Béla Balogh, the son of a touring Hungarian concert violinist and symphony conductor and grandson of the leader of a Hungarian Gypsy ensemble, has been playing the violin since he was four.  He also plays trumpet.  Courtney Von Drehle plays the accordion.  In 1996, the two co-founded 3 Leg Torso.

          The unique sound they created is now enhanced by the addition of two percussionist/mallet players, Gary Irvine and T. J. Arko, and an acoustic bass, Mike Murphy.

         From its humble beginnings in local street performances, this unlikely combination has risen to complete successful concert tours on both coasts, three award-winning instrumental albums, a profile on NPR’s “All Things Considered,” and extensive work with movie and television studios.

         Drawing inspiration from tango, Eastern European folk and other world  traditions, 3 Leg Torso’s cosmopolitan music is known for its display of wit and humor while retaining its commitment to the tenet that music should be laced with sublime and uncommon beauty.

         Perhaps most amazingly, the group has found a way to integrate its original sound with the instrumentation of the 19th Century masters. It has, in fact, developed a full concert set of arrangements for symphony orchestra. Their success may be measured by the fact that their performances with the Central Oregon Symphony, Pacific Crest Wind Symphony, Portland Festival Symphony, and the Metropolitan Youth Symphony were all sold out.

         Here is some of the praise they have received:

         “Astonishing musicianship, timeless yet wholly original song craft.  3 Leg Torso is a unique American treasure’' —Steve Berlin, Los Lobos 

         "I love 3 Leg Torso, it blows the top off my head!" —Teller, of Penn & Teller

         "3 Leg Torso makes the greatest music you could ever put in a movie” —Morgan Spurlock, Director, SuperSize Me

         "They have one foot in Eastern Europe and one foot in the Pacific Northwest.  Then there's that third foot.. —Victoria Frey, executive director, Portland Institute for Contemporary Art 

         "A band of great whimsey, wonderful to watch.” —Joan Gratz, Academy Award winning filmmaker

The seven pieces selected for this evening’s concert are:

Astor in Paris by Courtney von Drehle. Informed by the compelling music of  the Argentinian Nuevo Tango composer and bandoneonist Astor Piazzolla. The Bandoneon, like the accordion, is a member of the family of instruments known as keyed free reed brass aerophones. We hear the accordion used in the charming French Musette music and the bandoneon in the passionate tango pieces. The composer tries to marry the two styles in this piece.

Frailach Fun Der Chupa arr. 3 Leg Torso. A traditional Klezmer piece often performed at weddings which translates as : Dance under the Chupa.

Frog…. Secret Agent by Bela Balogh. Inspired by film composer Henry Mancini, this piece  employs various percussion instruments to tell a story about a frog who is on a spy mission.

Counterpoint by Courtney von Drehle. Built on the premise of developing a simple mournful melodic phrase and slowly adding density and complexity while the harmonic cycle repeats, much in the manner that Pachelbel's canon develops. 

Baym Rebyn in Palestina arr. 3 Leg Torso. A traditional Israeli piece often used in celebratory events

The Life and Times and Good Deeds of Saint Penguin by Bela Balogh. A song that was inspired by watching penguins waddling along the ice, and also an autobiographical piece about Béla trying to follow in the footsteps of Earnest Shackleton.

Sinfonia Misterioso by Bela Balogh and Courtney von Drehle. This piece was 3 Leg Torso's first commissioned orchestral work. Influences are from Balkan horn bands.