Edie Antoinette's Choice..♪♫♪

[Edie Antoinette]

Ahh, yes! What a breath of fresh air this CD is! For starters, it's about time a trombone (bone) soloist steps from behind the back to the front, to take this instrument to new directions. And that's just what Jeff Bradshaw does on his debuting CD, "Bone Deep." From the intro teaser and skits, to collaborations with Jill Scott, Glenn Lewis, and the incredible Bilal, this CD sings from beginning to end. My favorite cuts are "Lookin" and the James Brown remake "Make It Funky." I also especially like the effects Bradshaw employs on his trombone, it gives it an almost synthesized sound. Trust me, this is definitely not the usual trombone sound associated with jazz, and that's a good thing.
That said, if you're strictly a jazz purist, this CD probably won't satisfy you. But for everyone else on planet earth, who enjoy jazz fusion or smooth jazz, "Bone Deep" should be in your collection!!!

01 The Bone Is Back Reprise
02 Slide
03 Lookin
04 Guess Youll Never Know
05 The Bone Is Back Interlude
06 Ill Always Think of You
07 Beyond the Stars
08 Soul of the Bahia
09 Can You Come Over
10 Beautiful Day
11 Smooth Soul
12 Miss Celies Blues Sister
13 Make It Funky
14 On My Way
15 The Bone Is Back

Jeff Bradshaw..In His Own Words

My story begins at a dusty floored church in North Philly, where brass bands are the main attraction. I was born and raised in church and that is where I had my first musical experience. The first instrument I began playing was the snare drum. Following that I began playing the baritone horn, and sousaphone. I recall one very powerful day in high school, we where asked to stand in front of the instrument we would like to play.

Of course, there was a crowd surrounding the drums, guitars, saxophones, trumpets, percussion, and woodwinds, but not one person was standing near the stack of trombones in the corner. That day was the day, I believe, the trombone was to begin its trek to becoming the coolest instrument in mainstream music, not just jazz!!! I was going to make the trombone hip, and not just an instrument for nerds in the high school band! As I transitioned from high school into adulthood, I began altering the plans for my future, realizing I wouldn’t be afforded the opportunity for college.

The finances weren’t there for me to continue my education, so I bounced from job to job trying to buy time, until my (right time, right place) moment came. Unfortunately that moment wouldn’t come for another 7 years. In 1994 I began to meet the who’s-who of what is now the hierarchy of the Philly music community. People like James Poyser, Andre Harris, Vidal Davis, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Ahmir ”Quesluv” Thompson, Tarik “Black Thought” Trotter of the Legendary ROOTS CREW, DJ King Britt, Keith Pelzer, Darren Henson, Ivan Barrius, Carvin Higgins, and many others!!! It was because of these people I arrived into the real world of major recording, with artist like Eryka Badu, Jill Scott, Floetry, Darius Rucker, Musiq, The Roots, Earth Wind & Fire, and Michael Jackson, just to name a few.

It wasn’t until one night at a popular live music spot in downtown Philly called Wilamina’s, that I got my chance to step to the front of a very popular band that I played “side man” in. The leader of the band was my dear friend, trumpet master, Jafar Barron. This particular evening Jafar was having personal difficulties and the band would not have had a leader for the rest of the night, BUT, guess who stepped up to the front with a trombone and begin to lead this hip hop soul band as if he had been waiting for that opportunity all his life!!! ME LOL!!! A few years after that experience, the beautiful Jill Scott had begun to record her first album and I was invited to become a part of that.

I enjoyed every bit of recording on that record, and before you knew it, we where on the road showing the world Who Jill Scott Was! It wasn’t until the launch party of “Hidden Beach Recordings” (which was full of celebs like Bill Duke, Carl Payne, Lenox Lewis and many others) where I met the man who would forever change my life, Steve Mckeever (HBR CEO)!!! He was a bright smiling music lover of epic proportion, but it wouldn’t be until 2002 when I took advantage of a break taken by Jill. I had begun to record some original material with a producer that I met at Wilamina’s, named Will Brock (Can You Come Over, Little One). This marked the beginning of a 9-song demo c.d. that landed me my record deal with HBR!!! (Including about 50 follow-up calls). That’s Right, Major Recording Deal!!!

I explained to Steve that if he believed in me, with God’s help we could change what people thought should be a lead instrument in mainstream music! Steve expressed with his friends laughing in disbelief, that he wasn’t scared and one of the most musical bodies of work was born, (BONE DEEP)! So now, in my first year being married to my best friend Jameelia Drinks Bradshaw, I would like to share my next body of work with you. It’s all of me, my love of God, my wife, my children and a few surprises!!! So,“Boneapetite".

Edie Antoinette