"The blues is a feeling deep inside from your heart to your guts and back up your spine."

Joe Taino: Caribbean Blues

Joe Taino’s interested in music became at the age of 9 after watching Beatles movie Hard Days Night. Started his first band in 1966 at age 11 and began professional music career in 1972 at age 16 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Since then, Joe played every week sometimes 6 or 7 days a week until present. He had toured Europe, Japan, Central and South America. Recorded over a dozen of cd`s and consider one of NYC best blues guitarist by many. The Legend of Joe Taino is a combination of information provided by Joe, and an article by Carol Barbieri that appeared in the Atlantic Highlands Herald on October 19, 2000.

“I got hooked on the Blues, after hearing Eric Clapton’s Sleepy Time and Sitting on Top of the World," Joe says, “and from that point on I did nothing but play records and listen to English speaking stations where they played rock and roll, jazz, rhythm and blues and Blues and occasionally Blues by artists like B.B. King, Albert King, Freddie King, Etta James, T-Bone Walker and Taj Mahal.” Joe (Jose Abella) got his first professional gigs at the Puerto Rico USO Naval Stations and the rock clubs in San Juan. Jose adopted the name “Taino” due to his Indian looks and background, and soon named the band “Taino Band.” In 1978 Joe joined Marion Hite, a Kentucky native, playing country and western music. Joe also played Top 40 gigs at the hotels in the famous resort area of Condado, and put together what became the hottest rock band of all time in Puerto Rico; “Pelican in Flight” shared stages with artists like Judas Priest, Kansas, Billy Idol, Cindy Lauper, Peter Frampton, Pat Travers, Rick Derringer, Ronnie Montrose, Cheap Trick and many others. But it was the Blues that captivated Joe’s soul, “Rock isn’t what I wanted to do. So I moved to Florida and tried to establish myself as a Blues musician.” By the early 1980s Joe was doing well enough to open shows for artists like, The Allman Brothers, Johnny Winter, John Mayall, Robin Trower, Koko Taylor, Ruth Brown and Jaco Pastorius, with whom he spent the few months before Jaco’s death. So, after Jaco died he packed his things and moved to New York City, where he had lived briefly in 1976. New York welcomes superior talent, so after a few months of attending jam sessions and meeting people, word of Joe’s expertise began spreading. He was soon working as a sideman with a number of top bands in the city. The band released CDs in the USA under their own label, and in Europe under Provogue Records.

Interview by Michael Limnios

What do you learn about yourself from the blues and what does the blues mean to you?

I learn that I was a bluesman since I was very young and I didn't even knew it. The blues is a feeling deep inside from your heart to your guts and back up your spine. It starts very upsetting but by the time it reaches the spine it gets better and finally you will release those feelings via either your voice or your musical instrument.

"I miss the sounds and simplicity of the music in the old days. I hope that this advanced technology in music will crash and people go back to make simple soulful music again."

How do you describe Joe Taino sound and progress, what characterize your music philosophy?

My sound is a big blend of styles from acoustic folk blues, latin music; electric blues; classic rock; country and rockabilly. To me music is universal and one should never classified music in different types or put labels on it. It should be just ‘music’; ‘good music’.

What experiences in your life have triggered your ideas for songs most frequently?

I haven't write any songs in over 10 years. The last songs I wrote was about my wife; about my ex-wife; and about my own life in the late 90`s which was very hard and poor.

Why did you think that the Blues music continues to generate such a devoted following?

Blues is real; a lot of people are afraid of it or don't want to face the facts of life but if you can overcome that fear then you will appreciate the blues music a little more...

What’s the best jam you ever played in? What are some of the most memorable gigs you've had?

It is very hard to remember that because I played every day since the late 60's...but I have had some good jams with people like Jaco Pastorious; Pinetop Perkins; Bernard Purdie; Rick Derringer...

Which meetings have been the most important experiences for you? What is the best advice ever given you?

The best advice that was given to me was to have my own voice, meaning my own sound and to sing and to get good at singing and never hire a singer; be on the front...

"To me music is universal and one should never classified music in different types or put labels on it. It should be just ‘music’; ‘good music’."

Are there any memories from Allman Brothers, Johnny Winter, and John Mayall which you’d like to share with us?

I opened a show for Gregg Allman in Florida but it was not the Allman Brothers Band; it was a separate project that he occasionally put together. I never got to meet Johnny Winter unfortunately, I opened a couple of shows in Florida for him and never got to meet him at that time; his manager (Teddy Slatus) wouldn't let me; but when I moved to NYC I was playing at a club called Manny's Car Wash for 2 nights with the Mark the Harper band sharing the bill with Eddie “The Chief” Clearwater and Johnny came in and sat at the bard. I went to him immediately and introduced myself and he actually remembers those shows in Florida. He ask me to sit down next to him and have a drink; I actually bought him the first round of Jack Daniels and coke, I believe; anyway we talk for a long time. Then I told him that I would be there the next day too; well; he came back the next day and we hung out all night...great guy…John Mayall; I never got to meet him; after I play my set; I left because had a gig that night....

What do you miss most nowadays from the music of past? What are your hopes and fears for the future of music?

I miss the sounds and simplicity of the music in the old days. I hope that this advanced technology in music will crash and people go back to make simple soulful music again.

Which memory from Robin Trower, Koko Taylor, Ruth Brown and Jaco Pastorius makes you smile?

Well, all of that look good on my resume; but it doesn't mean that much really. Jaco make me smile because back then I was pretty crazy too; I would cranck all the knobs up on my amp and play real loud and just go for it; and he used to do the same...he also told me that I was the closest thing to Jimi Hendrix that he ever play with...

What are the lines that connect the legacy of Blues with Soul, C&W and continue to Jazz, Latin and Rock music?

Well, soul music is blues for most part; jazz or at least the vintage jazz is nothing but a blues progression with a few added changes and a few more chords; rock comes from blues and country. Latin music is a bit different but the very old Puertorrican and Cuban music was originated by African Americans, the lyrics are blues; but they used different instruments and more percussion.

"I want to go back to the 50's"

How is a Puertorriqueño to play the blues in USA? What's the message of Blues in the world civilization?

For most people is odd to see a Puertorican playing blues or singing blues. Some people won’t accept that, especially purist; I play a lot of gigs because I mix my repertoire; I am not a traditional blues band; I would have been out of business a long time ago; but is still very hard. I have a tuff guy image, I am a biker so I guess most people are afraid of me or afraid of telling me something that I don`t want to hear; they think I am going to kick their asses.

Make an account of blues in Puerto Rico. What has made you laugh lately and what touched (emotionally) you?

You know what makes me laugh; the people that pick and choose who`s the best blues guitarist and people that put together this blues competitions and the idiots that consider certain young popular rock guitarist blues men or blues experts...it is just funny...

Puertorican people don`t know much about blues music but they love good music and blues or not if is good and touch them they will love it and support it...

Let’s take a trip with a time machine, so where and why would you really wanna go for a whole day..?

I want to go back to the 50's.

Joe Taino - official website