1 (edited by Vette335 2007-05-03 10:03:03)

Topic: jamming with joe

Hey all,
my name is Jamey and I am a 20 year old guitarist from Colorado.  I began playing at age twelve, and became intrested in the blues soon after.  When I was about 14, my guitar teacher gave me a video cassette he said was essential for my musical growth.  I eagerly put the tape in the VCR, only to find a short segment from a Bravo show on a 16 year old guitarist named Joe Bonamassa.  I was amazed at not only his virtuosity on the instrument, but humilty as a person, as well as his fluency in various idioms of music.  I began learning all the licks on the video, and I soon took an interest in country and jazz as Joe recommended in the interview (I am currently a jazz guitar major at Oberlin Conservatory).  I searched the internet for Bonamassa, and found nothing at this time.  I got the Bloodline CD and continued my guitar education propeled by the influence of Joe.  A few months later, my periodic Yahoo! searches on Bonamassa led me to A New Day Yesterday which was to be released shortly thereafter.  I bought the album the day it was released and ever since have been constantly amazed by the mastery of the instrument as displayed by Joe through concerts, dvds and recordings.

As I mentioned, I am a music student of jazz, but am still frequently playing my roots, the blues, and on the quest to expand my knowledge and ideas regarding all kinds of music.  Last year I had the oppurtunity to sit in with Robert Randolph & The Family Band , and it was an enlightening experience.  Being able to share the stage with one of my guitar influences taught me so much about what I still needed to work on, and how to communicate musically in that situation.  I know Joe experienced this at an early age when sitting in with B.B., John Lee Hooker, Albert Collins and various other blues masters.  Its part of the tradition to sit in with the more experienced players of the music.  I recently came across a video on youtube of a young guitarist named Mike jamming with Joe (http://youtube.com/watch?v=Dni_xKJTD2g) and the idea struck me to inquire about having this same honor.  I feel my playing is at a similar level with Mike and I would learn a great deal from this experience, playing alongside one of my great influences. 

Joe will be playing in Beaver Creek, Colorado at the end of the month, and I would love to have this opportunity with him at this show.  I understand Joe and his band have a set to keep, and I don't want to impose on that, but if its at all possible I would be interested.  If anyone knows how to get ahold of Joe, or if the man himself reads this, please contact me.

even if I got some critiques on my playing from him, it would mean a lot to me, because I have plenty to learn about the instrument and the music.

my playing can be heard @ www.myspace.com/jameyarent

thanks all...

-Jamey

Re: jamming with joe

I'm not sure but there is contact details for his management on his website. Also sometimes Joe posts here so he may read your message but I'd try with contacting his management first.

-Jess
Check out my band Beth and The Black Cat Bones http://www.myspace.com/bethandtheblackcatbones
Also my own page for my guitar playing http://www.myspace.com/jesszub

3 (edited by Bluesrocker 2007-05-01 21:11:30)

Re: jamming with joe

I checked out the music on your myspace site - good stuff! Have you tried contacting Joe about your request on his myspace site?

Don

Re: jamming with joe

Yeah thats some good stuff you got there- refreshing to hear it... I saw your writeup on Brand New Immortals and checked them out- awesome stuff... thanks for the reccomendation!

Scott

"Interestingly, according to modern astronomers, space is finite. This is a very comforting thought-- particularly for people who can never remember where they have left things." - Woody Allen

http://www.last.fm/user/skynyrd128

Re: jamming with joe

A lot of us would like to jam with Joe - good luck.

- Nic from Detroit... posting on JB's Forum since 6-2-2006
Ask me about my handwound Great Lakes Guitar Pickups
Since 2010, Bonamassa fans have taken advantage of my JB friend discount = my cost + shipping. cool

Re: jamming with joe

Jamey, you don't happen to have tabbed any of the Bloodline stuff have you? I've been trying to work it out by ear, I've got some parts down but others I am finding really difficult.

-Jess
Check out my band Beth and The Black Cat Bones http://www.myspace.com/bethandtheblackcatbones
Also my own page for my guitar playing http://www.myspace.com/jesszub

Re: jamming with joe

hey jess,
I actually never tabbed anything out from Bloodline, for some reason I've never gotten into using tab.  The way I learned some of the harder parts was a slowing the CD down with my looper, and looping certain sections and phrases until i got it right. good luck though!

Re: jamming with joe

Vette335 wrote:

When I was about 14, my guitar teacher gave me a video cassette he said was essential for my musical growth.  I eagerly put the tape in the VCR, only to find a short segment from a Bravo show on a 16 year old guitarist named Joe Bonamassa.

You must have had an amazing guitar teacher!  Are you still in touch with him/her?

"There is nothing to it.  You only have to hit the right notes at the right time and the instrument plays itself."---Johann Sebastian Bach

Re: jamming with joe

oh yeah, I still ocassionaly get lessons from him, but we definately talk on the phone and hang out from time to time.  He definately recognized Joe's talent and its importance on the future of blues and guitar oriented music early on.
-Jamey