Host Dmae Roberts presents the founders of the popular Portland group, 3 Leg Torso, Bela Belogh & Courtney Von Drehle. The original ‘meester’ street performers have turned 3 Leg Torso into a world class eclectic band. They present pieces from their hit CD “Animals & Cannibals” and talk about their longtime collaboration that began in the 90s. How does a band endure? Find out with this fun chat with 3 Leg Torso!

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Courtney Von Drehle & Bela Balogh

Balogh (violin and trumpet) and Von Drehle (accordion) began as street musicians. They called their performances ‘Meestering’ and developed a unique style that mixed Argentine tango with Klezmer and Hungarian music.

Dmae profiled the band in 1999 for NPR’s All Things Considered.  Since that time, 3 Leg Torso has grown into a five-member ensemble. The group has composed music for two films by Academy Award-winning animator Joan Gratz. They’ve scored United Nations funded documentary about AIDS in Thailand. Von Drehle was awarded a fellowship at the Sundance Film Composers Lab. The band also been commissioned twice by the Portland Institute of Contemporary Art (PICA) to create new full-length works.

In his review of “Animals & Cannibals,”the Oregonian’s David Stabler wrote: “3 Leg stands out from other bands for a particular blend of soulful and driving beats enriched by harmony and humor…”

Listen to cuts and conversation with 3 Leg Torso and heck out their Fall schedule of concerts here!

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