The Joe Walker Band was formed in 2007. Four members uniquely blend blues, rock, soul, and other elements of music into something quite their own. Please don't think this band is just another rusted version of its predecessors. This group gets down business from the word go.
Compiled with fluid guitars and a powerful, water-tight rhythm section, the quartet is making way after completing a 10-song CD entitled 'Join Hands.' Imagine a well-oiled machine making stops at every delta-boogie house and juke-joint from New Orleans to Chicago. The only thing left is to get on board.
Guitarist-songwriter Joe Walker leads the group. A Kentucky native and graduate of Middle Tennessee State University, Walker has been making a name for himself since he moved to the Nashville area in 2003. He has developed a style combining blues, rock, and jazz elements into his phrasing. His bottle-neck (slide) repertoire is reminiscent of his hero, Duane Allman. Walker has jammed with Billy Cox of The Band of Gypsys and Chess recording artist James 'Nick' Nixon (The New Imperials). He has also studied guitar with Jack Pearson of The Allman Brothers Band and The Jack Pearson Band.
Legendary Nashville producer and engineer Bil VornDick very graciously helped the band with the project starting in late 2006. He brought forth nearly forty years of experience, and holds several Grammy Awards. VornDick is known for his work with top artists ranging from Bob Dylan, Alison Krauss, and Ralph Stanley to Bela Fleck, Jerry Douglas, and Jim Lauderdale. After months of writing and recording, the ideas eventually became full-grown songs. 'Join Hands' hit the finish line in December 2007.
Walter “Hinkie†Hamilton provides a rock-solid bass guitar sound. His soul pumps blood into the body that is the music. Hinkie performs and does session work around Nashville, and just completed session duties with Phil Vassar. He has been backing up Darnell Levine and Grammy-nominated Stacy Mitchart more recently. His style of bass has a deep pocket with an understanding of both new and old feel.
A very gifted musician in his own right, Tyronn Hamilton plays organ, piano, and keyboards. Providing answers to Walker, he is the response to a wonderful conversation often taking place between the two. He provides the glue between the rhythm section and Walkers' solos. His feel is a combination of gospel and modern-blues meets neo-soul and funk. Tyronn has been doing session work and performing around Nashville for several years. Hamilton has performed with Bob Mintzer, Jamie Slocum, and Montel Jordan to name a few.
Rory Faciane, the backbone of the foursome, is what Modern Drummer calls "a drummer on the move." The Louisiana native's talents are evident on the local and national music scene. Rory started drumming with local bands on the New Orleans circuit as a teenager. Until the age of 17, he was self-taught, playing mostly by ear. Desiring to further his natural talent, he moved west to study at the Percussion Institute of Technology in Los Angeles. To view Rory's portfolio, please visit www.rorydrum.com.
The music between the group could be titled many things. However, the songs speak for themselves. These tunes often use life as a metaphor for all too familiar situations. The human experience drives the back drop for the lyrical content. Sometimes there are losses and gains. Everything in between provides these stories in all of our lives. This music is a wonderful combination of southern-rock, blues, soul, and all the gray area in which we long to describe.
