county officials.

It’s time when he’s playing, even for work, that all that fades for a time.

“I’m feeling busy, hopeful, but uncertain how everything is going to go,” Johnson said.

Johnson is one of the headliners at a wildfire benefit from 6 p.m. to midnight Monday, March 24, at the 1881 Club, Pasadena’s oldest continuously running cocktail bar, at 1881 E. Washington Blvd., Pasadena. Admission is $25 cash cover at the door, and donations will be accepted via Zelle to [email protected]. Food will be available for purchase.

Performing with Johnson are world class drummers Jimmy Branly and Joel Taylor, saxophonist Chuck Manning and bassist Mike Gurrola. Special guests, including many jazz stars who have performed at 1881 over the years, will also take the stage.

At the request of bar owner Gail Casburn, Johnson and Taylor started jazz night at the 1881, launching the space as “the” place to catch jazz musicians perform live.“We didn’t realize it would turn into a little jazz club scene. Very cool,” Johnson said. “I love the relaxed vibe and community of the 1881. I met Gail and Owen at the Altadena Ale & Wine House across town, and started playing over there occasionally with Joel Taylor and Chuck Manning. It was, it is, our ‘local.’

Having performed at jazz festivals around the globe, from Bangkok, Vienna, Spain, Brazil, and Capetown to San Jose and Syracuse, Johnson said there’s nothing like being local and among friends.

He is still finding reasons to be grateful. And Altadena artists, so very many of them, are working  hard to create them.