I am thrilled to kick off 2014 with one of my favorite groups; INNERTWYNED. I’m not only a true fan but also a friend. It was a pleasure to once again sit down and talk with this extremely talented group of musicians about their endeavors as a unit and individually. Watch our live video at the link below.
I’ve spent the afternoon in my car being serenaded by the “smooth” sounds of INNERTWYNED. I’ve heard the CD so many times that I can whistle and hum every single note on it. That’s how much I LOVE IT!! You can never tire from listening to it, and it will never get old. Every time I think I’ve picked out my top 2 or 3 songs, I continue to listen and realize that there is NO way I can pick just 2 or 3. They all rank #1 with me. It’s unusual for a CD to have me from start to finish.
The title “The Takeover” is so appropriate because that’s exactly what it does. It transforms you and takes you to a place where only you and the music exist.
Hey, that’s me that shows up occasionally in the video, on the front row, at the bottom right side of the screen. Yes that was me with my blue purse in my lap. LOL! I still remember hearing the music coming from the speakers outside on that beautiful evening.
What a beautiful evening it was in Charlotte. The backdrop for the evening was Club Label at the NC Music Factory. The Jazz Diva Tammy Greene once again gave guests a show to remember. INNERTWYNED opened the show for Jeff Bradshaw. They featured vocalists J’Vito and Shelby J. Shelby J brings to the stage her amazing vocals. She’s not only an artist in her own right, she’s also a a back-up singer for Prince. Their on stage energy is amazing. The vocals were POWERFUL. INNERTWYNED is undoubtedly the BEST band in the area. They’re not just a band, they are REAL musicians playing REAL instruments. They’re so good, they recorded their debut CD “The Takeover” in one day. When asked, they describe their music as universal, timeless, labeless, feel good, old school quality with a new school groove, soulful, authentic, and sexy because it comes from the heart. Reggie Graves, the base player in the group has a Gospel CD out titled “The Time Is Now.” J’Vito, lead vocalist of the group is working on his debut R&B CD. I can’t leave out the very important fact that INNERTWYNED is Grammy Award winning artist Anthony Hamilton’s band.
Then Mr. Jeff Bradshaw takes the stage and brings energy that has the audience on their feet, and dancing in their seats. He doesn’t just play the trombone, he entertains. I had a chance to sit down with Jeff after the show and ask him a few questions. Jeff realized at age 23 that he wanted to be a trombone player for a living. His father was a trombone player as well as a singer. He was raised in the United House of Prayer Church where there was brass instrumentation and trombones all around. Growing up he listened to the music his Father loved, old funk and gospel. Artist such as James Brown and Fred Wesley. He says, “once I met Fred Wesley, that was it for me.” Some of his other musical influences are Prince, Marvin Gaye, Ray Charles, Michael Jackson, Jackie Wilson, and the legendary George Clinton. This year he is celebrating the 10 year anniversary of his first CD “Bone Deep.” He’s also in midst of celebrating the 1 year anniversary of “Bone Appetit” which earned him an NAACP Image Award Nomination. He’s working on a new project that includes some major artists, and should be released later in 2013 or early 2014. He told me “This album will be my BEST work.” It was an honor to interview Jeff. I’m looking forward to his new project, and i’ll definitely be seeing him again.
Click on the link below to watch a clip of my interview with Jeff Bradshaw.
pinkandbluenotes.com 