‘Sistahs’
singing the blues
for women’s history month
Lee Kauffheil
Contributing Writer
 |
Chinh Pham Mesa
Legend |
| Sistah Blue performed at the Grounds for
Thought coffe shop. The band members include (left to right)
Rocelle Raya, Dejah, Kati Ingino, Janet Daniel, and Nancy Dalessandro. |
MCC played host to a celebrated valley band March 4 as Sistah Blue,
a multi-award winning all-women blues band, put on a free concert
in honor of Women’s History Month.
Originally, the band planned to play outside by the clock tower,
but rain moved the concert inside, and they ended up playing in
Grounds for Thought, in the Kirk Student Center.
Sistah Blue played to the crowd. Improvisation was part of the act,
and the band engaged students during the songs. As one student,
Kim Wing, was leaving, Sistah Blue drew her back into the Grounds
area. During a break, band members handed Wing a copy of their album
for being enticed by their sounds. Students Dana Reeve, Greg Lucas
and Cameron Boyed all agreed that the band was good and said they
were enjoying the concert. Betty Shiel said she had heard the band
before and had made sure to come see them. Sistah Blue also encouraged
the students to dance when two students began, and literally got
everyone else up out of their chairs for one song.
Most of the students present said they did not know about the concert
beforehand, but had come to see what was going on and stayed because
they enjoyed the talents of the musicians.
Jared Castro, an employee of Grounds, said he was glad that the
concert had been moved. He said business had picked up during the
time Sistah Blue was playing. Castro said the area was normally
“a dead area that students should be enjoying themselves in.”
He also said he had seen a lot of bands play while he was working,
but Sistah Blue’s CD was the only one he considered buying.
The band has been together since 1995. They played together for
the first time during the annual women musicians’ Blues Jam
at the Rhythm Room. After that performance, they decided to stay
together. In 1996, they won first place in the Phoenix Blues Society’s
Arizona Showdown, and took second place in the International Blues
Talent Competition in Memphis. They have also been named best blues
band by the East Valley Tribune and Get Out, and the by the New
Times Weekly six years in a row, from 1997 to 2002. The band members
have a diverse mix of backgrounds that include German, African-American,
Hispanic and Caucasian.
Sistah Blue has a few connections to MCC. They played on the campus
five years ago. In addition, one of the band’s early members,
Laura Adelia, who teaches religious studies on campus, used to play
bass.
“They reflect what young women need to see, that women can
be successful in any field,” said Nancy Hellner, director
of women’s studies at MCC and the person responsible for inviting
the band to play. She said a blues band composed entirely of women
is inconsistent with what is normally seen. She also said it was
unusual to see a harmonica player of the caliber of Rochelle Raya,
harmonica player and backup vocalist.
Hellner said she hoped the band would come back next year, and hopes
they play closer to the end of the month so more people have a chance
to enjoy them. Hellner said she felt the band fit in well with the
month’s theme of women inspiring hope.
Most of the “Sistahs” have other jobs and responsibilities
outside of the band. Lead vocalist Dejah had to leave immediately
after the concert to get to her job.
Drummer Janet Daniel said she had been playing since she picked
up the sticks in her high school band. Bassist Kati Ingino said
one of her inspirations as a woman was Eleanor Roosevelt and musically
her inspiration was Bob Dylan.
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