Altadena Musicians on the Giving Music Podcast episode #9 with host Myka Miller

In Episode #9 of Giving Music, Myka is joined by Brandon Jay and Matt Chait of Altadena Musicians.

They share their challenging yet inspiring journey of rebuilding Altadena’s music community after devastating fires destroyed homes, instruments, and recording studios. They also highlight the vital role of community support and the ongoing efforts to provide resources for musicians affected by the disaster, illustrating how music can serve as a powerful force for healing.

Brandon Jay is a Los Angeles–based drummer, composer, and producer, and the founder of Altadena Musicians, an organization he started after the Eaton fire to help fellow musicians recover what they lost. Since then, the group has returned thousands of instruments and recordings to artists affected by the Eaton and Palisades wildfires. A longtime creative partner of Gwendolyn Sanford, Jay has composed music for Weeds and Orange Is the New Black, and is the co-composer of Romy and Michele the Musical, opening Off-Broadway this fall. He has also been a core member of bands including The 88, alongside a wide range of recording and live performance work.

Matt Chait is a Los Angeles–based creative producer and community organizer who works closely with Altadena Musicians, helping shape the organization’s branding, voice, and social media, and volunteering across its community events and programs. He also serves as a weekly music mentor in Altadena Musicians’ teen program. Chait is part of the team behind Backyard Party, a promoter for Altadena Musicians’ all-ages music and events venue. The venue was developed to support the Altadena and Pasadena communities after the Eaton Canyon fires, where Chait manages the stage and music programming, along with audio/visual production, social media, and graphic design.