Mr. B and The Band
Mr. B
(Mark Lincoln Braun)
Blues and boogie-woogie pianist 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. Bʼs Blues and 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 “Mountain Stage,” “Good Evening,” “Our Front Porch,” “The Flea Market,” “At the Bride,” and “All Things Considered.”
Mr. Bʼs 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. Bʼs 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 todayʼs premiere blues artists, including John Hammond (“Found True Love”), Duke Robillard (“Dangerous Place”), and Big Bill Morganfield (“Ramblinʼ Mind”) among many others. Today there are not many devoted to playing boogie and blues piano. Fortunately, Mr. Bʼs 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.”
GREAT LAKES PERFORMING ARTIST ASSOCIATES
1100 N. Main St., Ste. 207, Ann Arbor, MI 48104 • 734/665-4029 • info@greatlakespaa.org
Updated Jun-09
Discography
- Live at the Kerrytown Concert House (Joybox Records 019) 2002
- Joybox (Joybox Records 018) 1998
- Hallelujah Train (School Kids Records 1527) 1995
- Blue Ivory (Blind Pig 4591) 1991 compilation with Roosevelt Sykes, Henry Gray & Boogie Woogie Red
- My Sunday Best (School Kids Records 1501) 1991
- Partners in Time (Blind Pig 2988) 1988
- Shining the Pearls (Blind Pig 1886) 1986
- Detroit Special (Oldie Blues 8010) 1985—import
- B’s Bounce (Boo Kay 0200) 1984
Brian Delaney, guitar
Brian was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan and studied classical piano at an early age. At age 12, he took up guitar and has been playing ever since. To the surprise and amazement of his parents, he began building and selling electric guitars at the ripe old age of 13. Brian's curiosity and love for the guitar has led him all over the world, working as a tech with various acts and playing a variety of styles of music on the instrument.
Along the way, he discovered the music of Django Reinhart and the Hot Club of France which led to the formation in the late '90's of the gypsy-style jazz trio, Summers, Delaney & Sharp. After SDS, Brian asked Mike Karoub and Tom Bogardus to join him in the Royal Garden Trio. Brian finds inspiration in the likes of guitar pioneers Eddie Lang, Carl Kress and other musicians from the dawn of jazz guitar. Brian lives in Ann Arbor with wife Meg and his cat, Harold.
In the summer of 2009, Brian took the position of guitar slinger for The Bluescasters while continuing to gig with RGT. Blues and jazz? Don't get much better than that, folks.
Pete Siers, percussion
Pete Siers is soft-spoken and unassuming--but put him behind a drum set, and a hard-swinging, intensely physical, dynamically sensitive drummer emerges. When Pete plays, “straight-ahead, readily apparent musical joy” can be expected, according to the Southeastern Michigan Jazz Association.
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, Scott Hamilton, 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 trumpeter Marcus Belgrave’s Louis Armstrong Tribute and 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 to name a few.
The ultimate goal for his Latin quintet, Los Gatos, is to experience first-hand the roots of Afro-Cuban rhythm in its place of origin, Cuba, and to study with the masters. The Pete Siers Quartet, including two tenor saxophones and organ, will release a new CD in 2009. Pete also plans to record a tribute to legendary drummer Gene Krupa with piano and tenor saxophone. Pete resides in Ann Arbor, Michigan, with his wife, Stephanie Hale, and their two children, Charlie and Neva.
Carl Hildebrandt, bass 
As a pediatrician for the last 20 years, string bassist Carl Hildebrandt brings to the Joybox Express a unique perspective on the needs of children.
Himself the son of a pediatrician in a musical family, Hildebrandt built a burgeoning career as a bassist/bike racer in Ann Arbor during the mid-1970’s. He cut his musical teeth with the Silvertones, the legendary Ann Arbor blues/rockabilly/swing quartet, as well as becoming one of the region’s premier hill climbers as a category II road racer with the Schwinn Wolverine Sports Club. After receiving his MD in Ann Arbor in 1986, Carl moved to Pittsburgh PA to complete his pediatric residency at the renowned Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh.
East Side Pediatrics is Carl Hildebrandt’s solo pediatric practice in Pittsburgh. He enjoys the region’s many rails-to-trails bike paths with his wife and three kids. He continues to study classical bass technique and is a regular in Pittsburgh’s vibrant music scene.
