An Abridged History
For Joe's solo acoustic act, he has over 130 songs from which to choose (click here to view his set list). Joe is the frontman for JJ Swing, an eight-piece band with a four-man horn section; he has also been a member of The Thurman Brothers Band for 15 years. Joe makes up one half of the dynamic acoustic duo The Mombrea Brothers (along with his brother, Dave, on vocals, guitar, keyboard, and flute). He regularly sits in with several western new york bands and has been a member of the touring Genesis tribute, Seconds Out, as well as Thurman and Company, Four:Twenty, Mad Hatter, Greased Lightning, Sweeney Todd, Common Ground, Valhalla, Bad Animals, and String Theory, among others.
Joe's many musical influences include George Puleo (from the Buffalo-based Gamalon and The Need), David Gilmour, Jimmy Page, Vince Gill, Steve Morse, Phil Keaggy, Al DiMeola, Carlos Santana, Joni Mitchell, Eddie Van Halen, and Alison Krauss and Union Station. He also has great admiration for local guitarists Nori Bucci, Jamie Holka, Jack Thurman, and Frank Grizanti.
Recording credits include "Make Me Smile" by JJ Swing, "Play to Win" by Four:Twenty, "Out of Darkness Comes Light" and "Four Play" by Mad Hatter (now all three albums together on one CD); the self-titled Valhalla, and his solo CD, an independent release recorded mostly at home.
She Does the Laundry (More Than She Does Me) is the first track on Joe's solo disc. It is now being aired on 97.7 Hits FM (Iron Mike Bensson), WEDG 103.3 (Shredd & Ragan), 97 Rock, Edge 102.1 in Toronto, WMGK 102.9 in Philadelphia (The John DeBella Show), Mix 98.5 in Boston, MA (John Lander and the Morning Crew), WNYU in New York, and Rock 103 in Memphis, TN. It was also included on the 107.7 The Lake's "Local Music CD, Volume 3."
Joe has a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology and a Master's Degree in Social Work. In addition to working full-time as a counselor for individuals with traumatic brain injuries, it is not uncommon for Joe to perform at local music venues three to six nights per week.
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