Siskiyou Music Project welcomes back Hammond B3 player Brian Ho with his Bay Area trio, featuring guitar phenom Hristo Vitchev and drummer Isaac Schwartz for a performance at Grizzly Peak Winery.
Please note that this performance time has changed to 7 p.m., with doors opening at 6:30 p.m. Some of you may remember Brian from last year’s performance with the Mimi Fox Trio; now he is back with a new CD and group.
Brian Ho began playing piano at the early age of five, taking lessons at both Stanford and San Jose State. By the age of sixteen, he began to play professionally and started teaching. After his college years spent studying music at UC Davis, he decided to pursue his love of music as a leader, composer, and arranger. Brian now leads his own group on the Hammond Organ and is an in-demand sideman. While Brian still stays rooted in the tradition of classic Hammond Organists such as Jimmy Smith, Shirley Scott, and Jack Mc Duff; with his vast knowledge of styles and influences he has developed his own unique and modern take on organ jazz.
Brian is fortunate to play with some of the finest musicians including Azar Lawrence, Billy Hart, Gary Bartz, Richie Cole, Calvin Keys, Akira Tana, Mimi Fox, Dan Wilson, Troy Roberts, and more.
“Brian Ho is a Bay Area Organist that I’m really digging these days. He sounds good, doing some cool stuff, and keeping the tradition alive…the future of jazz organ is in good hands.” – Joey Defrancesco
Drummer Issac Schwartz is an Oakland, CA native and has been playing the drums for 20 years. He’s toured the U.S. and internationally playing Jazz, Rock, and original music. He was one of the recipients of the Jazz Search West award in 2011 and has also been recognized by the Reno Jazz Festival for outstanding musicianship.
“Issac Schwartz can rev up a drum solo!” – Downbeat Magazine
Hristo – Referred by the media as one of the newest and most innovative voices in modern jazz guitar and voted “Rising Star on Guitar” by DownBeat Magazine, Hristo Vitchev’s music has been captivating audiences all across the globe. At age 42, he has already released ten critically-acclaimed albums as a leader, four releases as a co-leader and more than 230 books and studies on modern jazz guitar concepts.
“Vitchev’s sophisticated and adventurous work is imbued with shimmering harmonies and lyrical improvisations.” – JazzTimes
