Article in KUDOS Summer of 2012

Rosemary and Frankie Chavez swing The Desert Flour Bakery

Exceptional music is what Rosemary and Frankie Chavez and their group Jazz a’la mode are all about.  They cover all of your favorite jazz and standards and even throw in a few surprises every other Thursday night at the Desert Flour Bakery in the Village of Oak Creek from 6 to 8:30 p.m.

Over the past several years, Rosemary Chavez, singer, recording artist and songwriter and Frankie Chavez, accomplished drummer, percussionist and songwriter have become well known in the Sedona music scene with their groups Jazz a’la mode and PLATINUM.  Joining Rosemary and Frankie at the Desert Flour Bakery is another local favorite, keyboardist David Vincent Mills.

These accomplished musicians have been pleasing audiences for years.  They’ve worked their magic at the Sedona Arts Festival, the Sedona International Film Festival, Prescott’s Concerts at Courthouse Square, The Prescott Resort & Conference Center, the Sedona Marathon, Prescott Jazz Summit and other local hot spots such as PJs Village Pub, The Marketplace Café, Ken’s Creekside, REDS at the Sedona Rouge and Tlaquepaque.  They are all about great music and having fun and that is what their fans have come to expect at the Desert Flour Bakery.

 Rosemary’s beautiful vocals have been delighting audiences for years.  A recent article stated “Whenever she is performing, Rosemary likes to have a relationship with each person in her audience.  She makes you feel special as you listen to her warm, rich, supple voice and watch this lovely, joyful, commanding singer.  She lets the music flow through every fiber of her being and it infuses her with an energy that is utterly infectious, be it happy, wistful, seductive or sad.  Whether she is singing swing, jazzy bossa nova, dreamy ballads, a taunting bolero, soft rock ‘n’ roll or soulful R&B, Rosemary does it all with sassy spirit, tender heart and consummate musicianship.”

Rosemary began her musical journey as a young child in her native Minnesota playing piano and singing whenever the opportunity arose.  It was on one such occasion that she caught the attention of world renowned choral conductor, Weston Noble, which led to her attending Luther College in Decorah, Iowa and singing under his direction in the Nordic Choir.  While earning her Bachelor of Arts degree at Luther, she spent her summers honing her style with musical show groups including a stint on Mackinaw Island before moving to Los Angeles.

While in LA, Rosemary worked in small combos with artists such as Billy Mitchell (Jazz on the Rocks headliner) and Nick DeMauro (Singer and Actor on Betty White’s “Off Their Rockers”) to large big bands such as The Ron Rubin Orchestra.  She played clubs on the famed Sunset Strip, high end society events in Beverly Hills, and venues from Hollywood to Disneyland.  Her professional recordings include three solos along with The National Philharmonic Orchestra on the movie soundtrack, ROAR, which was a top ten album in Australia starring actresses Tippi Hedren (“The Birds”) and Melanie Griffith (“Working Girl”).  Prior to leaving LA for Sedona, composer, arranger and conductor, Terence P. Minogue, chose Rosemary as the featured vocalist for his American Voices CD.

In 2010 Rosemary reunited with the Weston Noble Alumni Choir for their European Tour to Austria, Germany and the Czech Republic where she was a featured soloist in Prague.  That same summer she sang with the leaders of the Stan Kenton Alumni Band, the Harry James Orchestra and the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra.  She is featured on the “Sweet Jazz a’la mode” CD which can be found on CD Baby or www.chavez-music.com  The CD also features the performance and production talents of Frankie Chavez.

An accomplished drummer and percussionist, Frankie has performed with numerous artists including Lionel Hampton, Stan Kenton, Woody Herman, Gerald Wilson, Larry Carlton, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Pat Boone, Mitzi Gaynor, Bobby Gentry, Vikki Carr, Willie Bobo, Buddy Collete and the list goes on.  His tours have been to Mexico and the Far East with the Los Angeles based Glenn Miller Orchestra under the direction of Rick Gerber which included their performance at the 2012 Thailand Jazz Festival.

Frankie was instrumental in introducing Karen Carpenter of The Carpenters to the art of playing drums.  While attending Downey High School in Downey, CA, they were not only classmates and friends but she was taken by his drumming and he became her first drum teacher even helping her to select her first drum kit.  Frankie was interviewed and included in the book “Little Girl Blue: The Life of Karen Carpenter” by Randy L. Schmidt which received rave reviews upon its release in July 2010.

Both Frankie and Rosemary have been featured artists at the Prescott Jazz Summit for the past several years and have been invited back again this year and will perform in concert at the Elks Theater in Prescott.

Come and see what all the fun is about at the Desert Flour Bakery and while you’re at it, enjoy one of Gary’s wood fired pizzas and something special to drink from Andy.   Tammy will welcome you to the Desert Flour Bakery family (or as Rosemary likes to say “The DFB in the VOC”).  “We have something for everyone to enjoy and for many fans, we bring back memories of songs at a certain time in their lives” Frankie recently stated.  His innate ability to create an infectious beat and Rosemary’s impressive vocals keep audiences coming back.  It’s about feeling good, having fun and really enjoying what you hear.  Be sure to make your reservation by calling the Desert Flour Bakery at (928) 284-4633.  The Desert Flour Bakery is located at 6446 State Route 179.