Artist description Big Joe Manfra is a modern blues guitar player from Brazil with a punchy Texas guitar style. Releasing his first CD now, his music mixes the Texas guitar sound with a solid groove and jazz influenced chords.

Music Style Blues

Musical Influences Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jimi Hendrix, T-Bone Walker, B.B.King, Robben Ford

Similar Artists Stevie Ray Vaughan and Robben Ford

Artist History After attending a concert by John Lee "Hooker" and John Mayall , Big Joe Manfra was catched by the blues and started a long journey to its roots. Listening to a great amount of blues music , he tried to find and absorb everything he could from the origin of the 20th century american music. His major influences were: B.B.King , Albert King , Albert Collins , Jimi Hendrix , T-Bone Walker , Buddy Guy , Eric Clapton , Stevie Ray Vaughan and Robben Ford , among others.He decided to go to Los Angeles , California , to study at G.I.T. ( Guitar Institute of Technology ) , where he had the chance to meet such guitar players as Robben Ford , Scott Henderson , Keith Wyatt and Steve Trovato. There he confirmed that the blues was his life and also gained a lot of experience and knowledge trying to master all the secrets of the american music. During this period in USA , he played with a lot of different groups in G.I.T. and around the town.In his comeback to Brazil , he formed his own group , which has the nickname that the american musicians used to call him , Big Joe Manfra. He also plays with Jefferson , harp player from the renowed sextet Baseado em Blues , in the acoustic blues trio Blues Etc. Big Joe Manfra has performed with great blues artists from Brazil , including Baseado em Blues , Celso Blues Boy , Blues Etilicos and Big Allambik and also toured Brazil two times backing american harmonica player Peter "Madcat" Ruth. With all this said and done , Big Joe Manfra is considered one of the best new blues artists from Brazil today. Releasing his self titled debut CD, Big Joe Manfra is gaining a lot of recognition in Brazil right now as a gifted guitar player with his own style and a serious artist in the blues field.

Group Members Big Joe Manfra - guitar and vocalsLeandro Marc - bass and vocalsAndré Carvalho - drums

Instruments guitar, vocals, bass and drums

Albums "Big Joe Manfra"

Press Reviews Big Joe Manfra shows in his first CD, self titled and independent, that has everything to be one of the great names in the brazilian blues scene.Cover Guitar / july'1999Big Joe's songs are build with guitars full of poison and maturity.Cover Guitar / july'1999Big Joe studied in Guitar Institute of Technology, Califórnia but wasn't caught by the academic coldness from this schools, that produce a lot ordinary musicians.Jornal do Brasil Newspaper / september'1999Big Joe Manfra's an excellent guitar player and it's a pleasure to play with him, because he's very good playing the blues, so good as the american guitar players.Peter "Madcat" Ruth from Estado de São Paulo Newspaper / september'1999In his debut CD, Big Joe shows a vigorous blues, with texas-influenced rhythms and clean phrasing.Guitar Player (BR) / November'1999

Location Rio De Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro/RJ - Brazil

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