joe krown organ combo

Biography

Joe Krown is an American keyboardist specializing in New Orleans-style piano and Hammond B3 organ, based in New Orleans, Louisiana. In the 1980s, he relocated to Boston, formed his own band with his then-wife, and performed around New York and New England. During this period, he joined Chuck Berry's backup band, featuring drummer Tom Hambridge, touring the East Coast and backing 1950s doo-wop acts like The Platters, Marvelettes, and The Drifters.[1] In 1991, Krown moved to New Orleans to join Clarence 'Gatemouth' Brown's band, Gate's Express, serving as the keyboardist until Brown's death in 2005, recording four albums, and touring the U.S. and overseas, including as the opening act for Eric Clapton's 1995 world tour.[1][2][4]

The Joe Krown Organ Combo formed in 1999, featuring Krown on Hammond organ, guitarist Brint Anderson, saxophonist Brent Rose, drummer Mike Barras, and bassist Cassandra Faulconer. The group performed weekly at New Orleans venues like Maple Leaf Bar, House of Blues, Tipitina's, Le Bon Temps Roule, and dba, and made regular appearances at the French Quarter Festival since 1998 and New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival since 2001, with a European debut in 2001 at Ingolstadt Jazztage in Germany.[1][2][3] Krown released solo piano albums like 'Just The Piano...Just The Blues' (1997) and formed additional projects, including a trio with Johnny Sansone and John Fohl in 2000 (album in 2004), the Joe Krown Trio post-Hurricane Katrina in 2005, and a Hammond organ trio with Walter 'Wolfman' Washington and Russell Batiste, Jr. starting in 2007, releasing live and studio albums.[1][4] Since 2017, he has been the full-time keyboardist for the Kenny Wayne Shepherd band, touring worldwide while continuing local performances.[4][8]

Krown's musical style blends New Orleans piano traditions (influenced by slots once held by Professor Longhair and James Booker at Maple Leaf Bar from 1996-2001), blues, funk, boogie-woogie, and jazz. His groups have won multiple New Orleans Big Easy Awards (2000, 2004, 2009) and an OffBeat Award, cementing his legacy as a first-call organist and pianist in the Crescent City blues and funk scenes.[1][2][5]

Fun Facts

• Held the Traditional Piano Night slot at Maple Leaf Bar from 1996-2001, following legends Professor Longhair and James Booker.[2]
• Backed Chuck Berry on East Coast tours in the 1980s alongside drummer Tom Hambridge and also supported doo-wop groups like The Platters.[1]
• Post-Hurricane Katrina in 2005, quickly reformed as the Joe Krown Trio to revive live music in New Orleans.[1][4]
• Joe Krown Organ Combo made European debut at Ingolstadt Jazztage in Germany in 2001.[1][2]

Members

• Joe Krown

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Clarence 'Gatemouth' Brown - Band leader and primary influence during early New Orleans career ('The Man,' 'Gate Swings,' 'American Music Texas Style,' 'Back to Bogalusa') [1991-2005]

Key Collaborators

• Brint Anderson - Guitarist in Joe Krown Organ Combo (Joe Krown Organ Combo albums including 'Down & Dirty' (1999), 'Buckle Up' (2000), 'Funk Yard' (2002), 'Livin' Large' (2005)) [1999-present]
• Brent Rose - Saxophonist in Joe Krown Organ Combo (Joe Krown Organ Combo albums) [1999-present]
• Mike Barras - Drummer in Joe Krown Organ Combo (Joe Krown Organ Combo albums) [1999-present]
• Cassandra Faulconer - Bassist in Joe Krown Organ Combo (Joe Krown Organ Combo albums) [1999-present]
• Walter 'Wolfman' Washington - Guitarist and vocalist in Hammond organ trio ('Live at the Maple Leaf' (2008), 'Triple Threat' (2010), 'Soul Understanding' (2013)) [2007-present]
• Russell Batiste, Jr. - Drummer in Hammond organ trio with Wolfman Washington ('Live at the Maple Leaf' (2008), 'Triple Threat' (2010), 'Soul Understanding' (2013)) [2007-present]
• Johnny Sansone - Harmonica/accordion player and vocalist in piano trio (Self-titled album (2004)) [2000-2004]
• John Fohl - Guitarist and vocalist in piano trio with Sansone (Self-titled album (2004)) [2000-2004]
• Kenny Wayne Shepherd - Full-time keyboardist in band (Various tours and albums) [2017-present]

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia
• MusicBrainz