Acoustic Folk-Jazz Meets World Music The Guide Trio Brings Their Music to Campus

LAPC Music welcomed the Guide Trio at the Pierce College’s Performing Arts

Building on Thursday, March 2.

Bassist Jake Leckie, guitarist Nadav Peled and drummer Elizabeth Goodfellow played their new music at a free concert for a test audience consisting of Pierce students and faculty.

The Guide Trio, an acoustic rusty folk-jazz band, came to fruition during the Covid-19 pandemic when they started playing in Leckie’s front yard for their neighbors. The trio soon started to attract local musicians who brought their family and friends to go and listen to them weekly. Later, they started performing in local Los Angeles jazz venues.

The band comfortably plays music genres such as bebop, folk/pop covers, Ethiopian funk, as well as their own original compositions. Their simple interactive playing and instrumentation style gives their audience an intimate, cohesive vibe that is enjoyed and admired from the beginning note to the last vamp.

The trio was then signed to Ropeadope Records and released their first album, “The Guide,” in April 2022, gaining critical acclaim.

For Pierce, the trio played four sets of new smooth cello and jazz rhythm songs. The mood was relaxed and calm while they played.

The trio welcomed attendees to ask questions about the group and their musical style between intermissions.

Drummer Goodfellow enjoys entertaining herself while playing by dropping her sticks and using her bare hands. She said she had not done it before but did it while performing.

Goodfellow said she’s been drumming for nearly her entire life.

“I've always liked the sound of percussion, like hitting things together and seeing what kind of sound I could get,” Goodfellow said. “And in the fifth grade , the band teacher came into my classroom and she said, who wants to play the drums? We need drummers for the school band.”

Goodfellow raised her hand and has been drumming ever since for 30 years.

Guitarist Peled says he started playing classic rock first and then moved on to other rock styles.

The Trio’s performances were terrific, and the attendees enjoyed the concert.

They announced during intermissions that they will be recording their second album soon.

Pierce College Music Director Wendy Mazon enjoyed the entire performance.

“All three performers are highly skilled musicians who just really brought everything to the table today,” said Mazon. “They were sensitive in their playing, they had fabulous solos and it was so wonderful. It was the best thing of my day for sure.”

BY SOPHIA CANO Reporter

From Germany to America, this young woman has had her fair share of change. Now, she’s looking to make a change to those around her.

Luna von Dahlern, a psychology major and the president of Umoja, has been trying to spread change and a love for culture to those around her. Born in Germany, von Dahlern spent the first part of her life in a predominantly white culture.

It didn’t strike her as anything but normal until she moved.

“America really showed me what it’s like to actually be around people that have the same mentality as you, that look like you, and that want to achieve the same results to be successful and proud of oneself,” von Dahlern said.

This realization sparked von Dahlern’s interest in the Umoja Program - a college program made for Black and other students to help them reach their full potential. von Dahlern expressed love for the program and its opportunities.

“The program basically gives you as a Black person, but also of any other ethnicity, the opportunity to become amazing,” von Dahlern explained.

She restarted the club last semester after it was shut down in 2020, and is putting it in