Portland-based Tony Coleman, one of the most revered blues drummers in the world today, during his illustrious career has toured the world with Otis Clay, Bobby Blue Bland, Johnnie Taylor, Albert King, Albert Collins, Etta James, Freddie King, James Cotton, Katie Webster, Z.Z. Hill, O.V. Wright, Buddy Guy, and BB King, with whom he performed and recorded for 29 years until BB’s death in 2015.
Coleman has assembled an all-star grouping of Portland musicians to pay tribute to three of his mentors and former bosses, the pioneering blues guitarists BB King, Albert King and Freddie King, whose iconic guitar work has profoundly influenced virtually every rock and blues guitarist of the past six decades. Coleman is one of the very few musicians alive to have toured and/or recorded with all three of these legendary bluesmen.
Joining Coleman on this tribute is an impressive lineup of the region’s blues all-stars. Contributing Three-Kings-inspired guitar work will be Mike Osborn (longtime guitarist with John Lee Hooker) and Peter Dammann (Paul deLay, Linda Hornbuckle, Solomon Burke). Louis Pain is featured on organ (Paul deLay, Mel Brown, Linda Hornbuckle), and John Mazzocco on bass (John Lee Hooker, Paul deLay, Curtis Salgado). Leading the tight horn section is British expatriate saxophonist, Chris Mercer, who in addition to his work with John Mayall, Billy Ocean, Bryan Ferry and Dr. John, toured with Freddie King and recorded on some of the Texas guitarist’s seminal hits of the 1970s. And on trumpet, Joe McCarthy (an early member of Robert Cray Band)
Notes on Seating: Jack London provides two options. Reserved Seating is purchased on a table-by-table basis in the central part of the venue and is only available for select shows. Seating in the General Admission section is limited, first come first served, and may be standing room only.