SKF NOTE: Having come across drummer Barbara Borden’s note recently, I had hoped to pass along an up-to-date location/itinerary for Borden with this blog post. She does have a web site. She is the subject of a 2012 documentary, Keeper of the Beat: A Woman’s Journey Into the Heart of Drumming, Alive!’s albums are still available for listening and buying.

There is also online a trailer of a Alive!’s 2015 40th Reunion Tour.

Borden’s web lists a May 2023 event, Joy Alive!, in which she performs with a trio.

And that is, for now, where my trail ends.

Modern Drummer published my interview with Alive!’s Barbara Borden and Carolyn Brandy in its July 1982 issue. The interview took place on October 15, 1981.

Here’s what I wrote about Alive! in the intro to their MD interview:

Alive! first came to my attention through photographer Kathy Sloane. She was telling me great things about these women who had a jazz band on the West Coast. While I was listening to all of the superlatives, I was thinking, “Big deal! Another novelty act.” But then I caught myself and thought, “Hey, that’s a real loser’s attitude. Why not give them a listen?”

The newest record, “Call It Jazz,” was recorded live at the Great American Music Hall in San Francisco and it definitely grabbed my attention! Then Barbara Borden and Carolyn Brandy (the drummer and percussionist respectively) were good enough to visit the MD office one afternoon when this conversation took place.

Recently, I had the pleasure of catching two sets of Alive! at Seventh Avenue South in New York City. As good a record as “Call It Jazz” is, it does not capture the magnitude of Alive! First, this is a band of musicians with an original sound. There’s no listening to their songs and thinking, “Hey, that sounds like so-and-so.” Secondly, the band plays softer than most bands and that reminded me of something Mel Lewis said: “Intensity has nothing to do with volume.” There was so much strength in the subtlety of Alive! that it was almost deceiving.

There are no slouch/hack musicians in this band! Like watching Stan Laurel act – there is always something going on. I developed the greatest respect for these people as human beings and as musicians.

In spit of all the “open mindedness” of living in 1982, I know that what these women are doing isn’t easy. It isn’t easy for anyone, but going by own original attitude, I have a feeling that the hill has been a little steeper for Alive!

Anyway, the beauty of it all is that they are succeeding! Like a long shot winning a race, or a little guy beating the tar out of some lug in the ring – that’s inspirational. That’s Alive!

Perhaps this post will reach Barbara Borden and she will drop me a line.