Washington and Friends to appear at the Paddle and Axe

Carlos Washington and soul/jazz/funk/fusion band Friends of Gravity will perform at the Paddle and Axe Saloon on March 6 at 10 p.m.

Washington is known as one of the nation's preeminent trumpet players.

Born in Harrisburg, Penn., Washington was first exposed to music through church and later through the public school classical music program, in which he excelled.

Upon graduating from high school with a music scholarship, Washington decided to enlist in the U.S. Marine Corps. There, he quickly earned rank and a position of lead trumpet in the Marine Corps Band. After four years, he was honorably discharged as a sergeant and embarked on his professional music career.

After touring with former Lenny Kravitz sideman Karl Denson for two years, Washington decided to pursue his own business and creative venture.

His tone has been compared to the great Lee Morgan, Freddie Hubbard and Clifford Brown.

Improvisational trio Friends of Gravity, from New Orleans and Baton Rouge areas, is made up of Andy Bourgeois on keyboard and tenor sax, Tommy Sciple on acoustic and electric bass, and Simon Lott on drums, percussion and sampler.

The group pulls influences from many genres of music, as diverse as Herbie Hancock, Ornette Coleman, Radiohead, the Meters, Jimi Hendrix, Quasimoto, Bill Laswell and Fred McDowell.

Miss Bender

Fruition Multi Media Group

San Diego, California

619-325-1951

619-398-5289