Born in Indiana and raised by music loving parents in Santa Ana, Calif., Brandon Fields started playing piano at the age of 5, violin at 8 and became enamored with the alto saxophone by the time he was 10. He began working as a freelance musician while still a teenager, then moved to Los Angeles in 1982 to pursue the local club and studio scene.

Fields' debut recording, "The Other Side Of The Story," came out in 1986 and demonstrated what would become a common thread connecting all of his original music — a multifaceted take on songwriting and a high level of interaction with his bandmates. Three more albums followed, including "A Coffeehouse Christmas," "Higher Ground" (the music of Stevie Wonder) and "Fields and Strings," a collection of standards released in late 1999 on Paras Records. His solo recordings total about seven, and he has appeared on hundreds of other recordings.

Fields will perform at 9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 2, at Alex's Plaza Restaurant, 35 N. Main St., Ashland. Three Ashland-based musicians, drummer Tom Stamper, keyboardist Michael Vannice and bassist J. Jorgensen, will join Fields at Alex's.

As a sideman, Fields' recording credits include work with Tower of Power, Earth Wind & Fire, Elton John, Quincy Jones, Nancy Wilson, Jewel, B.B. King, Everclear, Bonnie Raitt, Babyface, Toto, Luther Vandross, Luis Miguel, Al Jarreau, The Temptations, Michael McDonald, Randy Newman, Neil Diamond and many more.

In 2002, Fields earned a Grammy Award for his album "Alejandro Sanz Y Solo Se Me Ocurre Amarte" and performed on Ray Charles' 2005 Grammy winner "Genius Loves Company."

He has toured with George Benson, Kenny Loggins, The Rippingtons, Tower of Power, Earth, Wind & Fire and the Dave Weckl Band. Since June 2006 he has been performing with Barry Manilow for the star's house gig at the Las Vegas Hilton.

As a clinician for Selmer Saxophones and Rico Reeds, Fields has taught at many music camps and schools around the world. When he's at his home in Los Angeles, Fields continues to write and record, hone his skills on the flute, keyboard and percussive instruments and to play at his favorite L.A. clubs.

There is no cover for the show at Alex's. Call 482-8818.