The Jo Cuseo Blues Project
To have any chance of achieving success in the ultra-competitive L.A. music scene, the
members of a project should be somewhat already well known here in town; musically versatile; thick skinned and even tempered; (and) most of all, talented.
The Jo Cuseo Blues Project not only encompasses all of the aforementioned criteria--they also bring another integral ingredient into the picture: These guys truly enjoy what they do!!!! Indeed, having a good time while performing has become the mantra of this blues-rock playing aggregation.
Front and center is guitarist/singer-songwriter, JO CUSEO; Jo is a veteran of the L.A. music scene having written and worked with Tom Deluca(Fox Sports West), Jan Buckingham (Pam Tillis), Mike Landau (Alannis Morrsett) and Matt Luneau (Michael McDonald). Jo was one of four
guitarists nominated by Debra Stocker, Publisher of ALL ACCESS MAGAZINE in the prestigious "Best Guitarist" category at the 2003 ALL ACCESS MUSIC AWARDS, standing shoulder to shoulder, categorically speaking, with Southern California guitar legend, Walter Trout. GUITAR 9, SIOUTHBOUND BEAT, BLUES BYTES, SOUTHLAND BLUES and MUSIC CONNECTION have all written favorable reviews pertaining to either Jo's electric live performances or his self-titled 2003 CD. Most recently, the band has released it’s latest CD, “BURNING DESIRE”. The band was featured artist on “SATURDAY MORNING LIVE” on 95.9FM (The Octopus) in Ventura, CA. in December 2006. They are performing regularly in Southern California, having opened for Berlin in October 2007 at the Canyon Club as well as other Socal dates.
From Virginia, is bassist JOEL WOODS. His love of a very diverse musical style brought Joel to listen to R&B, Classic Rock, Blues, and Funk. From a young age of ten years old, Joel first began his interest as a musician by playing drums, and then soon began his study of bass guitar as well. A graduate of Berklee School of Music, Joel is as comfortable in a recording session as he is at getting down and funky on stage.
Drummer RICK LATHAM has performed, recorded, produced and taught in the Los Angeles area since 1984. While living in Dallas before moving to LA, Rick was a member of R&B bass legend Chuck Rainey's band - "Rainey Man." From 1996 - 2002 Latham was a featured member of THE EDGAR WINTER BAND with hundreds of stellar performances including a very special appearance at the 1999 Montreux Jazz Festival. Not only is Rick busy with The Jo Cuseo Blues Project, he also performs with pop country star JUICE NEWTON. Rick is also the founder and driving force of his own contemporary jazz "supergroup", RICK LATHAM AND THE GROOVE DOCTORS. Throughout his career Rick has performed live and on recordings with such greats as bluesman B.B. King, Quincy Jones, rockers Neal Schon, and Pat Travers as well as jazz all-stars Bill Watrous, Larry Carlton, Paul Smith, Howard Roberts, David Friedman and David Samuels.
Keyboardist TONY LANDER began playing psychedelic blues and rock music by ear at age 13, and hasn't stopped since. Tony studied Harmony and Theory in Las Vegas while playing front-man in a Funk/Blues project called Planet Groove. His professor/piano teacher had a strong influence on him, recalls Tony. "Doc was, and still is, a true musical inspiration for me; she helped me see that music is my career, not just a hobby". After studying for two years with Dr. D, Tony relocated to southern California to study at Musicians Institute. Tony is currently Director of the Keyboard Institute of Technology at Musicians Institute in Hollywood, CA.
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