Funky Fly Project
The Funky Fly Project was a popular youth jazz band that operated out of Pittsburgh, PA. Its members consisted of an elementary school aged drummer, Brandon Terry (12) and middle school members Henry Schultz and Winston Bell (14), Winston and Henry played together on stage for over 11 years in various bands. Eric Dowdell Jr. was the oldest member of the band, at 18 years of age. The Funky Fly sound was mentored from 2015 to 2018 by grammy award winner drummer, Poogie Bell.
The band consisted of Henry Schultz on Keys, Winston Bell on Sax, Brandon Terry on drums and Eric Dowdell Jr. on bass. The Funky Fly performed original compositions and new arrangements of Jazz Standards. The Funky Fly Projects debut Album, “Déjà vu” was funded due to the generosity of numerous local fans, former teachers, parents, and church supporters. They independently funded their second Album, “Sunday Afternoon”, which was released directly at the time of the pandemic shut-down.
The Funky Fly Project won numerous awards and was regularly featured on local Pittsburgh jazz channels and in the news media. They travelled as far as Chicago, and Charlotte North Carolina and were a very much beloved and supported band within the Pittsburgh Jazz Community. The band never had a streaming presence, but their music can be found on this website for listening. There are a limited number of “Sunday Afternoon” CD's available for purchase. The band disbanded in 2019.
History
2019
Damien Escobar, the Elements of Love Tour, The Rex Theater Carnegie Science Center
Old Town Hall Performance Series, Fairfax, VA
Opening support for Rainbow Ends, Thunderbird Cafe
Jazzlive series at the Backstage Bar and Theater
Cares 20th Anniversary Gala, Jeron X. Grayson Community Center,
Artful Wednesdays, Nordy's Place, University of Pittsburgh
Hug Me Tight Childlife Centers Jazz Reception, Jeron X. Grayson Community Center
Governor's Awards for the Arts, August Wilson African American Cultural Center
Advancing Black Arts in Pittsburgh Symposium, Children's Museum Lab
Duquesne Club
World Class Tavern
Jazz in the Park at B & O Station Park, Youngstown, OH
ACH Clear Pathways Annual Fundraising Event
Wheelfish
Superior Motors
Jazz on the Steps, Carnegie Library
Sneakerball Fundraising Event, August Wilson African American Cultural Center
Deutschtown Music Festival
FarmJammaLamma12, Brookline, PA
Barbecue Jazz and Blues Festival, East Liverpool, Ohio
Box Lunch Revue, York, PA
Goodwill General Session Event, Wyndham Grand Hotel
Jada House 5th Anniversary Celebration
Sustainable Agriculture and food Systems Funders Reception
Market Square
Three Rivers Arts Festival , Dollar Stage
WV Jazz Society, WV
Northside Elks Lodge Anniversary Dinner
Children's Museum of Pittsburgh Museum Lab Gala
Chatham University Summer Jazz Series
Allegheny County Summer Concert Series, South Park Amphitheater
Washington Jazz Society
Roxian Theater Open House
Passion for a Purpose Fundraiser
Wilkins Block Party
Children's Museum Lab Fundraiser
Jazz Workshop, Carnegie Library
BPEP Jazz 2019
August Wilson African American Cultural Center
Three Rivers Festival Press Event
Operation Better Block Gala
Springtoberfest, Indiana PA
Schenley Heights Fundraising Event
PBT and DTH Premier and Fundraiser
Jazz on Mondays at Savoy Restaurant
Lift Every Voice: Celebrating Phenomenal Women, Benedum Theater
Hard Rock Cafe
Bakery Square
Diversion Program Graduation
Parties and Celebrations, Carnegie Library
2018
Aquarius All Black Show with Tom Browne, Cleveland, Ohio
Dance Your Heart Out Veteran's Benefit, Indiana, PA
Penn Brewery Mardi Gras, Penn Brewery
Pittsburgh Miller Black History Month Celebration, Miller African-Centered Academy
Jazz at Mia Margherita Coal Fired Pizzeria, Bridgeport, WV
American Society Civil Engineers Awards Banquet
Wild Side Pub, Lawrenceville
B-Pep Jazz Event
Inclusive Innovation Week Closing Event, Homewood-Brushton YMCA
Springtober Fest 2018, Indiana, PA
Center That Cares-Rooftop Reception, Jeron X. Grayson Community Center
Sigma Gamma RHO Sorority Regional Conference
Carmi Soul Food Saturday Brunch (recurring)
Westsylvania Jazz and Blues Festival, Indiana, PA
Westsylvania Jazz & Blues Festival, Levity Brewing after hours show, Indiana, PA
Harold Young’s Jazz Workshop Concert Series, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh
Freight Station Jam, Johnstown, PA
Homewood Healthy Senior Entertainment, Homewood Healthy Active Living Center
Jazz & Jambalaya 2018, Charleston, West Virginia
Stars at Riverview Jazz Series, Riverview Park
Family Night with Pittsburgh Festival Opera and the Funky Fly Project, The Frick Museum
Ceramic City Jazz Blues & BBQ Festival, East Liverpool, OH
Farmjammalamma Turn it up to 11, Brookville, PA
Ceramic City Arts Festival, Johnstown PA
Deutschtown Music Festival, Deutschtown
Eden Hall Summer Series Jazz Night, Gibsonia, PA
Forget Me Not Benefit, The August Wilson Center for African American Culture Theatre
1Nation Take a Walk in our Shoes Sneakerball benefit, The August Wilson Center for African American Culture
Katz Plaza Summer Jazz Series
Plum Borough End of Summer Reading Program, Plum Community Library
Hosanna House Fundraiser
Harambe Festival, Heart of Homewood, Kelly street
DreamOn Festival, Market Square (Friday opening)
DreamOn Festival, Market Square (Saturday Headliner)
Monroeville Jazz Festival, Tall Trees Amphitheater
Levity Brewery, Indiana PA
State Representative Jake Wheatley Health Expo
Jazz in the Park at B&O Station, Youngstown, Ohio
Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership Jazz in Market Square, Market Square
Preeti's Pitt
The Pizazz Smooth Jazz Festival, with Kenny G, Dave Koz and the Summer Horns, Gerald Albright, Rich Braun, Richard Ellliott, Aubrey Logan and Bob James and the Bob James Trio, Charlotte Metro Amphitheater, Charlotte, NC
Carmi's one year celebration at Southside location, Carmi's Family Restaurant
Cory Henry and the Funk Apostles, The Rex Theater
Sugar and Smoke Grand Opening, Sugar and Smoke Restaurant
Jazz Stroll and Dinner, Jeron X. Grayson Community Center
Gallery Jazz Crawl, EQT Plaza
Superior Motors
BMe A Celebration of Genius, Station Square
Savoy Jazz Mondays
CCI 40th year of Serving the City of Pittsburgh, Soldiers & Sailors Musem
August Wilson Center
School-time Concerts with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, daily shows the week of November 13th
2nd Annual Fall Ball Benefit, Mr. Smalls Theatre
Grace Memorial Presbyterian Church 50th Anniversary Gala
Do Right Pittsburgh with local and national band, the Commonheart, Mr. Smalls Ballroom
Burgettstown MHS Performing Arts Center, Burgettstown MHS Performing Arts Center
Covestro 15th Anniversary Dinner
Pittsburgh Council of Men, Comfort Inn
Savoy Jazz Monday
Mayor Peduto's 11th Annual Holiday Party, Children's Museum of Pittsburgh
Brighton Heights Senior Center
AARP Chapter 4542 Holiday Celebration
Jack and Jill Presentation Ball, Omni William Penn Hotel
2017
Live music at Hotel Indigo
Full Pint Wild Side Pub
Ceramic City Christmas Festival, Liverpool, Ohio
Guest of Chris Jamison Christmas Special
Northside Common Ministries (NSCM) Celebration of Caring awards Dinner at the The Priory ,
Millvale Harvest Moon Festival
Back to School in Manchester Event with The Bill Henry Band
Ethnic Fest Block Party on 3rd Ave, Johnstown PA
Carnegie Arts Initiative
Kelly Strayhorn unveiling of Public art by Deavron Dailey and Bob Ziller at Duolingo
Millvale Harvest Moon Wine Festival
CD Release Party Showcase SAVOY
Proud Haven Fundraiser at the James street Gastropub and Speakeasy Ballroom V.I.P Hour
Levity Brewing Co, Indiana PA
Holiday Jazz Stroll Clarksburgh, West Virginia
Funk You Festival with the Funky Fly Project
Tunes and Tapas with Proud Haven, James Street Gastropub and Speakeasy
Teen Jam Session featured artist, James Street Gastropub and Speakeasy
Funky Fly Project Sunset Fundraiser at the Jeron X Grayson Community Center
ACH Clear Pathways Annual Fundraiser, Hotel Monaco
Allegheny Mental Health Expo
African American Cultural Center Hill Dance Academy Theatre Reception
Back Stage Bar as part of the Gallery Crawl
Pittsburgh Cultural Trust All School Art Exhibit as part of the Gallery Crawl
August Wilson Center, Howard University Dance Faculty pre - show
B-PEP Jazz fundraiser celebrating 31 years of Black Political Empowerment
Pittsburgh JazzLive International Festival
Ceramic City Jazz and BBQ Festival, Liverpool
FarmJammaLamma10, Brookline, PA
Western Jazz and Blues Festival at Levity Brewing Co., Indiana PA
Special guest Appearance Opening for Confunkshun Concert, Hartwood Acres Park
Elkins Jazz Walk West Virginia at the El Gran Sabor
DreamOn Festival
Stars at Riverview Jazz Series
Millvale Music Festival, Panza Gallery
O.F.F Day, Historic Olivet Baptist Church
2016
Religious Education Association (REA) Annual Meeting 2016, Wyndham Grand Hotel
Grace Memorial Presbyterian church First Friday Jazz Hour
Carnegie Arts initiative, Carnegie Celebrates Jazz
Pittsburgh JazzLive international Jazz Festival Katz Plaza
Taste of Beechview Food Festival
DreamOn Festival Headliners
New Castle , Fireworks Festival
New Castle Arts on the Riverwalk, Confluence Coffee Shop
FarmJammaLamma 9, Brookville, PA
WYEP Music Festival
Our Clubhouse Ten Years of Service for families affected by cancer Celebration
The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh
Andy Warhol Youth Invasion
Pittsburgh Cultural Trust Gallery Crawl
Underground Cafe Live Performance
Fifth Annual Food Pantry Brunch Challenge at the New Hazlett Theater
WV Jazz Society, Winter Jazz Stroll at the Main Street Cafe and Music Hall, West Virginia
Phipps Conservatory night of jazz, funk, and holiday favorites
2015
Hambones Jazz Cabaret
Grille on Seventh
Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh
Katz Plaza, Pittsburgh International Jazz Festival
Hambones Open Stage
End of Summer Block Party at Savoy
R.A.N.T
VA Pittsburgh Health System, (3)
The New Castle Arts Festival featuring Arts on the Riverwalk
Cinema in the Park at Schenley Park
Schenley Park Jazz Festival
South Side Works Stage on the River Walk
Verizon Fundraising Event
Discography/Funky Fly Project
“Deja Vu”, Debut CD 2017 Producer, keyboardist
“Sunday Afternoon”, October, 2019 Producer, Keyboardist
WQED Reimangination CD Project 2016
AWARDS (Funky Fly Project)
Who’s Next: Music; 21 young leaders defining the new Pittsburgh sound, 2017
Pittsburgh City Paper Finalist, Best Jazz and Blues Band 2019
Pittsburgh City Paper, Best Band Finalist, 2017
Cover and article Feature, Pittsburgh City Paper, 2018
Selected for WQED “Sessions” video series, 2019