Stage Plot - 6 Piece
Born into a family of musicians, and raised in Little Rock, AR, Brian Mesko began piano lessons at age 8, moving to guitar at age 10. By 12 he was playing drums, and he picked up the bass at age 14. Early prog rock influences such as ELP and Jethro Tull, led Brian to fusion and jazz, developing a passion for emulating artists like John McLaughlin, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, and Wes Montgomery.
As a teen Brian was gigging professionally, and even played drums on a short tour in Turkey at age 18. While still in high school he studied Jazz Theory & Ensemble at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock (UALR) under Michael Carenbauer (who studied under Pat Metheny at Berklee). Taking these credits on to Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU,) Brian completed a bachelor’s degree in Recording Industry.
Mesko lived in the Nashville area from 1997 – 2005 and played with such international jazz greats as Les McCann, Tony Monaco, Dr. Lonnie Smith, John Jorgensen and Jeff Coffin. He also worked with Roland Gresham, Sam Brooker, Greg Bryant, Chris West, Moe Denham, Nioshi Jackson, Charles Treadway and many more.
After moving to central Virginia in 2005, Brian has been privileged to work with such jazz artists as Robert Jospe, Butch Taylor, Dane Alderson, John D’earth, Bobby Read, Charles Owens, Jonah Kane-West, Liz Barnes, Steve Kessler and many more. He has played guitar in Green Earrings - the Steely Dan Experience, The Nicholson Brothers, and has shared the stage with blues legends Bob Margolin, Mud Morganfield Jr., Big Bill Morganfield Jr., as well as Wayne Newton, Michael Allman, Groove Collective, and the DJ Williams Projekt.
In 2011, Brian helped form The Rootdowns organ trio with organist Brian Mahne and drummer Dusty Simmons, a Richmond-based dream team from such groups as DJ Williams Projekt, The Big Payback, Skydog and more. Adding saxophonist Marcus Tenney (of Butcher Brown), they released their all-original debut album "Songs With Friends" in 2013. Continuing to focus on original compositions, in 2015 Mesko started The Danktet, an instrumental trio creating a unique blend of jazz, funk, rock, pop, reggae, blues, and R&B. With Australian native Dane Alderson of the Yellow Jackets on bass, and multi-instrumentalist/visual artist Forrest Young on drums, they released their first album "One Thing Right" in 2016.
Brian is also part of many local projects, playing guitar and/or bass with the Robert Jospe Express, Lenny Marcus, Terry Brown Ascension Project, The Ambassador, Mojo Parker, Melissa and the Growlers, The Meskos Electric Revue, Jstop Latin Soul, Andrew Winn (Agents of Good Roots), and Steve Kessler.
Brian currently resides with his wife and son in Roanoke, VA working as a performer, private instructor, session player, and guitar professor/ensemble director at the University of Lynchburg. For more information check www.brianmesko.com