“Brian Ho is a young jazz organist from the Bay Area who possesses a great deal of love and energy for the music we call ‘jazz organ’. From the first moment I heard him, I knew he was going to make a name for himself in this genre. He has his feet planted firmly in the tradition of jazz organ but he also seems to be moving forward in his own way; etching-out a position for himself in the music world.” – Pete Fallico, KCSM
Brian Ho, rising jazz star. These days, Ho is one of the region’s most promising young jazz organists. “Organic” features several infectiously grooving pieces by Ho, such as the Latin-tinged opener “Tres Ritmo” and the bossa nova-powered “Artful Dodger.” He also explores Horace Silver’s jukebox hit “Song for My Father,” Duke Ellington’s classic ballad “In a Sentimental Mood” and Amy Winehouse’s breakthrough “Rehab.” “Brian is an excellent organist, and he’s going to get better,” says Calvin Keys.” – KQED, Andrew Gilbert – March 19th, 2012
“Brian Ho is a Bay Area organist that I’m really digging these days. He sounds good, doing some cool stuff, and he’s keeping the tradition alive”
Joey Defrancesco
“Brian Ho hits on all cylinders with Hammond B3 organ on new cd (Organic)” – Lauren Rodgers, All About Jazz
“On Jim Witzel’s album, Feelin it – “Ho shines on “If Ever I Will Leave You” as he does throughout, soloing assertively but remaining agreeably subdued whenever Witzel or Zinn have the spotlight.” – Jack Bowers, – All About Jazz– 2023
“The Bay Area is one of the power centers for B-3 activity, from young turks Brian Ho in Sunnyvale and Blades in Berkeley” – San Jose Mercury News, Richard Scheinin – February 3, 2014
“Considering that the Hammond Organ Company built the last B-3 organ some four decades ago, the unwieldy-but-sweet-sounding instrument is enjoying something of a moment in the Bay Area’s jazz scene…One reason the B-3 is flourishing in the Bay Area is KCSM DJ and Doodlin’ Lounge host Pete Fallico, a tireless champion of the instrument. Fallico produced Carn’s recent album, and has made a point of presenting concerts featuring established masters and supporting younger players, like Brian Ho.” – KQED, Andrew Gilbert – July 12th, 2016
“In connecting with Dan Wilson about 6 years ago at Yoshis, Ho benefited from the grapevine. Ever since the guitarist started touring with Defrancesco, he’d been talking up Ho, “saying he can really play,” Wilson recalled.”
Andrew Gilbert, San Jose Mercury News, 2023
“The Mimi Fox Organ Trio is made up of three fantastic and swinging musicians: drummer Lorca Hart, organist Brian Ho (who needs to record a lot more than he does), and, of course, guitarist Mimi Fox” – Paul Abella, WDCB (Chicago)– 2023
“Fox is a virtuosic guitarist, at home no matter the mood or tempo; equally important, she works snugly with Ho and Hart, perhaps owing in part to her past alliances with Joey DeFrancesco and Barbara Dennerlein, among others. Whatever the reason, Fox and her mates are simpatico on every number, and One for Wes is a special tribute to a special musician who left us far too soon. a lot more than he does), and, of course, guitarist Mimi Fox” – Jack Bowers, All About Jazz– May 15th, 2013
MVP honors have to go to guitarist Calvin Keys, who accounts for much of the CD’s emotional range. One minute he’s laying down the funk like nobody’s business, on the sprightly Ho original “Beat Street.” The next, he’s striking a lyric, introspective tone on a charming run through Horace Silver’s “Song for My Father.” As for the cover of Amy Winehouse’s “Rehab” — who knew there was a sturdy tune underneath all the emotional baggage?” – Bay Area Jazz Examiner, David Becker – May 15th, 2012
“Ho, pedaling right on the money with each note of his bass lines, colored each song with choice chords and lively solos that sometimes waterfalled in flight-of-the-bumblebee-esque runs down the organ…the concert’s pyrotechnics was most exemplary with their last tune, “Tres Ritmo,” actually pulled from Ho’s 2011 release, Organic. In the first wave of soloists were Ho and Keys, Ho a master of his own song with wailing bop-blues shapes in the upper reaches of his organ and Keys an acrobat in his brilliantly angular and arpeggio-powered lyricism.” – Review on the Calvin Keys Quartet @ Stanford Jazz 2013 by Tyler Brooks – August 6th, 2013
Brian on the passing of Joey Defrancesco, “Joey always joked that we were his disciples, and we really were,” said 45-year-old organist Brian Ho. “If you’re part of the jazz organ idiom, at some point you study what he did….He was always very encouraging, too. He was checking out the new players and wanting to hear what they were doing,” Ho continued. “Joey had a show [on Sirius XM Satellite Radio’s Real Jazz Channel] called Organized where he would feature organists. And, he would always play albums from young or undiscovered players.” – Yoshi Kato, Downbeat, 2023
Brian Ho is without a doubt one of the finest young organ phenoms to be working today. If an organ “trio” (despite this being a 4tet ) is what trips your musical trigger then Brian Ho and Organic is an absolute must.”
Critical Jazz– April 12th, 2012
“He’s learning, he’s going to get better too, so I been helping him as much as I can,” said the 70-year old guitarist, Calvin Keys, of his new keyboard accompanist. “That’s what we gotta do, we got to pass it on to these youngsters. He gives me a lot of respect, and I love him and work with him as much as I can”…Keys plays on Ho’s CD of last year, “Organic” – Calvin Keys Organ Quartet with Brian Ho at Healdsburg Jazz Festival– May 31st, 2012
“Baird launched the group last year with rising San Jose B-3 organist Brian Ho (who can often be found working with Oakland guitar master Calvin Keys) and Portland-based guitarist René Planchon, with whom he started playing in high school. They’re often joined by saxophonist Tony Peebles, a mainstay in the Grammy Award-winning Pacific Mambo Orchestra…when Baird mentioned he was interested in starting an organ-based band Peebles told him to check out a group playing at the DoubleTree in the Berkeley Marina (where drummer Josh Jones now holds down a regular Saturday gig). “I got to sit in and play with Brian,” Baird says, “and I knew I’d found my guy.”” – Berkeley Side, Andrew