Béla Balogh, Violin-trumpet
Courtney Von Drehle, Accordion
Michael Papillo, Double Bass
Gary Irvine, Mallets, drum kit, various percussion
TJ Arko, Mallets, drum kit, various percussion
The Band:
3 Leg Torso formed in 1996 as violin, cello and accordion trio with the mission of creating original modern chamber music for their unique instrumentation. Over the following years the band has expanded both its musical mission and its size to become a quintet that now performs its eclectic synthesis of chamber music, tango, klezmer, latin and world music. As principal composers, founding members Béla Balogh (on violin and trumpet) and Courtney Von Drehle (on accordion) provide the core of 3 Leg Torso’s sound. They are joined by veteran percussionist/mallet player Gary Irvine, the fastidious mallets/percussion of T.J. Arko and the fiery upright bass player Michael Papillo.
The bands history began with street performances, which they titled "Meestering", and has led to their releasing two CDs (3 Leg Torso and Astor in Paris), East Coast and West Coast tours, performances with symphony orchestras and a profile on National Public Radio’s "All Things Considered" . The cinematic nature of their music has made it a natural for them to work with many independent film makers. These collaborations have included scoring The Dowager's Feast and The Dowager's Idyll, two films by Academy Award winning animator Joan Gratz; scoring With Hope and Help, a United Nations funded documentary on AIDS in Thailand; the piece Divertissments for Performing Bears being used as theme music for a Bosnian television series. In 2003, Von Drehle was awarded a Fellowship at the Sundance Film Composers Lab. Twice the band has been commissioned by the Portland Institute of Contemporary Art to create new evening length works, most recently involving a collaboration with David Greenberger, the originator of The Duplex Planet.
Watch Teller's zombie movie that includes 3 Leg Torso's tune "Elliot's Dream" below. Also -- note the stylish 3 Leg Torso shirt Teller is wearing while he kills zombies! & Teller ..
Howdy, You guys are Frontiers Men of Music! Hey, do you remember that funky place called The Oregon Grinder that used to be off 82nd Ave? Loved those Charlie Chaplin movies and the Craziest instrument ever built I swear! Good times....
Hi! Thanks for listening to my music and adding me :) If you are interested, you can find out how to get my EP's on my profile. It would be great to see you at a show sometime!
Hey, thanks! You were highly recommended by a friend... I'm so glad to have come across your music. I'll definitely see you guys at your/my shows around PDX sometime. Take care, Becca
heck yeah - it sure is ... and we're coming out in force to rock out with you ... one of these days ... soon ... for reals ... and there's six of us so that is at least 1/10th of the space in many venues! Course, not ones that you are playing at ... but maybe we'll bring dates too ... but that isn't coming out of the band fund!
hey guys - you are without a doubt the raddest band in Portland right now in our humble opinions. next time we all have our schedules in sync we're gonna use our band fund to check you out! heck yeah!
oh yeeeeeeeahhhhh...it was amazing!!! My mom loves you guys..so do I! And Pink Martini....oh boy, they are great too!!! that was the first time in my life I've heard them! And I fell in love with them! ....can't wait to see and hear you guys play more! Have a great day!
hi guys. bela karoli is coming to portland, and we wanted to invite you to our show. we're playing on sunday, june 8th at the towne lounge. around 10. hope you can come.
Hey everyone. the word BROWN wants to thank all of our new friends. We don't make a habit of sending out mass comments but we just want to welcome all the newcomers. Our debut album is being mastered as we speak and will be released this summer. Thanks again. Nate
