Take 3

Mark Brewer, Take 3’s bassist, brings to the trio a veritable treasure trove of experience both as a touring professional in some of the most well-known bands in the country and as a much sought-out session musician. He has performed professionally for the past 40 years with artists such as: The Platters, Coasters, Ink Spots, Wild Cherry ( “Play That Funky Music”), Ace “Tuff” Cannon, Buck Owens, Dee Clark and Mel Skinner to name a few. His musical resume also includes session work at Stone Mountain Sound & Jam Studios in Atlanta and his 4-year stint with The Joe Lagano Band in Atlanta produced many records and albums that still appear on eBay and at record conventions to date. He is a versatile musician that has mastered drums, guitar and keyboards, and he arranges most all of Take 3’s musical productions as well. Mark is the consummate “musician’s musician”; that is, he is able to play effortlessly in all music genres with all different types of musicians. He is proficient in music theory and is able to translate those abilities into the different settings and styles of each musical performance

John Oliver, Take 3’s drummer extraordinaire, brings a wealth of professional experience and variety of musical influences to the ensemble. The son of a very successful sax/clarinet player (with a #1 local hit in the early sixties), he was carted around at a very early age to hear the likes of Woody Herman and his Thundering Herd, Buddy Rich and his Orchestra, and many, many local musicians at nightclubs that only exist now in memory (The Cain Break, Grundy’s, Brothers Music Hall, to name a few). Oliver has been grooming his chops since taking lessons over 40 years ago from none other than local drum legend Dale Serrano. Since then, he has played at virtually every local music venue, both with his own bands and with other local bands throughout the southeast. Oliver is the “quintessential” pocket drummer, never getting in the way of the other musicians and knowing instinctively when to “push” the groove up (or down) based on the mood and vibe of the room. He plays only vintage kits, especially important for recreating the nostalgic drum sounds of the greats such as Joe Morello, Louis Bellson and Gene Krupa.

Benton Robbins, Take 3’s Lead Guitarist, started learning his musical craft back in Junior High School. His musical background is extensive: he has played in several successful local and regional groups around central and north Alabama including: Juke Jumpers, Big Poppa, and other bands as an accomplished guitar frontman. His influences run the gamut, including such artists as Lightning Hopkins, Anson Funderburg, Ronnie Earl, Kenny Burrell and Wes Montgomery to name a very few. His choice of instruments? A Fender Telecaster and Fender Strat of course. His motivation to performing jazz and joining Take 3? It was a copy of Miles Davis’ recording of “Kind of Blue” that his uncle gave him many years ago. He is currently studying jazz guitar under the watchful eyes of local guitar virtuoso Scott Simpson, And, as his musician friend commented: “the effortless style and tone that Benton brings to a performance makes each song he plays, even if it’s a song that you’ve heard before on the radio, seem different, and sharp, and yes, musically intriguing”.