Mr. B: Blues And Boogie Woogie Orchestra Pops Show
Featuring Boogie Woogie Piano Wizard Mr. B
and Symphony Orchestra
Blues and Boogie Woogie pianist Mr. B (aka Mark Lincoln Braun) and jazz string bassist/arranger Paul Keller are
old friends who have collaborated on many special musical projects over the past 20 years. However, their new
adventure into the realm of the Orchestral Pops world has been their greatest challenge
and is now their greatest achievement together.
Mr. B: Blues And Boogie Woogie Piano Goes To The Symphony is an unlikely, but delightfully entertaining
combination of two styles of music that seem to be at polar opposites of the musical spectrum.
The real fun comes in the mash-up of the mighty, barrelhouse, boogie woogie giant Mr. B and his stalwart
classical musical counterparts. On full display is Mr. B's incredible command of the piano and his historically
authentic renderings of down-home blues, stride piano and boogie woogie. String bassist and arranger Paul
Keller has created spectacular orchestra arrangements that bring together, in surprising, clever and fun ways, the
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best elements of Mr. B, his jazz band and the symphony orchestra.
Mr. B and his 5-piece jazz band join forces with the a Symphony Orchestra to romp through two energetic and
entertaining sets featuring new, original versions of familiar songs from the early days of jazz and blues (St. Louis
Blues and When The Saints Go Marching In), Boogie Woogie classics (Mardi Gras In New Orleans, Down The Road
A Piece and Cow Cow Boogie), and American popular music of the 1930s (Up A Lazy River and Everybody Loves
My Baby). Mr. B is a prodigious composer and a few of his excellent compositions (Hallelujah Train, My Sunday
Best, Deep Excavation and Little Brother) are included in this extraordinary and unique orchestral Pops
presentation.
The Mr. B jazz band includes Paul Keller on string bass, the incredible drummer Pete Siers from Ann Arbor, the
Dean of Detroit Jazz Saxophonists Steve Wood and the tremendous vocalist Nicole Heitger from Toledo, OH.
Mr. B, pianist, composer
Blues and Boogie Woogie Wizard Mr. B (aka Mark Lincoln Braun) has become one of the premiere purveyors of a
vanishing art. Having learned his craft first-hand from the early masters, he is a rare living link to the first
generation of blues and boogie pianists. Steeped in the rich legacy of this tremendously exciting music, Mr. B
learned directly from blues and boogie legends like Little Brother Montgomery, Boogie Woogie Red, and Blind
John Davis.
In demand for both educational programs and concert performances, he has performed coast to coast and
throughout Europe, Canada, Mexico, and South America. In 2002 he was a guest artist at the Irving S. Gilmore
International Keyboard Festival. He is also the organizer of the annual Mr. B’s Blues & Boogie Piano Celebration
that attracts major figures in the blues and jazz piano world to Ann Arbor for collaborative performances with
Mr. B.
Mark Lincoln Braun was born and raised in Flint, Michigan. He gravitated to Ann Arbor in the 70s where the Blind
Pig was an important venue for boogie and blues piano. While absorbing the tradition and developing his own
approach, Mr. B was also listening to a variety of jazz pianists, especially those with strong blues roots such as
Ray Bryant and Horace Silver. This broad range of interests enables him to feel equally at home playing boogie
woogie classics with authentic fervor, and expanding the tradition into lively new settings, including jazz
orchestra. Today he further promotes his art and breaks down stylistic barriers by frequently collaborating with
such world renowned mainstream jazz pianists as Monty Alexander, Henry Butler, Benny Green, Ray Bryant, Sir
Charles Thompson, and Junior Mance. He has appeared on numerous National Public Radio broadcasts, including
Great Lakes Performing Artist Associates
415 N. 4th Avenue
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734.665.4029
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Mountain Stage, Good Evening, Our Front Porch, The Flea Market, At the Bride, and All Things Considered.
Mr. B’s many critically acclaimed recordings also demonstrate his breadth and originality. His most recent, for
which Mr. B assembled nine noted Ann Arbor-area pianists and benefits youth in the arts and athletics, is 9
Pianists – Our Town, Our Time. Live at the Kerrytown Concert House shows the solo pianist playing original takes
on blues and boogie standards while Joybox features him stretching out on his own compositions supported by
bass and drums. With legendary jazz greats J. C. Heard and Marcus Belgrave, he recorded Partners in Time. His
recording of trios and duets (My Sunday Best) features the renowned be-bop drummer Roy Brooks. Mr. B’s
collaboration with the 15-piece Bird of Paradise Orchestra (Hallelujah Train) has produced an original and
explosive blend of boogie, blues, and big band jazz. Most recently he has collaborated in the studio with some of
today’s premiere blues artists, including John Hammond (Found True Love), Duke Robillard (Dangerous Place),
and Big Bill Morganfield (Ramblin Mind) among many others.
Today there are not many devoted to playing boogie and blues piano. Fortunately, Mr. B’ s passion for
showcasing and extending the tradition makes him a major exponent of an essential form of American music. As
noted by Jazz News International, “ the future of blues piano is in good hands with Mr. B.”
Paul Keller
jazz string bassist and arranger of the orchestra music
Michigan Jazz Hero, string bassist, composer, band leader and educator Paul Keller has earned the nick-name
"House Bassist For The State Of Michigan" because of the many miles he logs every year traveling to jazz
performances across the state. Mr. Keller also travels the world performing with a myriad of jazz giants including
Diana Krall, Jeff Hamilton, Benny Green, Bucky Pizzarelli, Stanley Jordan, and Scott Hamilton.
Since 1989, the 15-piece Paul Keller Orchestra has played every Monday night in Ann Arbor. The PKO’s home
base is Zal Gaz Grotto, 2070 W. Stadium Boulevard. Over the years, the PKO's Jazz Student Outreach Program has
made a positive impact on the lives of thousands of middle school, high school and college musicians. Keller
conducts clinics and workshops with high school jazz bands throughout Michigan. His exuberance and joy for
music making translates quickly to students who enjoy experiencing the thrill of being in Paul's orbit.
Among Paul's most recent jazz adventures were performances in Taiwan at the Taipei Jazz Festival with the
Taipei Jazz Orchestra playing Keller's big band arrangements, 30-day tour of Australia with jazz-superstar Diana
Krall which included 4 sold-out shows at the famous Sydney Opera House and a sold-out concert at Carnegie Hall
in NYC with clarinetist Dave Bennett and the New York Pops playing all Keller's orchestra arrangements.
Great Lakes Performing Artist Associates
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Pete Siers - Drummer
Pete Siers is soft-spoken and unassuming. But put him behind a drum set, and a hard-swinging, intensely
physical, dynamically sensitive musician emerges. Pete makes every band he plays with sound better! He always
put the groove and the group first. Paul Keller and Pete Siers have been musical teammates for over 30 years!
Siers has played with jazz luminaries such as Russell Malone, Mulgrew Miller, Marian McPartland, Lee Konitz,
Benny Golson, James Moody, Kenny Werner, David “Fathead” Newman and many others. In addition to having
played on over 50 recordings, Siers recently played Carnegie Hall, has toured Europe several times, and continues
to perform orchestral pops shows with Dave Bennett’s Salute to Benny Goodman. In addition to his performance
and recording career, Pete has taught percussion and jazz drumming for over 25 years privately and at Emory
University, the University of Michigan and Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp.
Steve Wood – Tenor Saxophonist
Steve Wood is affectionately known as The Dean of Detroit Jazz tenor saxophonists. With every note Steve plays,
he pays tribute to his saxophone heroes Lester Young, Dexter Gordon, Coleman Hawkins and Sonny Rollins. Steve
Wood is a graduate of the Oakland University Jazz Program where he studied under the direction of Marvin
“Doc” Holiday. Steve is a member of the Paul Keller Orchestra performing every Monday with Keller at Zal Gaz
Grotto. In addition to his busy performing schedule, Steve carries a full load of private students who adore him.
Steve has two CDs as a leader Deep Woods and Unanswerable Questions
Nicole Heitger – Vocalist
Nicole comes from Jazz Royalty! She was raised on traditional jazz by her father, virtuoso jazz clarinetist Ray
Heitger. For over 40 year’s Ray has led Toledo’s famous and beloved Cakewalkin' Jass Band. Nicole began singing
with the CJB when she was sixteen years old - performing at concerts, clubs and festivals. Nicole has also
performed with the Toledo contemporary swing band Satin and Brass, Ann Arbor’s Easy Street Jazz Band, and
New Orleans Party Asylum. Drawing on inspiration from Bessie Smith, Billie Holiday and Jane Monheit, Ms.
Heitger performs the great classics of jazz and delivers them with own her powerful and personal, blues-tinged
style.
Great Lakes Performing Artist Associates
415 N. 4th Avenue
Ann Arbor, MI 48104
734.665.4029
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