A Musical Experience: Naturally Seven

If you do ANYTHING this year, it should be to check out the musical "experience" of the group/band Naturally Seven. I had the pleasure of experiencing them for the first time last night at a concert, and it was by the far, the best thing I've encountered in my five years in Lake Charles, Louisiana. It's right up there with graduation and introducing my fave author ZZ Packer at a reading.

One cannot describe this group; they truly have to be experienced. They sing gospel, hip hop, pop, rock, the list literally goes on, but what makes them so phenomenal, in addition to their wonderful singing voices is their ability to morph their voices into instruments. They are totally a cappella: their voices are their drums, their harmonicas, their violins, their trumpets, their scratchings, their flutes, their cellos, their bass, their electric guitars; believe me when I say you will be blown by how much they "become" the real instruments.

These seven BLESSED men are the real things; they "are" music.

Because their music covers the gamut, from Simon & Garfunkel to Michael Jackson, from Mr. Mister to their original works that encompass, among other genres, ballad, R & B, and gospel, this group transcends genre and a rigid market; they are totally accessible to all. Last night, I, a 30-something black female, went to the concert with one of my mentors, a rather "together and hip" white female in her early 50s, my sister who is 20, and my mentor's 16-year-old niece from Malta no less. Needless to say, each of us left the concert rushing to get CDs and autographs. They are truly mindblowing, and if you want to get into the Naturally 7 experience, I would urge you to pick up their first CD "Non-Fiction."

Unfortunately, their latest CD is available overseas (though I was able to get a copy last night at the concert!).

Despite this, both CDs ARE available at Amazon.com; the IMPORTED latest CD is higher, but in the end, I believe it's worth it.

Treat your ears to a sound like no other: Naturally Seven.

Take the time to check out their WEBSITE, too.