Heavy Rotations ready to wine, dine and groove just fine

Formerly The SWiTCH, local jazz
fusion juggernaut The Heavy Rotations
will be taking Richmond’s music scene
by storm following line-up changes and
a new artistic direction.

The group, which has been playing
since 2001, has gotten a slow but steady
facelift in the form of VCU jazz studies
alumni Kelli Strawbridge (drums),
Mark Ingraham (trumpet), Jason Gay
(saxophone) and most recently, Reggie
Pace (trombone).

All four musicians are staples in the
jazz scene here in Richmond, playing
in such bands as the Oregon Hill Funk
All-Stars, Devil’s Workshop, Bungalo 6,
Big Payback and Soularmy.

Founding member Nathan Goodwyn
said he is grateful for the other members’
musical contribution to the band.

“They’re outstanding, and we’re really
fortunate to be playing with people who
study music and make it their living,”
he said.

On Friday, Nov. 30, the band will be
returning to Bogart’s Backroom after a
long hiatus to play their first gig under
the new name.

Shortly afterward, on Dec. 15, The
Heavy Rotations will be performing at
the Firehouse Theater. It is a date the
band has been looking forward to for a
long time.

“We’ve been focusing on the cinematic elements
of our music,” Goodwyn said. “We’ve
been really influenced over the years by a
group called The Cinematic Orchestra.”

The theme of the evening will be
“Dinner and a Movie” and will showcase
the band’s improvisational skills.
“It’s not just about the piece of music
as a piece of music,” Goodwyn said. “It’s
about the piece of music as something
visual and something that denotes more
than just the music itself.”

Of the founding members, only two
remain: Goodwyn (electric bass) and
Jack Shannon (guitar, synth).

The group has quite a history since
moving to Richmond from Farmville in
2002. Shortly after, Strawbridge joined
the fray with exciting results, Goodwyn
said.

“Kelli . is really influential and
important in the band for his ideas,”
he said.

Though the band only includes two
original members, it has not lost sight
of its goals.

“It’s not about anything other than
the music,” Goodwyn said. “There are
no bells and whistles you’d expect to
see in a cover band.”

Goodwyn also said he’s very grateful
for the jazz alumni’s input.

“We just feel really lucky that these
guys who are incredibly accomplished
on their instruments enjoy playing music
with us.”