By Kia DuPree

Any band that can play a Jay Z song, then turn right around and play a song by Alanis Morissette is sure to turn heads. That’s exactly what The Fuzz Band does—leave many people baffled, yet still on their feet partying.

Their sound is a mixture of jazz, hip hop, alternative, soul and classical music blended together. This innovative fusion creates a sound that is unparalleled in the music industry today. At the same time, their music bridges the gap between various listeners by introducing them to diverse genres. "I never really had an appreciation for jazz music until I heard them," said Sherry Oden, a 26-year-old hip hop advocate. Audiences at many of The Fuzz Band’s shows run the gamut from being members of the Baby Boomers generation to being Generation X’ers. You can also catch hip hop heads to grunge music enthusiasts at their live performances. "I was surprisingly moved by their sound," said 53-year-old Albertha Abraham. "I love jazz music, but with The Fuzz Band, I received much more. Their live performance is what really moved me." And apparently that's the goal—to give people something that can move them. "Our sound has been called a spontaneous overflow of emotion," said Paul Saunders, the band’s manager. "We play feel good music and everyone can relate to that."

The nine-member group, made up of six instrumentalists and three vocalists, has opened for platinum-selling artists such as Outkast, Alicia Keys and Jill Scott. Many of the members are classically trained instrumentalists and one of its singers, Nakia Madry, boasts a five-octave range. "We’re about integrity and staying focused and getting our musical message across," said Duane A. Smith. "The message is, we love life, we love God, we love music and each other, regardless." And with songs like "Hey", "Crossroads" and "Cinimin" from their recent released album "Without Boundaries," it provides just that kind of message. The band’s sound is reflective of people who truly love music.

The independently released album sold out of its first shipment in under three weeks solely by word of mouth. Their album is available online at www.cdbaby.com/thefuzzband. "I can not believe this band hasn’t blown up yet," said Ashura Goines, a Washington, D.C. native. "They have so much to offer the music industry—their diverse sound is what it’s been craving." R&B artists such as Bilal, Faith, Blue Cantrell and Scott have all performed to music recreated by the group at Fuzzy Wednesdays—a weekly "open mic" event. Over 30,000 patrons have partaken in the "Fuzzy" experience since its 1997 inception.

For more information on The Fuzz Band, visit www.thefuzzband.com