Now that drummer Alan Jones has returned to Portland, he’s being transitioned back into some of the gigs he was featured on before he moved to Europe four years ago. Next Monday (December 3rd), you can catch Alan at Jimmy Mak’s with Dan Balmer’s Diesel 10, also featuring bassist Jeff Leonard.
In January, keep your eyes open for a reunion concert of Gordon Lee’s Rough Jazz quartet, the group that brought together tenor saxophonist John Gross and Jones.
You can check out what else Alan is up to at alanjonesmusic.com
Posts Tagged ‘Dan Balmer’
Diesel 10, Gordon Lee Quartet, Alan Jones back at Jimmy Mak’s
November 29th, 2007Mel Brown B3 band celebrates its 10-year anniversary
November 6th, 2007On Thursday, Mel Brown and his B3 band will celebrate their 10-year anniversary at Jimmy Mak’s. Mak’s club was the birthplace of the band which has held a regular gig there since the club’s early days at the old location.
Since their inception, the band has recorded a number of CDs, all of which have been live performances.
Live at Jimmy Mak’s: Back when this album was made, the B3 band was a quintet, featuring Thara Memory and Renato Carranto in the horn section. Louis Pain and ex-Portlander Dan Faehnle joined Mel in the rhythm section. This recording features some of the bands classics, including a number of covers such as “You are so Beautiful” and “What’s Goin’ On.”
Live at the Britt Festival: This record is a live recording (that the band didn’t know was being made) from the Britt Festival in Jacksonville, Oregon where the B3 band opened for George Benson (whom they dedicated one of their tunes). You can even hear Benson’s bass player cheering them on from offstage. The band on this album includes Dan Balmer on guitar, who took over Faehnle’s spot in the group. Also, Memory has left the horn section, leaving Carranto at the reins.
Smokin’ at Jimmy’s: On their most recent CD, the band is once again expanded to a quintet, this time with Curtis Craft on percussion. The album was recorded live at Jimmy Mak’s during the summer of 2006 and is just what the title says - Smokin’
Go By Train performance videos
July 2nd, 2007
Dan Balmer and Clay Giberson’s jazz fusion project “Go By Train” has been performing regularly around the Northwest for the past four years. GBT has two albums out - the appropriately named debut album “Go By Train” from 2004, and “Transportation,” the band’s second effort that was released earlier this year. Dan and Clay have been with the project since the beginning while Micah Kassell (who appears on both albums) and Drew Shoals have each spent time holding down the drum chair.
Go By Train shows up one or two Mondays a month at Jimmy Mak’s, where Dan hosts his weekly series. Below, you can find live videos taken at the club, with the band playing material from both albums.