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Local finds passion in music
Woman begins a new career as drummer
Herald Staff Writer
Photo by NICK MANNING/Herald
Andrea Zeiner performs with The Groove Casters on June 20 at
Nature’s Oasis for the store’s one year anniversary at its new location. Zeiner, a registered nurse and proactive care consultant by trade, didn't begin playing the drums until she was in her 40s.
If I could quit my job as a registered nurse it would be to devote all my time to this music program. Stillwater is a safe alternative for kids after school and a great opportunity for adults.
- Andrea Zeiner, drummer
After moving to Durango to find something fresh in the early 2000s, Zeiner, a registered nurse, ski patroller and proactive care consultant, decided to take on the difficult terrain associated with reinventing herself as a musician in the middle of her life.
"Back in 2001, I had just moved to Durango, I was going through some changes in my life and the very first people I met were Jim Belcher, Tim Guidotti and David Sachs who all happened to be renowned local musicians," Zeiner said.
Zeiner met Jim Belcher and his wife ski-patrolling the piste "Catharsis" at Durango Mountain Resort at Purgatory, she said"I had started my career as a ski patrolman at that time and ran into these nice folks. They introduced themselves to me, and we ended up having a little tailgate party. Subsequently they introduced me to Tim and David," she said.
Belcher, Guidotti and Sachs had all played together in the locally popular band Earth Tone in the late '90s, she said. Zeiner and the three local musicians became friends quickly while, at the same time, she was moved by their music. The threesome reunited under the name "GPS" as Zeiner helped them book gigs.
Booking shows was not enough for Zeiner, however, and she eventually asked Guidotti, the principle song writer, if she could stand off in the shadows of the stage and play the shaker egg.
Guidotti obliged and Zeiner's musical career, while humble, had begun.
Around that time Zeiner also had bought an inexpensive drum kit and began practicing simple rhythms under the wing of GPS drummer David Sachs.
"I absolutely fell in love with playing the drums and timing; I found that I have an inherent metronomic sense of timing," she said.
Zeiner's skills improved as she developed her new passion.
"The GPS fellas always encouraged me and they eventually gave me one song that I could play out in front of people in a gig which was "Give me one Reason" by Tracy Chapman," she said.
Over the last five years and countless hours of practice Zeiner has added congas and numerous songs to her repertoire and has been formally added to GPS, she said.
"I attribute my success to their patience exclusively," she said.
In GPS Guidotti's original music is featured along with cover and jam tunes, she said.
"GPS is Original/Roots Rock meets Jam Band/Groove," she said.
There was something amazing about the whole experience, she said about her unlikely development.
"They get paid, they know what they're doing and they took a complete novice and helped cultivate me. How lucky of a girl am I?" she said.
Zeiner also plays for a band known as "The Groove Casters" which is a 14 piece Latin/Afro/Funk ensemble run under the supervision of Steve Dejka of The Stillwater foundation.
"I had already been playing with GPS for four years and had decided to take some private drum lessons with Steve Dejka," she said.
After four months Dejka invited Zeiner to be the drummer in his new Latin/Jazz band, also sponsored by The Stillwater Foundation.
"Through this program we meet three times a month, we learn to read music, and we come together as an ensemble and play," she said.
The Stillwater Foundation is primarily a music and gymnastics haven for youths and adults.
"If I could quit my job as a registered nurse it would be to promote all my time to this music program. Stillwater is a safe alternative for kids after school and a great opportunity for adults," Zeiner said.
Playing with The Groove Casters proved challenging for Zeiner.
"Latin music is different from your regular rock and roll, 4/4 time. It has odd time signatures. It definitely pushed my skill set to another level, a humbling level," she said.
Zeiner stresses that 'it's never too late'.
"I just want to spread the word that it's never too late to get started; there are mentorships in town through Stillwater or friends," she said.
The band GPS's next gig is without Zeiner on July 4, at El Patio followed by a 5-7 p.m. show on July 23, at the Ska Brewing Company when she will be included on the bill.
The Groove Casters play around town occasionally; upcoming shows are listed on the band's Web site at stillwaterfoundation.org.
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