Music
Press
"Lionel Hampton would be proud of that boy...! Actual Proof is going to go far in the music world, I predict." - John Tosco
The group has been featured on the AlternateMode website. The company makes the electronic vibraphone that Eric uses when Actual Proof is touring.
You can check out the site here:
http://www.alternatemode.com - Online
"Have you ever seen someone rock the hell out of a xylophone/vibraphone? Eric Mullis easily gets into the groove and hammers away on that thing as he's joined by an amazing cast of musicians. Phillip W. Berkley III brings the right amount of funky bass to the instrumental jazz fusion outfit. They're always entertaining and consistently getting the crowd moving."
Jeff Hahne,
Music Editor "Creative Loafing"
1/12/90 - Creative Loafing (Charlotte NC)
"This isn't opinion, this is cold hard fact: The addition of a vibraphone/vibraphonist makes any composition/group better. So color me tickled when that Queen City fusion-funk ensemble counts sucha mallet-percussionist among its ranks. Indeed, Eric Mullis' melodious bangings and clangings lead the group's funky jazz excursions through the tunes of Herbie Hancock, Ray Mazurek, and more. Make no mistake though; Actual Proof can write a killer tune of its own"
Patrick. Wall, Music Editor
"Free Times" (Columbia SC)
2/13/09 - Free Times (Columbia SC)
Lew Herman writes that the "Paradigm Shift" is "imaginative, playful, lively and inventive"..."Edgy opener 'The Ion' sets the pace, while 'Mongo' surprises with changing tempos and Latinesque tone. There's piano-playing elegance on "Island" while there's even a Grover Washington soundalike on 'The Ride'." - Creative Loafing
Discography
The group released a full-length CD of original music "Paradigm Shift" in July of 2009. It is available on CDBaby, iTunes, Amazon.Com, LimeWire, and AimeeStreet.
Tracks from Paradigm Shift are currently being played on WNCW (Asheville NC), WEND (Charlotte NC), WUSC (Columbia SC), and 98.1TheRiver (Asheville NC).
Photos
Bio
Actual Proof's music is oriented around the groove. The group is influenced by Funk, Jazz-Fusion, Afro-Cuban, and West-African traditions--traditions that all have produced infectious music. Actual Proof's sound is rooted in the tones of the vibraphone, marimba, drums, funk bass, electric guitar, samples, and electronic percussion. The group presents high-energy performances that showcase high-level musicianship and the ability to get crowds moving. Actual proof is currently regularly performing in the Charlotte NC area and is developing connections with venues throughout the southeast. The group released their debut CD in July of 2009 and is promoting it on the airwaves and in venues in the South-East.
Eric Mullis plays vibes, marimba, and percussion. He has been playing music for 20 years and plays jazz drums regularly in the Charlotte NC area. He performed at the Festival Eclats d'Email in Limoges France in 2006 and 2007. His influences include Joe Locke, Milt Jackson, Lionel Hampton, Herbie Hancock, and Gary Burton. He currently teaches philosophy full time at Queens University of Charlotte. Eric will be releasing a CD of original compositions ("Traditions") in the Spring of 2009.
Phillip W. Berkley has been playing bass for over 20 years. His bass grooves are the root of Actual Proof's sound. He performs regularly in the Charlotte area and his influences include Stanley Clark, Bootsy Collins, Louis Johnson, Aaron Mills, and Mark Adams.
Scott Brower began playing drums at an early age and went on to earn a degree in music from East Carolina University. His influences include Dave Weckl, Steve Smith, and Omar Hakim.
Clint Presely began playing guitar at an early age, has studied at the Atlanta Institute of Music, and performed at the 2006 and 2007 Limoges Jazz Festival (Festival Eclats d'Email). He is currently regularly performing in the Charlotte area and is influenced by the music of Chic Corea, Mike Stern, Joe Satriani, Eric Johnson, and Miles Davis. He is the owner of Music Quarters, a music lesson studio located in Charlotte.
Bryan Osborne is a diverse musician who is classically trained but performs a wide range of genres including salsa, theatre, jazz, gospel, and more. He has toured with several groups in his home state of Indiana and held the Principal Trumpet position at the Wagon Wheel Theatre for four years. He is influenced by Freddie Hubbard, Clifford Brown, Miles Davis, and Arturo Sandoval.
Links
