The Mel Brown B3 Organ Group

Sun, Oct 20

TICKETS $25 $20 | ALL AGES Mel Brown, Drums Renato Caranto, Tenor Saxophone Dan Balmer, Guitar Louis "King Louis" Pain, Hammond B3 "If this band appeared in New York City, they'd be a sensation!" That was guitar great--and one-time Mel Brown bandmate-- George Benson's reaction after hearing the Mel Brown B-3 Organ Group back in 2003. In fact, this true all-star band has been a sensation going back to 1997, when they began a 20-year run on Thursdays at Portland’s legendary “Jimmy Mak’s” music venue (The Oregonian dubbed them “Jimmy Mak’s signature group”). With a collective resume that reads like a "Who's Who" of NW jazz, blues, and soul, this group has the talent and confidence to be completely spontaneous--from their blistering solos to their improvised arrangements and segues. No wonder they've thrilled audiences wherever they've played. Count among the band’s fans jazz great Christian McBride, host of National Public Radio’s “Jazz Night In America.” In an October 2021 broadcast, McBride played several excerpts from a Mel Brown B-3 Organ Group festival set. During one of the interview segments with Mel, McBride exclaimed, “My mind is blown!”