RAYMOND, Wash. – Sunday Afternoon Live brings Zona Calda to the Raymond Theatre stage at 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 18. Audiences should be prepared for some exceptional sounds as this newly formed jazz quartet presents a repertoire that includes music from ’40s classics to current gems.

The name Zona Calda, which is Italian for “hot spot,” came about because the group “wanted something that spoke of their love for out-of-ordinary things” and they thought their music “made a party or event better, the hot place to be.” They tried it in different languages, liked the sound of the Z in Zona, and went from there.

The group features South Bend’s Lew Chapman on horns, Doug Senibaldi on drums, Doug Backholm on piano and bass and Melina Backholm’s creamy smooth vocals with a little jazz piano on the side. Their tag line, “Vibrant Boho Jazz,” speaks of an eclectic mix of gypsy jazz, pop hits from the ’70s and classic jazz tunes. With such a varied repertoire, tunes like Norah Jones’ “Cold, Cold Heart” and the Nat King Cole classic, “Straighten Up & Fly Right” may fall back to back.

The group began as the long-time father/daughter duo composed of Melina Backholm and her dad, and became a trio with Chapman coming on the scene. Chapman’s career was spent playing in Army bands and touring the world with many renowned musicians.

Chapman introduced the Backholms to Senibaldi, a former tour and session drummer.

Melina Backholm says that growing up, she wasn’t “that interested” in singing. She played piano and clarinet, and her goal was to be a professional clarinet player with the Berlin Symphony. She played jazz piano in the Aberdeen High School jazz choir and, listening to the singers, she thought she could do that too, so she just started singing when she was alone. At the age of 15, she became brave enough to “sing out” and at 16, she joined a jazz trio.

Tickets for Zona Calda are on sale for $8.50 at South Bend Pharmacy and Sandra’s Art & Frames in South Bend, Wash., and Sagen’s Pharmacy in Raymond. They will be $11 at the door the day of the performance. For tickets by mail, call (360) 875-5831, e-mail shsartbenefit@yahoo.com or send a S.A.S.E. to Box 41, South Bend, WA 98586.

Security State Bank is sponsoring the Zona Calda concert.