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Joseph E. Johnson Jr.

{Jammin Joe} Born in Akron Ohio, but raised in Southern


California (Compton, Watts, and San Bernardino). Jammin Joe’s first instruments
were the Trumpet and the Trombone, he eventually settled 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 there father Joe Sr. experimenting with endless chordal harmonies.
Needless to say, 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.....for those of you who want comparisons JamminJoe has been
compared to accomplished saxophonist 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 fathers jazz records by legendary
artist like—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. Later he would practice his scales to classical recordings to
further develop his smooth playing style. During the early 80’s while a student at
Oregon State Univ JamminJoe 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 that was looking for a black saxophonist to complete there "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 Ore 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 then girlfriend who
worked at the "Oregonian" newspaer,JamminJoe convinced the band to pay nationally
syndicated "Oregonian" political cartoonist Jack Ohman to provide the eye-catching
artwork for there first album, (LAW AND ORDER) which included JamminJoe's two
songs "Jump Rock" and "I'm Ok Your'e 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 JamminJoe eventually garnered the band national
exposure when he managed to get them on the nationally syndicated TV show “Star
Search”, this came about despite the bands initial objection towards the
opportunity; because they thought the show was to "CHEESY" The Crazy 8's were the
first band to ever renegotiate a "Star Search" contract thanks to JamminJoe'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 initial music industry interest and continuing popularity continued to explode
on the national music scene with articles in TV Guide (FEB 23- March1, 1985),
Billboard and Rolling Stone magazine, the latter of which described the Crazy 8's
as a band to "watch in the future". JamminJoe has had the pleasure to share the
stage with numerous national and international Stars,including but not limited to:
Art Blakeley, Kenny Loggins, The Clash, Toots and the Maytals, Pleasure, The
Neville Bros., Eddies Harris, Kenny G., John Lee Hooker, The English Beat, Bernard
Purdy, Curtis Salgado, Leroy Vinegar, Burning Spear, Romeo Void, Mel Brown, 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 fan base locally and
nationally, 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 "Nirvana". JamminJoe moved on to
make educational videos and become an Internationally award winning videographer
for the Portland Public Schools Teen Parent Program, he also was part of the
Independent News Corp "Grass Roots New" led by the indomitable Lanita Duke, He had
his Cable TV show and another one with National recording artist Curtis
Salgado....He went on to form his own group "Moments Notice" when was hired
moments after being fired from a band in a N.E. Portland nightclub that did not
want to share the ("kibbles and bits" aka money). JamminJoe went on to form his
own all original music Smooth Jazzy R&B band called "Moments Notice" along with
Mark "Sparky" Hardy, no matter who is in the line-up each member is required to
have convincing improvisational skills in order to play original smooth jazzy R&B,
and to play at a "Moments Notice". The band went on to record one CD that was
never released, I will include those tracks on this site and at
www.myspace.com/saxyamijoe. Make no mistake Jammin Joe is highly skilled in
playing blues, rock and roll, gospel, reggae, and classic jazz. In order to learn
to play all the various styles of music, JamminJoe joined and performed with many
Portland bands: Rubberneck, Michael Harrison and Inner Balance,The Usual Suspects,
Joe "BEAN" Keller and the Illusion Show Band, P.I.M.P with legendary bassist JR,
Ed "Portland Eddie Jones", Craig Mathers, Kirk Green, Bill Hagen, Vitamix, St
Marks Church, just to name a few. even though in the beginning he had know idea
how to play or perform in those varied settings and was was cussed out, kicked
out, the mic turned downed, other musicians blocking his access to the microphone
during jam sessions ( hence the name JamminJoe), drinks thrown at him, and
blackballed, he continued to pursue excellence in execution of a full toned
effortless smooth jazzy style on the saxophone. I guess you can say like alot of
you, he went through (trials by fire) only to come out playing pure USDA "Original
Soul, Funk and Jazz" in a highly skilled and trained manner. He moved the band to
Indianapolis, Ind in 1999 and teamed up with a great bassist named Charles "Blade"
Morgan where as a duo they were headlining on weekends at some of the best clubs
in Indianapolis. He also recorded the "Iceman" produced Michael Jackson song
"Heartbreak Hotel" with Jazflyyte artist Dar'rell Green and performed with Jazz
Keyboardist George Middleton and the R&B goup "True Vision". Jamminjoe moved to
Southern CA in 2002 and reformed "Moments Notice" that featured Keith Lampkins
( Composer, guitar, and keyboards), and Jammin Joe ( Alto, and Tenor saxophones),
and various special guest, he also recorded with the gospel group 2cnd Kreation
led by Pastor Bruce Mghee. The band "Moments Notice" is currently located in Las
Vegas, NV and they perform primarily at private events from casinos to, pool
parties and art galleries. They have always enjoyed playing at a variety of events
large and small. Jamminjoe is presently in pre-production in Las Vegas to record
his solo CD and he is also putting together a one man show to showcase his own
innovative style. Make no mistake the sound will be unique, fresh, and musically
groundbreaking! The future is exciting, so calm down!God willing,wait,see,and
hear. jamminjoe_us@yahoo.com

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