In 2010, three San Francisco Bay Area musicians decided to create a rhythm section devoted to their own compositions and standards. After recording its studio demo in 2010, the trio — dubbed 3BE for its members Belasco, Bennett and Berthiaume — began performing publicly. Their recent CD, “Three Musicians”, was released under “The Bill Belasco Trio” name.

BILL BELASCO started drumming at the age of 3 and went on the road with “The Graduates”, a brass rock band, at the age of 17. In 1974 Bill finally settled in the Bay Area. He played drums in the Pickle Family Circus band for fifteen years, and studied with drummers George Marsh and Tony Williams along the way. Today, Bill is a widely respected drummer on the San Francisco music scene. He played for stretches with pianist/vocalist Sharman Duran’s trio and with bassist Mario Suraci, and currently freelances with Faye Carol and Tony Lindsey and The Moodswing Orchestra. Bill studied timbales with Louie Romero and Afro-Cuban theory with Michael Spiro; has played with The Kenny Dorham Project at Yoshi’s, with arrangements by trombonist Jules Rowell; and is involved in projects with Paula Harris, Betty Roi, and Jim Passard, as well as his ongoing association with Chuck Bennett and Denny Berthiaume in this and the 3Be Trio.

CHUCK BENNETT, acoustic bass, has toured with Louis Bellson, the Beach Boys, and Maynard Ferguson. In California, he has played with Tom Scott and Art Pepper. He has extensive recording experience in Los Angeles and San Francisco for films, commercials, live theatre, and live radio. He is an accomplished bass trombonist with the Contemporary Jazz Orchestra.

DENNY BERTHIAUME, piano, grew up outside Washington D.C. and Chicago. He is the only non-California native in the group although San Francisco is his home. He has performed with Bobby McFerrin, Diane Schuur, and Ed Thigpen. He recorded 4 albums as co-leader of the successful fusion group Solar Plexus. He has appeared at the Monterey Jazz Festival, Russian River Jazz Festival, San Jose Jazz Festival, and San Miguel de Allende International Jazz Festival. He is a retired professor in literature and music at Foothill College in Los Altos, California, and a published playwright.