GrayScale Whale is a four-piece ensemble out of Apex, North Carolina that specializes in jazz, funk, and latin fusion, but is familiar with playing styles ranging from rock to hip-hop. The genre-bending group combines elements of artists including Snarky Puppy, Vulfpeck, Belá Fleck and the Flecktones, Rush, D’angelo, and Weather Report. Through its experience and education in many forms of music, especially jazz, the ensemble is able to deliver a type of soulful, funky, joyful jazz fusion that all listeners can enjoy. GrayScale Whale consistently draws in its audiences with powerful rhythms stemming from electric bass and drums, contagious melodies from saxophone and electric guitar, and overall tight performances from the whole. The reaction of the audience, the emotions of the players, and a pure passion for music all steer any given performance into barrier-breaking directions; every gig is a fresh experience for players and listeners alike. Through well-developed, innovative improvisation, the group stays true to its roots and provides a brand-new experience for each listener. All in all, an evening with GrayScale Whale is refreshing as much as it is new and exciting.
Since its creation in 2013, GrayScale Whale has been invited to perform at local community and government events held in churches, farmers’ markets, schools, and restaurants. The group has been featured at the Apex Jazz and Music Festival since 2014, and has played at other large events. Within the the last year, it has played at the Pour House in Raleigh, N.C. several times and The Cave in Chapel Hill, N.C. At the most recent Apex Music Festival (2016) the band sold numerous hard copies of its junior album, Belly of the Whale, in addition to many online sales. The performance opened new doors for the group and challenged its endurance and technical skills. Adaptable to the needs of the audiences, GrayScale Whale doesn't minimize the quality of its sound despite choosing to perform for an upwards of nine hours during festivals. The band is committed to sharing its music, whether they are playing at a local barbecue for a family, a wedding, or a festival through which thousands experience their organic and groove-centric tunes. No matter the event, long-time fans and new listeners alike are able to enjoy the ensemble’s eclectic repertoire and energetic sound.
Across venues and performances, listeners have had no shortage of praise for the band. It has been called “unstoppable” (Populate Productions), “phenomenal, up and coming” (Waverly Place Businesses), as well as “nonstop” (Apex Music Festival). The young ensemble has received much acclaim at the Apex Music Festival alone, in the midst of popular bands across the region and neighboring states, GrayScale Whale “stole the street” and was brought “back by popular demand” as a “jazz fest favorite” (2015 Apex Music Festival). For the 2016 Apex Music Festival, GrayScale Whale was invited back to be featured on a public, open-air discovery stage and to lead an open jam session for the festival attendees. Overall, this “incredible group of talented, young musicians” (Waverly Place Businesses) has made a massive impact on both the local music scene and people of Apex and Raleigh. When people come by to listen to the band for the first time, they are compelled to stop, relax, and become part of the groovy atmosphere that GrayScale Whale expertly creates.
