Musicians raise awareness, money, voices for women

Concert: Rock musician Christine Baze survived her bout with cancer, and now in a benefit concert at the El Rey Theater tonight, she and other pop bands will raise money to benefit the cause of the new pap-smear test for women.

By Safiya Elkhaldy
On-line Forty-Niner

For 31-year-old Boston musician, Christine Baze, music is life. But about three years ago her life and music was on the line when she discovered that she had cervical cancer.

Instead of surrendering to her devastating situation, Baze decided to battle it the best way she knew how, through music.

Now Baze is on tour and hitting the stage with not only her songs, but also a message for women about the Thin Prep Pap test.

Publicist Abbe Harris said now that Baze is in remission she wants to give something back to the community by educating women on the importance of taking the Thin Prep Pap test, and testing regularly for sexually transmitted diseases and cancer of the cervix.

This message inspired the name of the benefit "Pop Smear." Still, Baze wanted to keep the name of the tour,"The Yellow Umbrella Tour." As she explains on her Web site: "When I was battling cancer, and then battling depression after the cancer, I felt no passion at all. I had no desire for the thing I loved most, and I did not feel like myself."

Baze recalls a day when she was watching "Harold and Maude" and a particular scene grabbed her attention.

"Maude is walking along in the rain with a bright yellow umbrella. Everyone else has dark, black, solemn looking rain gear but Maude is marching through with a bounce in her step, under her yellow umbrella."

Baze felt as though she could see Maude's spirit shining through and felt that was a sign for her to keep bouncing through stormy times.

"No matter what she (Maude) was up against, she could prevail. She was a survivor, and so am I," Baze said.

Maude's brief scene left a lasting impression on Baze and inspired her song, "Yellow Umbrella." Now the tour is headed to Los Angeles, and will be at the El Rey Theater at 8 p.m.

The concert includes Baze's band, The Skills of Ortega, local Maimou and headliner Michelle Shocked.

"The tour is groundbreaking and we are excited to head out to Los Angeles right away," said Harris.

It's a message that needs to be sent to women, and Baze credits her good health in making it possible for her to do this tour and educate other women.