Laid back Funk with Rock & Jazz overtones
MEET MUMBLEFINGER
​Singer/songwriter, Story Teller, Humorist MUMBLEFINGER (aka Brian Birkes), is the vocal & guitar guy. He began playing guitar and writing songs at the age of 12. As an adult, he kicked around New York, San Diego, San Francisco, & Nashville perfecting his unique tone and talent.
Mumblefinger has released many CDs independently & his songs have been showcased on the nationally syndicated House OF Blues Radio, NPR & other radio stations in the U.S., Germany, & Brazil. He has also had his song/video, Exactly Like You, played on CMT (Country Music Television).
Legendary Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section member and record producer, Barry Beckett (who also produced or played with Aretha Franklin, Bob Dylan, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Elton John, Bob Seger) and Mumblefinger collaborated on a stellar CD – The Beckett Sessions.
Mumble has shared the bill with such greats as John Lee Hooker, Leon Russell, Average White Band, and Norton Buffalo (Doobie Brothers, Steve Miller Band).
Mumblefinger’s original songs vary from Funk to Jazz to Blues/Soul to Country to Reggae all with a Rock-n-Roll Flavor. Style is similar to, but not a clone of, Leon Russell, Joe Cocker, Dr. John, Robin Trower, The Subdudes, and JJ Cale.
MEET THE BAND
MUMBLE n' BRUCE
Mumble n' Bruce's laid back jazzy funky style is a great choice for any upscale venue HEAR SAMPLES
BRUCE CALIN on STAND-UP BASS, was a long-time band member on A PRAIRIE HOME COMPANION with Garrison Keillor, and is a member of the CALIFORNIA NORTHSTATE SYMPHONY.
PATRICK WISEMAN on DRUMS, formally a GROOVE PALOOKA with the late-great SLAM BUCKRA, is well known in the north state to be the area's best & most versatile drummer. Patrick also sits in with Alison and Victor
Sage Mitchell on BASS is a top-shelf musician known for his guitar expertise, but is using his bass talent playing with/for Mumblefinger. He is faculty member of Simpson University where he directs jazz band, and their guitar program. A native of Vancouver, WA, Sage is an active performer and educator in the greater Red Bluff area. He holds an award for first place in the 2016 Concerto Competition which resulted in 3 back-to-back concerts with the Shasta Symphony.Sage holds a BA in Music from CSU Chico, w here he studied with Tobin Roye MM, and Warren Haskell MM. Sage has participated in masterclasses with several internationally known guitarists such as David Tanenbaum, Tengyue Zhang, Gohar Vardanyan, and Xavier Jara.
Sage has focused most of his musical career on classical guitar, but as many guitarists, he grew up playing rock’n’roll, blues, and jazz. In addition to his versatile stylistic abilities, Sage has also devoted many years to piano, an instrument he loves dearly.
ON THE ROAD and/or RECORDING
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CHUCK BLACKWELL (Leon Russell, Taj Mahal, Freddie King)
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STEVE EVENS (Chris Cain, Elvin Bishop, Roy Rogers, Coco Montoya)
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DAVID TUCKER (Tommy Castro, Maria Muldaur, Sista Monica Parker)
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PETER BOORAS (Chris Cain, Jerry Garcia Band)
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ENDRE TARCZY (Robben Ford, Chris Cain, Coco Montoya)