The Mel Brown B-3 Organ Group is comprised of four veteran musicians, each of whom is regarded as an expert on his chosen instrument.
Bandleader Mel Brown started as a staff drummer in Motown, where he worked with legends such as Smokey Robinson, Martha Reeves, and others. He also worked with Diana Ross for ten years before turning to his favorite music: jazz.
Dan Balmer won accolades from the Los Angeles Times which called him:
". . . the model of what a contemporary guitarist should be."
He is also a jazz educator, composer, and has performed with many greats of jazz, including Les McCann, Joey deFrancesco, and Diane Schur.
Renato Caranto broke into the jazz scene in Portland early in the 1990s. He has toured with Esperanza Spalding, a Grammy winning jazz bassist, and with country great Merle Haggard.
The Oregonian has called organist Louis “King Louie” Pain, the group’s fourth member:
“Portland’s boss of the B-3.”
A San Francisco native, he has recorded with artists such as Bobby Forte, B.B. King’s saxophonist, and Bruce Conte, guitarist for Tower of Power.
The concert is a hybrid, offering limited in-person seating, and streaming the performance as well. The date is April 23, from 7.30 pm until 9.30 pm, with the stream available until April 30. Health guidelines will be enforced, and poster printing can be used to create publicity for events like this.