"Swings
hard on the blues while seamlessly blending the
church and the street"
—Blues
Revue CD review
of Buckle Up May 2001
"Joe Krown swings like royalty
(e.g. a Count or a Duke)..."
—Living Blues Magazine
"Krown's playing chops certainly command respect...if
you're looking for B-3 organ blues with soul, the Joe Krown Organ Combo
has it in spades."
—Scott Jordan, Gambit Weekly
(New Orleans)
"Down & Dirty, his official debutante ball on
Hammond B-3, at which Krown is one of the city's
undisputed masters..
will
give you full access to the
Big Easy's Booker T."
—Robert Fontenot, OffBEAT magazine
(New Orleans)
Joe Krown moved to New Orleans in 1992 after honing his keyboard skills in the Northeast. Since that time, he has built a strong reputation as first-call organist and pianist in the Crescent City. He won the 2001 Big Easy Award in the Blues category. He is an endorsee for Hammond Suzuki Keyboards. Krown and The Joe Krown Organ Combo made their television debut on Louisiana Jukebox in February 2000, which was broadcast in metro New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Shreveport, Opelousas, LA; Memphis, TN; Cleveland; OH and Austin, TX. He was a recent featured artist on LouisianaRadio.com. Krown was highlighted in a feature article in the September 2000 issue of OffBEAT Magazine. Krown's third compact disc, Buckle Up, was picked as the #4 CD of 2000 by The Times-Picayune's music critic, in the article Best of 2000 CDs. OffBEAT Magazine also selected Buckle Up as one of the Top 20 CDs of 2000. Krown was also named "Best Keyboardist, Editor's Choice," by NewOrleans.CitySearch.com. Additionally, Krown has been a featured artist on the New Orleans Radio, Louisiana Radio, and most recently on InsideNewOrleans websites. The Joe Krown Organ Combo released its latest CD, Funk Yard, in May 2002 at the House of Blues in New Orleans. Krown returns to the piano for his upcoming 2003 CD release, New Orleans Piano Rolls.
Krown has held the keyboard chair with the Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown Band since 1992, and is featured on the chart-topping The Man, Gate Swings, American Music, Texas Style and Back to Bogalusa albums. Since September 1996, he's held the Traditional Piano Night slot at the Maple Leaf Bar in New Orleans, which was once occupied by Professor Longhair and James Booker. Krown followed that strong tradition with his debut solo release Just the Piano...Just the Blues (1998). In 1998, he formed the Joe Krown Organ Combo, which makes regular appearances in New Orleans at such noted clubs as the Maple Leaf, House of Blues, and Storyville District. Krown's second STR release, Down & Dirty (1999), explores classic organ combo material reminiscent of Booker T., Jimmy Smith, Jimmy McGriff and others. Krown's Buckle Up (2000) follows his Down & Dirty release as another outing featuring his mighty Hammond B-3 organ. He called on the talents of the finest musicians in New Orleans to give life to this set of seven originals and four carefully selected standard organ tunes. Original Meters bassist George Porter, Jr. and Dr. John drummer Herman Ernest form a solid and funky rhythm section for organist Krown, saxophonist Eric Traub and guitarists John Fohl and Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown to cut loose with groovy melodies and strong solos.
In
2000, Krown (on piano) joined forces with Jumpin' Johnny Sansone (harmonica
and vocals) and John Fohl (guitar and vocals) to form Sansone, Krown,
& Fohl, a delta blues trio that has been gaining notoriety and has
landed an appearance at the 2001 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.
In
1998, Krown released his STR debut Just the Piano...Just the Blues
to rave revues. That recording captured one aspect of Joe's musical persona–solo
piano in the boogie/blues style. With his second effort, Down
& Dirty, he wanted to document another dimension in his musical
style—the classic organ combo sound reminiscent of Booker T., Jimmy McGriff,
Jimmy Smith, and Bill Doggit. Joe called on his bandmates from both Gatemouth
Brown's band and the New Orleans swing group, Amy and the Hank Sinatras
to lend their talent and songwriting skills to this project. The CD features
mostly Krown originals with a couple of covers. Among the guest artists
are Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown, Jumpin' Johnny Sansone, Eric Traub, and
Amy Adams. Since its release in April 1999, Down
& Dirty received several excellent revues and the combo's
shows have met with very enthusiastic audiences.
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Krown has performed with Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown, Luther "Guitar Jr."
Johnson, Johnny Adams, Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, John Lee Hooker, Vassar
Clemens, Marva Wright, The Platters, The Drifters, A.C. Reed, Big Time
Sarah, and Jo-El Sonnier. Joe has held the keyboard chair for Clarence
"Gatemouth" Brown since 1992. He played with Luther "Guitar Jr." Johnson
from 1989 - 1992. Luther was the lead guitar player for Muddy Waters from
1972 - 1979. Krown has recorded with Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown, Luther
"Guitar Jr." Johnson, Jumpin' Johnny Sansone, Kid Ramos (guitarist of
the Fabuluos Thunderbirds), Bobby Charles, Raful Neal, Marva Wright and
Amy and the Hank Sinatras.