Brent Follis Trio Winter Music Series featuring George Mitchell at Vino Veritas
We are very excited to announce the winter music series with Brent Follis and friends. For 6 weeks, Brent Follis, a Portland premier drummer will be teaming up with many of the legendary local pianists.
Raised on a farm in Southern Illinois, the first thing Brent Follis can remember is picking up a pair of wooden spoons, and tapping out rhythms on some old popcorn tins.
Since then, his journey has led him cross country and around the globe, performing music for thousands of people, while in search of inspiration and culture. After receiving his degree in Advertising and music performance from Southern Illinois University, he transplanted himself in the fertile soil of the Pacific Northwest. After receiving a call from a friend and musical writing partner on the East Coast, and needing to fulfill his yearning for diversity, culture, and thin crust pizza, he moved to New York City. After a decade of performing, traveling, and immersing himself deep within the trenches of NYC, he made the sojourn back to the Rose City, where he maintains a busy recording and performance schedule, and can be found backing up many talented singer-songwriters, jazz and pop artists.
George Mitchell along with the Diana Ross band were guest artists at the 2016 White House Holiday Concert for President Obama and family. He has played at every conceivable venue worldwide with Miss Ross’s ensemble. As band pianist, he performed with a 40-piece orchestra at the prestigious Symphonica in Rosso, at the Gelredome, Arnhem, Netherlands; at the 2008 Nobel Peace Prize ceremonies in Oslo, Norway; and at a 2002 command performance in Hyde Park, London, for England’s royal family. Not to mention private concerts for U.S. President Bill Clinton, So. African President Nelson Mandela, and Motown Founder Berry Gordy. Mitchell played piano at the famous Motown Records’ 25th Year Anniversary TV broadcast, at VH1 Divas Live in 2000, at Super Concerts in Tai Pei and Tokyo with renowned opera singers Jose Carreras and Placido Domingo; and got soaked but played on during thunderstorms at Miss Ross’ famous 1983 Live in Central Park mega concert before a massive crowd of 400,000 fans! More recently, Mitchell was guest keyboardist on Wicked: The Musical at the Keller Auditorium. He joined Miss Ross’ band numerous times on top-rated TV shows, including: Oprah, The Tonight Show, Late Night with David Letterman, the TODAY Show and others.
