Hailed as one of the most soulful blues rock guitarists today, Joe Pitts is always playing and pulling influences from yesterday. Joe has been compared to guitarists like Warren Haynes, Larry McCray and Walter Trout. Although his influences range from Duane Allman and Jeff Beck to Roy Buchanan, Joe is known worldwide for his slide guitar work, playing beautiful melodic lines that seem to sing.
Studying at Berklee College of Music, set Joe up for the possibilities that are endless on a stringed instrument. Being a faithful follower of Col Bruce Hampton, ARU and the bands of HORDE, Joe's improvisational voice came into his own.
From funk to jazz to blues to rock, and everything inbetween, Joe is a musician's musician. Touted as one of Arkansas' best bands, this international touring artist has played hundreds of shows, selling out shows in Europe and touring the Midwest/Midsouth and Southeastern US constantly. Joe has been nominated for his vocal abilities, being chosen as one of the best vocalist's of the year, 2006 Indie Artist Radio awards. Joe has also appeared at the Crossroads Musical Exhibition, and the International Blues Conference. In 2008 Joe was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame, and is endorsed by several major manufacturers. Joe has appeared on the cover of the #1 magazine for blues rock in France, "Bands of Dixie, along with articles in Hittin The Note, and Relix and being a cover artist and feature article in Nightflying Magazine. 2010 shows no stopping for these musicians who live on the road.
The band, features longtime friend and veteran musician Jimmy Lynn from Odessa, Texas on Bass Guitar. The music is a workout in influences. From Rock, Blues and Jazz roots, the music of the JPB shines through. These guys really stretch out live. It truely is a musical extravaganza nightly, and something you don't want to miss, with every show different.
**Here are a few quotes about Joe:**
~~ "One of the most soulful, blues rock guitarists of our time."
--- David Hughes "Nightflying Magazine - July 2009
~~ " The group glides into another original, "VT Inst 6 Jam", which proves that Joe Pitts can hang with anyone in the business. Relying on raw talent and love of the music, the Joe Pitts Band has released one of the best live CDs we have heard in a long time"
--- Emily Parks, "Hittin' The Note" Magazine - Dec 2008
~~"Just a Matter of Time" is one of the best new CDs we have heard in some time.
--- Bill Ector, Publisher, "Hittin’ The Note" magazine - May 2008
~~Not only is he a A RED HOT Slide Guitar player, Joe Pitts is one of Arkansas' Musical Treasures.
--– Chris King, Sticky Fingerz, Little Rock, AR - May 2008
~~Slide over, no really SLIDE on over and listen to this. Joe Pitts can create a powerful storm of sound with a ghostly shadow of style reminding myself and many of the dear Duane Allman.
--- Mister G, Green Arrow Radio - Apr 10, 2008
~~ Last night, I was so impressed with the Joe Pitts Band, they are hard working, great players and just real good guys... You will love them, so if you see them in your area, go out and support them... It's always a pleasure when musician's check their ego at the door and step on stage, hit the note and make lots of new friends... We will have them back soon!!!
--- Roy Zito, Broad St. Blues, Phenix City, Alabama - Mar 2008
~~Those that know me know that in the meantime, "I'm a sucker for some good slide guitar". Thus have I with the cd's of this guy what my heart wishes, but Joe Pitts is a guitarist, who, how incredible it is if you hear him, here is still fairly unknown. This is entirely undeserved because such can be spoken, that there are guitarists who has the musical inheritance of Duane Allman, that there is only two in the footsteps of Skydog that can step. Namely, Derek Trucks and this guy, Joe Pitts.
--- Ron Bervoets, Rootstime - Belgium Dec 2007
~~Joe Pitts is one of the hottest slide guitarists in the business. He is reminiscent of Warren Haynes and Tim Brooks.
--- Michael Knippschild, SRA Musicshop, Germany 2006
~~Say you long for the tasty slide of Duane Allman? Well don’t we all? Joe Pitts seems to really channel Skydog at times on slide and lead guitar, and his vocals are very easy on the ear as well.
--- Gritz Magazine - 2006
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