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Brian Ho

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 in bands professionally and started teaching piano. 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.

One of the most influential experiences he had was playing for an African American Baptist Church for several years as a young teenager. This is where he first forged his love affair with the Hammond Organ. Brian now performs almost exclusively as a Hammond Organ player. He solos and comps with his right hand while his left hand and feet play organ bass in the same tradition as his organ idols, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Shirley Scott, and of course, Jimmy Smith.

In early 2012, Brian released his first full CD release entitled “Organic” which features guitarist Calvin Keys (Ray Charles, Ahmad Jamal), Lorca Hart, and Oscar Pangilinan. The CD features several of Brian’s original compositions along with a few choice covers and standards that he has arranged. The album debuted at #11 on the CMJ Jazz Charts. It spent 8 weeks on the CMJ jazz charts with 4 weeks in the top 20. During that time, the Jazz Week charts were down but when it went back up on June 4th, it charted in it’s first week. The CD is available on ITunes, Amazon, and CD Baby.

Pete Fallico (KCSM 91.1, Doodlin Records) writes, “the whole package offers such a refreshing palate of organ combo grooves and sonic delights.”

Andrew Gilbert (Jazz Times, San Jose Mercury News) writes, “Organic is an impressive debut.”

Brian newest album, Bridges, features Paul Bollenback and Byron “Wookie” Landham (2/3’rds of Joey Defrancesco’s original trio) which will be released on Cellar Records on July 16th, 2024. The lead single, Yearnin’ For Your Love, is out now.

Pat Bianchi writes, “Fans will surely love every moment of Bridges!”


Brian is fortunate to play and record with some of the finest musicians including Azar Lawrence, Billy Hart, Gary Bartz, Richie Cole, Calvin Keys, Akira Tana, Mimi Fox, Josh Jones, Leon Joyce, Anton Schwartz, Dave Ellis, Melicio Magdaluyo, Annie Sellick, Christian Tamburr, Chuck McPherson, Bob Kenmotsu, Tony Peebles, Terrence Brewer, Lorca Hart, Clifford Brown III, Rick Vandavier, Wally Schnalle, Oscar Pangilinan, Nicholas Bearde, Jason Lewis, Jack Riordan, Joe De Rose, Randy Vincent, Mason Razavi, Mike Scott, Jim Witzel, Ken Okada, and many more.

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3
Album Review

Brian Ho: Bridges

Read "Bridges" reviewed by Pierre Giroux


Bridges is a showcase of the Hammond B3 organ's soulful capabilities as performed by the San Francisco Bay area's stellar organist Brian Ho. Accompanied by the rhythm section of the deft guitarist Paul Bollenback and the dynamic drummer Byron Landham, both of whom were members of the late Joey DeFrancesco's trio for over twenty years, this album is a journey through a thoughtfully curated selection of songs blending Ho's original numbers with jazz standards and popular tunes. The ...

5
Radio & Podcasts

Dr. Lonnie Smith, Dave Liebman, Jill Barber & Brian Ho

Read "Dr. Lonnie Smith, Dave Liebman, Jill Barber & Brian Ho" reviewed by Joe Dimino


From Bay Area-based Hammond-B-3er we begin the 867th Episode of Neon Jazz with Brian Ho and music from his 2024 release Bridges. From there, we hear from his hero Dr. Lonnie Smith. We also hear from Olivia Foschi, John Lamkin and Jill Baber. We close out the show with the Dave Liebman and the CNY Jazz Orchestra. Dig the jazz, my friends. Playlist Brian Ho “Yearnin' for Your Love" Bridges (Cellar Live) 0:00 Host talks 5:31 Dr. Lonnie ...

33
Album Review

Mimi Fox: One for Wes

Read "One for Wes" reviewed by Jack Bowers


To mark the hundredth anniversary of the great Wes Montgomery's birth in March 1923, guitarist Mimi Fox has recorded One for Wes, an earnest tribute that consists of eight Montgomery-inspired tunes adeptly performed by Fox's San Francisco Bay-area organ trio with Brian Ho on Hammond B3 and Lorca Hart on drums. As one might expect, there is a lot of blues, emotion and reverence in play, none of which detracts from the trio's admirable consonance and artistry. ...

33
Album Review

Jim Witzel Trio & Quartet: Feelin' It

Read "Feelin' It" reviewed by Jack Bowers


Feelin' It, guitarist Jim Witzel's second album as leader, features his trio (Brian Ho, Hammond B3 organ; Jason Lewis, drums) on five of eight numbers, with tenor saxophonist Dann Zinn added on a trio of Witzel's original compositions. Although Witzel has recorded only twice in the past thirty years, that is basically because his successful career as an educator and in- demand sideman and leader has kept him from returning to the studio. As Witzel shows on ...

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72

Recording

Brian Ho hits all cylinders with Hammond B3 Organ on new CD

Source: Lauren Rogers

There is electricity in the air. On Organic, the latest album from Brian Ho, the music is energetic enough to generate a thunderous charge; Ho and his bandmates sizzle with force and precision. When a group is hitting all cylinders such as this, all that one can do is sit back and watch the fireworks. Prepare to be shocked and awed. A collection of Ho's original material as well as a few covers, Organic is remarkably consistent; whether performing his ...

Brian Ho, rising jazz star. These days, Ho is one of the region’s most promising young jazz organists. “Organic” features several infectiously grooving pieces by Ho, such as the Latin-tinged opener “Tres Ritmo” and the bossa nova-powered “Artful Dodger.” He also explores Horace Silver’s jukebox hit “Song for My Father,” Duke Ellington’s classic ballad “In a Sentimental Mood” and Amy Winehouse’s breakthrough “Rehab.” “Brian is an excellent organist, and he’s going to get better,” says Calvin Keys.” – KQED, Andrew Gilbert – March 19th, 2012

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Tony Monaco
organ, Hammond B3
Jimmy Smith
organ, Hammond B3
Joey DeFrancesco
organ, Hammond B3
Larry Goldings
organ, Hammond B3
Jared Gold
organ, Hammond B3
Pat Bianchi
organ, Hammond B3

Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Bridges

Cellar Music Group
2024

buy

One for Wes

Origin Records
2023

buy

Feelin' It

Self Produced
2022

buy

Organic

B2B Music
2012

buy

Mr. White's Blues

From: One for Wes
By Brian Ho

Videos

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