Born into a family of musicians, and raised in Little Rock, AR, Mesko began piano lessons at age 8, moving to guitar at age 10. By 12 he was playing drums, and he picked up the bass at age 14. Early prog rock influences such as ELP and Jethro Tull, led Brian to fusion and jazz, developing a passion for emulating artists like John McLaughlin, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, and Wes Montgomery.
As a teen Brian was gigging professionally, and even played drums on a short tour in Turkey at age 18. While still in high school he studied Jazz Theory & Ensemble at UALR under Michael Carenbauer (who studied under Pat Metheny at Berklee). Taking these credits on to MTSU, Brian completed a bachelor’s degree in Recording Industry.
Mesko lived in the Nashville area from 1997 – 2005 and played with such international jazz greats as Les McCann, Tony Monaco, Dr. Lonnie Smith, John Jorgensen and Jeff Coffin. He also worked with Roland Gresham, Sam Brooker, Greg Bryant, Chris West, Moe Denham, Nioshi Jackson, Charles Treadway and many more.
After moving to central Virginia in 2005, Brian has been privileged to work with such jazz artists as Robert Jospe, Butch Taylor, Dane Alderson, John D’earth, Bobby Read, Charles Owens, Jonah Kane-West, Liz Barnes, any many more. He has played guitar in Green Earrings - the Steely Dan Experience, The Nicholson Brothers, and has shared the stage with blues legends Bob Margolin, Mud Morganfield Jr., Big Bill Morganfield Jr., as well as Wayne Newton, Michael Allman, Groove Collective, and the DJ Williams Projekt.
Brian formed The Rootdowns organ trio with members of Butcher Brown, DJ Williams Projekt, The Big Payback, and Skydog, and they released their debut album, "Songs With Friends" in 2013. In 2015 he started The Danktet, an instrumental trio whose collective influences create a unique blend of jazz, funk, rock, pop, reggae, blues, and R&B. With Australian native Dane Alderson of the Yellow Jackets on bass, and multi-instrumentalist and visual artist Forrest Young on drums, they released their first album, "One Thing Right" in 2016.
Aside from his own original projects, Brian has since joined several local projects, playing guitar and/or bass with the Robert Jospe Express, Lenny Marcus, Terry Brown Ascension Project, The Ambassador, Mojo Parker, Melissa and the Growlers, The Meskos Electric Revue, Jstop Latin Soul and Andrew Winn.
Brian currently resides with his wife and son in Roanoke, VA working as a session player, performer, and guitar professor/ensemble director at the University of Lynchburg.
