"Eclectic. Funkadelic. Groovetastic. In the jam band world their are inovators and immitators...Native Root is the former." Honda Ski Tour 2007, Native Root is"...a dimension where the spoken word merges with tunes which embrace life's new beginnings." Reno Gazette Journal 7/25/06. “Native Root's sound is a veritable witch's brew of styles, but...hold together their sonic meld of jazz, hip-hop, soul and you-name-it, inspiring brazen dance-floor antics.†Reno News and Review April, 2005.
NR started as a tribute project to a beloved friend and percussion stallion Jon Paul Orebough who had passed on. It has since metamophisized into a 6 piece ensemble touring full time in the 8 most western states. With high energy live performances, and dynamic song writing, NR incorporates everything from brass instruments (bari/tenor/alto sax and bass/tenor trombone) to keys (b3 organ/keyboard), guitar and your anything but typical rhythm section, creating a full stage of funk with a jam band blues root that keeps the energy up from start to finish. When you add the socially conscious, poetic hip hop and soul melodies of front man Burke, you have an out of the box genre, for an in the pocket groove....good for body, mind and spirit.
