JMQ - Joe McMurrian Quartet -
Joe McMurrian - Guitar Vocal
Jimi Bott (drums) Jason Honl (Bass) David Lipkind (Harmonica)
Influences
Johnny Winter, Roy Gallager, Skip James, Robert Pete Williams, John Martyn, Kelly Joe Phelps, Nick Drake, Fred McDowell, Doc Watson, Son House!, Chris Smither, Leo Kotke, Hendrix, William Dekooning, Jackson Pollock, Haydn and Liana McMurrianm, Johnny Cash, Paul Geramia, Roscoe Holcomb, Son House, Tom Waits, Stevie Ray Vaughn, John Fahey, Buddy Guy, Magic Sam, Hound dog Taylor, Dink Banks, Woody Guthrie, Bert Jansch, John Renbourn, Hank Williams, Merl Hagard, John Hurt, Lightnigh Hopkins, Willie Nelson, Blind WIllie Johnson, Captain Beefheart, Blind Lemon Jeffereson, Funny Paper Smith, Honey Boy Edwards, Coltrane, Rev. Gary Davis, Dirk Banks, Bob DylanDoc Watson, Paul Butterfield, Johnny Cash, Nann, Batman, Zappa, Neil Young, The Oo, Chuck Berry, Willie, Jim Fitting, Dolly, Stones, The Band, Big Mama Thorton, Big Star, Big Walter Horton, Hank, Jr. Wells, Chet Atkins, Web Pierce, Beatles, Carlos Del Junco, Mark Ford, Freddy King, Gary Primich, Muddy, Hex County, The Wolf, JB, Led Zep, Sonny Terry, Billy Holiday, Ice Cream, Chicken wings, Stevie Wonder, Memphis Jug Band, Blind Willie McTell, Memphis Minnie, Dylan, Mike Nicolai, Minutemen, Fred Mcdowell, Velvet Underground, John Hurt, Grandpa Sid, Longmire, Apu and the gang, Mo, Larry, and Curly, cousin Kenny, all the fine Portland musicians I get the play with and hear all the time, Bill Bouroughs, Roy Buchannan, the weather
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ANNOUNCING THE NEW BAND NAME!!!!!!
The Joe McMurrian Quartet is now WOODBRAIN
Go to: WWW.MYSPACE.COM/WOODBRAIN to hear tracks from upcoming national release from Yellow Dog Records out of Memphis. Please sign up to be WOODBRAIN's friend and help spread the news to others who would be into the WOODBRAIN revolution.
Joe McMurrian will still keep this page active for other projects outside of WOODBRAIN so visit both often. Thanks for your support and get ready for the new studio album to be release at the beginning of July everywhere.
Go to: www.joemcmurrian.com
JMQ
the Joe McMurrian Quartet- BIO Progressive New Roots/Blues
The quartet - Joe McMurrian (guitar, Banjo, vocals), Jimi Bott (drums) – Fabulous Thunderbirds, Mark Hummel, Rod Piazza, Jason Honl (bass) – Pieces, Big Mouth Bass, and
David Lipkind (harmonica) - Spigot, SOB, Mad Hattie
The Joe McMurrian Quartet is a rapidly growing outfit in the Northwest and beyond. As a solo artist, McMurrian released his debut, "Rain of Days", which was voted the 2 best independent blues release of 2006 by the International Blues Foundation of Memphis as well as reaching the 5 slot on Japan's Tower Records chart.
Joe is a native of the Northern California, San Joaquin Delta region. 7 years ago He relocated with his family to Portland after a ten year stay in various areas of Los Angeles.He carried with him his unique brand of music and has now found the perfect musicians to help him create it. Together as a collective, JMQ is massive machine of sound – a machine that surges through the earth and elevates the forms of traditional American music while also redefining the scope of the road ahead. Imagine If Robert Johnson had heard Hendrix and had hooked up with Jack Bruce, Jon Bohnam and Little Walter – mix in contemporary songwriting and one of a kind musical performances and you have an amazing band.
Progressive high energy music, Gut wrenching emotion and energy transitioning to graceful melodies, complex harmonies and challenging meter changes make for the most powerful Roots/Blues music around. The sound is rooted in Delta Blues and Old American Roots music, but it is weaved into a modern concept of improvisation and original story telling that owes as much to John Coltrane, Jimi Hendrix or Led Zeppelin as it does to Son House, Mississippi Fred McDowell, R.L Burnside or Bert Jansch. JMQ is the new face of American Roots & Blues music, one that crosses limiting musical boundaries, trivialities and fads and soars up within the infinity of sound.
REVIEWS:
"A new form of Blues...exhilerating and mind-enchanting...a very new and very exciting vision of the blues" Cascade Blues Association, Portland Oregon 2008-
"...rich, muddy Delta bottom of blues sources, and onward past the limitations of the form to a more progressive sound, one open to original material as relevant as that of any contemporary, folk-based singer-songwriter...…Some very expansive moments here "
Willamette Week - Jeff Rosenberg, Oregonian music review, Portland. 2007
"McMurrian plays mystic, conjuring up the dark side of the heart armed only with a guitar and voice. You have to wonder if he didn't strike the same deal as Delta shaman Robert Johnson." Don Campbell, Oregonian, Portland oregon 2007
" I really did like that way you did Big Road, and Catfish too. You know my buddy Tommy Jonson did that song, he would have liked that.."
Delta Blues master Honey Boy Edwards (traveling partner to Robert Johnson) 2007
" Folks, I just want to say that that was one of the finest versions of Big Road Blues I have ever heard.."
Earwig Music founder/owner Michael Frank 2007
APEARANCES:
Charlie Musslewhite, Keb mo, Paul Geramia, Sonny Landreth , Jack Owens
John McEuen , Marcia Ball, Linda Hornbuckle, Little Charlie and the Nightcats
Steve James, Campbell Brothers, Louisiana Red, John Mayhall, Johnny Winter, Honeyboy Edwards, Canned Heat, Campbell Brothers, Paul Geramia, Keb Mo, Eddie Kirkland, John McEuen, Charlie Musslewhite, Preacher Boy, Sonny Landreth, Little Charley and the Nightcats, Jimi Bott! and many more
Hi Joe. Now you know what that weird little hand thing I gave you at the blues fest is from. Hope all's well with band and all. Thanks for the add too.
Ciao,Joe Thank you for the add and the friendship. you are very good, I like your stupendous music a lot, Band, and stupendous voice. compliments ..really. you are one of my prefeitis, I feel great admiration for you, be really one whom is worth rather a lot! I hope to listen soon to you, in italy .. talk to you soon, and all of my best wishes to always listen to your good music all the best.. from italy.. and good life.. every day neal
Hey Joe! You guys sounded great today!!! Jason, it's been too long man, I'm booking at The Twilight Room... stop in on a Friday night and say hi, we can discuss some bookings! ~JR
Thanks you very much for being a friend!!;G R E A T _ S O U N D; Great respects for your work... All the best,BLUES ON !!...Blues Is The Heart Of All Music...Have A Great Blues Week...:) My best blues regards!
Hey Joe, where you going with that gun in your hand. Sorry I missed your show this weekend, hope all is well. Check out my website, just launched it. www.christopherswyt.com talk with you soon chris
