MidAmerica Talent is proud to present a special evening of music with The Legendary Combo, featuring very Special Guests, James Brown’s Legendary Background Vocalist - Martha High, and guitar virtuoso - The Jef Lee Johnson Trio. The performance will take place on Saturday, March 8th at The Cabooze, 917 Cedar Avenue in Minneapolis. Tickets will be $10.00 at the door, doors open at 8:30 PM and the music will begin at 9:30 PM. For more information please call The Cabooze at (612) 338-6425 to go to www.cabooze.com.

■ The Legendary Combo
The Legendary Combo (formerly Dr. Mambo's Combo) was formed in the Spring of 1987. Pumping out classics from 20th & 21st century R&B, Soul and Funk, The Combo has been performing every Monday since and will continue to do so "until Hell freezes over" as quoted by drummer Michael Bland. All of The Combo's members have been major players in mainstream and independent music.

Occasionally you can catch Prince and his posse of eclectics chillin' at Bunker's checking out The Combo and sometimes, if you're lucky, he'll get up on stage and jam with them. Other notable guest appearances include: "Jellybean" Johnson, Johnny Lang, J.B. of J.B. & The Routine, Charles Hayes, Billy Thommes and Kip Blackshire and many others. For more information on The Legendary Combo please go to www.myspace.com/drmamboscombo.


■ Martha High
Martha High was discovered by James Brown when she was 18 years old. Her group The Jewels was employed by Mr. Brown to open his shows while on tour. After a few years The Jewels split up, but Martha stayed on with James as his personal background vocalist for over 38 years!

She has sung on most of James Browns songs, including “Payback”, “Bodyheat”, “Doin It To Death” and an unforgettable duet with James Brown himself, “Summertime”.

Over the years she has had the opportunity to share the stage with great artists such as Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis, Michael Jackson, The Temptations, Aretha Franklin,George Clinton, B.B. King, Mary J. Blige, Stevie Wonder and The Police. She currently tours Europe, the UK, Asia and the US as a solo Artist and also as background vocalist for fellow “James Brown alumni” Maceo Parker.

She is currently finishing her debut solo album. The album, co-produced by Tyrone Jefferson and Morris Hayes (Prince), features Candy Dulfer, Fred Wesley, Pee Wee Ellis, Skeet Curtis and many others. For more information on Martha High please go to www.myspace.com/missmarthahigh or www.marthahigh.com.


■ The Jef Lee Johnson Trio
Current and former guitarist for George Duke, Mariah Carey, Jill Scott, Erykah Badu, Aretha Franklin, Brother Ali, George Clinton, Chaka Khan, The Roots & Stanley Clarkeamong others, Jef Lee Johnson’s resume is second to none.

Jef has released nine solo CD’s, and has performed as a guest artist on an eclectic variety of CD’s by everyone from George Duke’s - "Face The Music" to Ursus Minor - "Zugzwang" - featuring Jeff Beck, Dead Prez, Kabal and Ada Dyer.

Below are references from some of Jef’s friends…

"(his) CD’s stay in my player...(he's) a gift from God!" - Chaka Khan

"he is god." - ?uestlove of The Roots)

"Jef Lee added timeless moans and primal wails to my song "Penitentiary Philosophy", helping me to remember where my voice, and the sound of strings met and made love for the first time. Now I know the wonder of the lead guitar." - Erykah Badu

"My favorite bass and guitar player." - Leon Huff

"...the Hendrix of our generation." - D'Angelo

"If Miles was alive, I'd introduce (Jef) to him today!" - Bill Cosby

"He's one of the funkiest and baddest brothers I’ve heard on the guitar. He brought a whole new life to my songs." - Common

"Jef Lee Johnson is one of those rare musicians who "gets it". He knows how to make the music take flight- "to go where no man has gone before." Besides being a truly adventurous guitarist, he's also an outstanding composer, bass, and keyboard player, bending the roots in blues and funk, with his love and understanding of jazz and Latin music. In other words, he's done his homework. Since I was first introduced to Jef, he has quickly become my favorite guitarist. He's one of a kind, with a distinct personal and musical point of view. We Need More Like Him!!" - George Duke

For more information on Jef Lee Johnson please go to www.myspace.com/jefleejohnsonmusic.

To schedule an Artist interview, please contact Jeff Taube of MidAmerica Talent at (952) 948-0050.