Projects & Associations - Groups I have played with or have formed - Music - http://maxpages.com/goodbar/Projects_and

Over the years, I have been very lucky to deal with a variety of projects from funk to rock to jazz even a little country, here is a run-down of groups that I have been a part of, plus of things to come.

THE SWITCH - a fusion group w/Mark Ingraham (trumpet), Nathan Goodwyn (electric bass) and Jack Shannon (electric guitar). The group was already formed when I joined the group in late 2001 - early 2002. We made one record, The Switch EP and we played a lot of gigs with Junction, Modern Groove Syndicate, among others. We decided to take a hiatus in early 2004 and we have gotten back together to do some gigs here and there. www.theswitch.biz still exists and is a great website with photos, bios and other goodies.

DJ WILLIAMS PROJEKT - Now I started playing with DJ when he was still putting a group, so I had no idea really what to do, but we still had a good time. He ended up putting up a groove together with some great musicians including Mark Ingraham, Todd Herington, bass, from Modern Groove Syndicate, Brian Monty (fender rhodes), Dusty Simmons (drums) from Oregon Hill Funk All-Stars and Gordon Jones (sax), also from Oregon Hill Funk and Brass Band. His band is really together and I got the chance to tour with them a couple times the past year, was an incredible learning experience and told me that I needed to get my sh*t together. Great guys. www.djwilliamsmusic.com

ASHBY ANDERSON - Ashby is one of the premier composers of our time. He can write songs that I can always bring something else out of you, they are also very fun and interesting. I started doing things with Ashby in 2002 and he really helped me creatively with my small group chops and writing as well. He has also, selflessly, started a non-profit organization called the Jazz Composers Alliance, where he showcases tunes written by members of the jazz community and we get exposure, payment and that does not happen very often, trust me. He is courageous and we should all be very lucky to have someone like him in the Richmond music scene. www.ashbyanderson.com, www.jazzcomposersalliance.com

YO MAMA'S BRASS BAND - This group was also very fundamental to my growth as a musician. This band is inspired by New Orleans second beat funk and various jazz and funk influences, but especially the New Orleans spirit, which is fun, sexy, full of alcohol and all-out partying. This started for me in 2002, playing the bass drum with my pedal with a snare drum player, it was a different thing. But soon, we got a regular gig and we started playing every single week and it was totally crazy, that gig lasted for over six months and then I became the lead percussionist, playing drumset with these guys and all the other musicians have grown tremendously, we are almost ready to take over Richmond and then the world (to a certain extent).

KSTRAW GROUP - I don't know how my group started exactly, I was able to book some gigs under my name with my favorite players and it comes and it goes, but it will get serious soon, recording our first cd soon (check Gigs page). Members include Doug Bethel, Sam Savage (trombone), Scott Burton, Alan Parker, Matt Balestino (guitar), Matt Hall, Jon Cannon, Ryan Hughitt (bass), Mark Ingraham (trumpet), Jason Gay, Tim Turner (alto and tenor sax) and me always (why? cuz its my group DAMMIT).

New Projects:

Alan Parker Group - Alan Parker is an extremely gifted guitar player, with whom I've played with since 2002 and he's growing all the time. Usually, with Matt Hall on acoustic bass, this trio is really what jazz can be about at times, intense but thoughtful, these cats are whats up. Check the gigs page for when we are playing again.

The New Trio - This is a new group that just formed out of the blue with Frank Jackson (Modern Groove Syndicate, Undr8ted) and Jon Small, longtime bassist from the Pat McGee Band. Frank Jackson is a funky guitarist who can play like Scofield but can get absolutely funky on his own. Jon, well sh*t, he's just been all around the world and I-YI-YI-YI, so I am in good company, we have started to do some playing and we'll be doin' it hard into 2006.

Brian Mahne Project - Brian Mahne plays electric piano in DJ Williams Projekt, but he's ready to strike out on his own and make his band. So he has recruited myself (of course, or else I wouldn't be writing shit about him heh), Todd Herington on bass from DJ Williams and Modern Groove Syndicate and my boy Alan Parker on guitar. And Manhe can also play all of our instruments really well, so we will be switching up quite a bit, I think. Either way, the group is going to be so slammin' and we will be playing quite a bit in 2006.

I have one more TOP SECRET band, but I can't tell you too much about this group other than the your favorite GODparent will be coming back in 2006. It's too funky in here, get out !!!!!

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Kelli Strawbridge
Richmond	Virginia	23231
United States Of America Freek!!
(804) 938-0757
KStraw81@aol.com

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Page Updated Wed Jan 11, 2006 6:02pm EST