Chuck Vasaly plays with the "Just Play'n Country" group at Lee Senior Center in Arlington. Photo by Eden Brown
Live Music
Lee Jammers meet every other Monday from 10:15 to 12:15, and Just Play’n Country Musicians is held every first and third Monday from 11:15 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. The Rocking Chairs play on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday mornings from 10 a.m.-noon. There is a folk music sing-a-long on Monday, April 6, at 1:30-2:30 p.m. as well.
A passer-by at Lee Center in Arlington stopped in to see the country music players the other day and left feeling this group of musicians was worth staying to hear for the whole hour.
“Wow. They aren’t bad!”
It was a particularly moving day because one of the players was showing a video of his adult daughter singing with him. The group is held together by their love of music, and the positive vibe is loud and clear.
Chuck Vasaly has been going to Lee for 11 years to play the guitar, Irish Tin Whistle, and harmonica. Chuck, a retired lawyer, also plays in the “Rocking Chairs,” a new 60s rock band which has five vocalists/players including three lawyers, and in "Lee Jammers," another Country/Blues group which meets at Lee. The players on Monday at 11:15 go around the room, with each player doing a vocal of old favorites, like a Jazz musician taking his turn while the others follow on their instruments, nodding their heads and tapping their feet. There are banjos, guitar and zithers.
Bob FIshburne is just sitting in on this particular day. He brought his Wood Snare Conga Bonga, a box like instrument which serves as snare drum, conga drum, and Tabla. He brought his drums too, “in case anyone wanted something more Rock n Roll and loud,” he says somewhat hopefully. They welcome new players at any time.
Calvin Thomas paints at the Lee Center. Despite a debilitating brain problem, closing him off from his stamp and book collection, somehow the painting still comes naturally. His nonagenarian art teacher, Blanche Kirchner, coaches him through his copy of a difficult Impressionist painting. Other students in the class are working on boats, fruit, and landscapes, their canvases on table easels set up in the bright studio and the paintings take shape with Kirchner’s expert advice.
There is a full pottery studio at the Center. Tai Chi and other gentle exercise classes are also held there.
The staff at Lee say one of their most popular class is the Partner Dance Class, held at 2:30 every Wednesday afternoon and run by a couple. For a full schedule of Arlington Senior programs, see www. parks.recreation.us