JamminJoe "The True Smooth Saxophonist"

www.reverbnation.com/momentsnotice
Joseph E. Johnson Jr. (Jammin Joe), born in Akron, Ohio, but raised in Southern California (Compton, Watts, and San Bernardino), began his musical journey with his first instruments; the Trumpet and Trombone, eventually settling on the Saxophone because it allowed him more freedom of expression. The foundation of his musical training and development was rooted in his parents garage in San Bernardino, CA where he, along with his brother Steve who played the Sousaphone, spent countless hours and days with their father Joe Sr. experimenting with endless chordal harmonies. The experimentation helped develop Jammin Joe into one of the most skilled improvisers you'll find anywhere. Although his style of play is uniquely his own, his style has been compared to accomplished saxophonist’s such as: Grover Washington Jr., Gerald Albright, King Curtis, Stanley Turrentine, Boots Randolph, Kenny G., and Lester "Prez" Young, the latter of which Jammin Joe played the saxophone part in a play about Billie Holiday. Jammin Joe was exposed to Blues, Jazz, Funk, and R&B by the combined influences of his first cousin Clifford Moon, and his mother Carolyn Campbell Johnson who threw away several of his father’s jazz records by legendary artist’s; Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington, Art Tatum, Oscar Peterson, Sarah Vaughn, Joe Williams, and Richard "Grooves" Holmes just to name a few. Jammin Joe quickly retrieved these records from the trash and absorbed all that he could. Naturally in the beginning, Jammin Joe had to teach himself how to play the sax and he would practice his scales to classical recordings to further develop his smooth playing style. But, inevitably, he would have to venture out to open mic jam sessions to get much needed playing experience in front of a live audience. He had no idea how to play or perform many musical styles in varied settings, and as a result, at many of these jam sessions he had to endure being cussed out, kicked out of jam sessions, kicked off the stage because the mic volume was turned down, on top of that other musicians went as far as to physically block his access to the microphone so their buddies could get to the mic first, and some even threw drinks at him, He continued to pursue excellence in execution of a full toned, effortless, smooth jazzy style on the saxophone. I guess you can say like a lot of musicians, he learned through trials by fire. During the early 80's, while a student at Oregon State University, Jammin Joe was denied membership in the OSU Jazz band because as the then band director said to him, "your mind is made up about how you want to play”, subsequently during the summer of 1984 Jammin Joe would join his first band, a racial and non-racial "punk rock" influenced ska reggae band called the Crazy 8's who were looking for a black saxophonist to complete their "two tone" (black and white members) line-up. During his time as the bands first manager and the only black manager of a rock and roll group in Portland, OR at that time, he convinced the members of the band to record an album and found an investor in his then NBA All-Star Brother, Steve Johnson, and a world class producer in Marlon Mclain of the groundbreaking 70's music act "Pleasure". With the help of his contacts at the Oregonian Newspaper, Jammin Joe convinced the band to pay nationally syndicated Oregonian Newspaper political cartoonist, Jack Ohman to provide the eye-catching artwork for their first and most popular album, LAW AND ORDER which included Jammin Joe's two songs "Jump Rock" and "I'm Ok, You’re Ok". The band went on to become the most popular band in the Pacific Northwest and one of the top favorites on national college radio. They frequently out charted A-list acts such as Prince and Michael Jackson on college radio. In 1985, Jammin Joe eventually garnered the band national exposure when he managed to get them on the nationally syndicated TV show "Star Search" hosted by Ed McMahon. This groundbreaking opportunity came about despite the bands initial objection towards the opportunity; because they thought the show was too "cheesy”. The Crazy 8's were the first band ever to renegotiate a "Star Search" contract thanks to Jammin Joe's understanding of contracts and the legal muscle and expertise of attorney JR Barnes (one of the founding members of AFTRA). During this same period the Crazy 8's lightning rod like attention from the music industry continued to catapult their popularity and they continued to explode onto the national music scene with major exposure with articles in TV Guide (Feb 23-March 1985), Billboard and Rolling Stone magazines, the latter of which described the Crazy 8's as a band to "watch in the future". Jammin Joe has had the pleasure to share the stage with numerous national and international Stars, including but not limited to: Art Blakey, Kenny Loggins, The Clash, Toots and the Maytals, Pleasure, The Neville Bros., Eddie Harris, Kenny G., John Lee Hooker, The English Beat, Bernard Purdy, Curtis Salgado, Leroy Vinegar, Burning Spear, Romeo Void, Mel Brown, and Joe Pass. The Crazy 8's were unfortunately wiped off the popular music radar due in part to the total exclusion of the African American demographic as part of their fan base, locally and nationally, along with continuing intellectual property rights issues, and more importantly the sudden explosion of a new musical sound in the Pacific Northwest called "Grunge" led by Kirk Cobain leader of the band called "Nirvana". After leaving the Crazy 8's, Jammin Joe moved on to make educational videos and become an internationally award winning videographer for the Portland Public Schools first Teen Parent Program. He also was part of the Independent News Corp "Grass Roots New" led by the indomitable Lanita Duke. He had two long running Cable TV shows in Portland, OR; his own and another one with international Blues recording artist Curtis Salgado. He went on to form his own musical group "Moment’s Notice" with Keyboard player Mark "Sparky" Hardy when he was hired by a club owner mere moments after being fired from a band that did not want to share the "kibbles and bits" aka very little money with him. The band went on to record one CD that was never released. Moment’s Notice has always played mostly Improvised All Original Smooth Jazzy R&B, and Gospel Jazz ... Moment’s Notice was for musicians who were ready to play at a moment’s notice. He moved the band to Indianapolis, IN in 1999 and teamed up with bassist named Charles "Blade" Morgan to form the Jazz-Funk duo Moment’s Notice who in no time at all were headlining at some of the best night clubs in Indianapolis. He also recorded the Michael Jackson song "Heartbreak Hotel" with Jazflyyte artist Dar'rell Green and produced by "Iceman". Jammin Joe moved to Southern CA in 2002 and reformed "Moment’s Notice" that featured Keith Lampkins (Composer, guitar, and keyboards), and Jammin Joe (Alto and Tenor Saxophones), and various special guests. He also recorded with the gospel group 2EKOND KREATION led by Bassist, Bruce McGhee. Moving to Las Vegas in 2007, the Las Vegas version of "Moment’s Notice" was Jammin Joe on all Saxes, Steve Johnson on all Keys, and Shaun Johnson on Drums. Jammin Joe is hired for the way he plays and not his playlist, even though it is very diverse and compelling. Jammin Joe performs skillfully and beautifully all kinds of music including but not limited to: Classic Jazz, Blues, R&B, Funk, Neo-Soul, Rock And Roll, Gospel, Reggae, Country Western, and Dixieland. He is always in demand for a variety of events such as: corporate, weddings, casino appearances, reunions, pool parties, art galleries and many other private events. Jammin Joe presently is in pre-production to record his solo CD to showcase his own innovative playing style.