Jazz LIVE at Marine View featuring the Mel Brown B3 Organ Group

What a treat to host a true All-Star band - all four members are Oregon Music Hall of Fame inductees! “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 the band opened for him in a 2003 performance.  Since then they have finished a 20-year weekly “residency” at Portland’s top jazz club Jimmy Mak’s followed by their current 7-year run at the Jack London Revue and countless featured appearances at large festivals throughout the region.

Mel Brown (www.facebook.com/melbrownb3organgroup) (www.louispain.com/the-mel-brown-b-3-organ-group) has been labeled the “Gentleman of Jazz” with a career spanning 50+ years. He first made his mark as a Motown staff drummer recording and touring with Martha Reeves The Temptations Smokey Robinson among other stars of that period. He then spent 10 years working with Diana Ross and other pop acts before fulling settling down in Portland. The City of Portland proclaimed June 22 1989 Mel Brown Day in recognition of Mel’s achievements as a musician and educator.

Louis Pain (www.louispain.com) dubbed “Portland’s boss of the B-3” is a dynamic soloist but specializes in the subtle art of making the musicians and vocalists around him sound their best. He started his professional career in his hometown of San Francisco in 1970. He’s played with many of the best musicians of numerous genres over his career. Making the move to Portland in 1986 Louis quickly established himself as the “first call” organist to visiting music legends. Besides an extensive resume as a producer promoter and performer his last 3 releases on his own label Shoug Records have all been honored by Downbeat in their annual “Best Albums of the Year” issue.

Dan Balmer (www.danbalmer.com) is widely considered the defining sound of contemporary jazz guitar in the Northwest. From coffee house gigs at 15 to chart-topping success with the Tom Grant Band in the 80s-90s world tours with two-time Grammy Award winner Diane Schuur and collaborations with Joey Francesco Les McCann and many other jazz greats Dan brings fire and heart every time he plays the guitar. One of the most original and creative artists to come from the fertile Northwest music scene his playing spans nearly 100 CDs including 12 as a leader from which his original works have appeared internationally in film television and radio. In addition he is extremely active as a jazz educator most noteworthy as director of jazz combos at Lewis & Clark.

Renato Caranto (www.renatocaranto.com) started playing his saxophone professionally at the age of 15. He arrived in the US from Philippines in 1981 and toured the West Coast in a Top 40 band for a decade before settling down in Portland in 1992. His diverse playing styles landed him gigs across the soul blues and jazz genres. Renato quickly became a much-in-demand artist on the music scene with jazz in particular his passion. He has toured internationally with Esperanza Spalding and demonstrated his remarkable versatility touring and recording with country music legend Merle Haggard who called him “the greatest horn player I’ve heard in my life!”

Host or Publisher jim foster