CityView Magazine - Fayetteville, NC
Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/31068
“The three of us are creative and in minutes we can come up with original sounds” Eve and their calendar has been full ever since. The band has a managing partner with lifelong friend and realtor, Willie Snow. Together the group has promoted themselves and launched First Saturdays at The Holiday Inn Bordeaux. After two months, they outgrew the space at the Bordeaux and had fans of all ages buying out tickets to these First Saturday events. Bradley says to prepare before each show he prays and meditates. Since rehab he said he has become very spiritually grounded. Essential Elements is currently creating material for the recording of their album projected for completion in October. “The three of us are creative and in minutes we can come up with original sounds,” said Bradley. “Sometimes we let the audience help name the tunes.” Two original tracks that will be featured are the title cut: “Don’t Look Back” and “Sunset Paradise.” Bradley first began to study music at the young age of 10 in middle school and later in high school when he played the trumpet in Orangeburg, South Carolina. Like most boys, he wanted to play the drums, but he was too small to carry the bass drum in marching band. He recalls how special it was to have that trumpet and was dedicated to practicing because he knew 32 | May/June • 2011 what his mother had sacrificed to purchase that instrument for him. “I encourage every student to practice every day and not to waste their parent’s money,” said Bradley. His mother has had the honor to see him play numerous times when he has put on large concerts in his hometown. His practice and talent paid off when he received a scholarship to SC State where he earned two degrees, one in performance and the other in music education. During this time many jazz greats came through for the Black Network Jazz School where they looked for promising students to perform with them. Bradley was selected to play with Dizzy Gillespie, definitely a highlight in his life. “Never quit playing,” Gillespie told Bradley. “Always have a distinct sound of your own”. “The current jazz scene has no consistency,” said Bradley. Enjoying the growth of Fayetteville, Bradley yearns to see the day when Fayetteville will hold an annual Jazz Festival featuring local jazz artists and bring in other bands as well. Essential Elements currently partners with WFSS Radio and they have applied for many of the local festivals over the next year. Read more about them at www.essentialelementsfayetteville.com.CV