About Me
Freehold’s Best Kept Secret
Since 2005 when they stepped into the local area music scene, Jo Wymer and the Itty Bitty Band have become a respected, skillful, musical partnership of songwriting, musicianship, and superior live performance. Jo Wymer (a resident of Freehold, NJ - a town known for producing some prominent musicians) leads this collaboration and has been making a name for herself, as well as her Itty Bitty Band, all throughout the Mid-Atlantic States.
In the past few years she has proven herself as an accomplished songwriter and band leader.....She has been selected as a finalist in several national songwriting and band competitions such as:
2005 John Lennon Songwriting Contest
2005 Billboard Blues Songwriters Challenge
2006 Telluride Brews and Blues Acoustic Blues Competition, placing 4th
2007 International Songwriting Contest
2006 and 2007 International Blues Challenge
2007 and 2008 Mamapalooza All Star Showcase
2005 VH1 New Artist Jam
Many of Jo's lyrics have been featured in American Songwriter Magazine. In recent news....Jo and her band were NOMINATED for "Top Blues Band" at the 2006 and 2007 Asbury Music Awards. Jo's powerful, searing vocals got her a nomination in 2007 for an Asbury Music Award in the category of "Top Female Vocal".
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Jo Wymer and the Itty Bitty Band are a musical alliance made up of Jo (lead guitar, vocals, piano, harmonica), Fred Dorward (bassist), Helen Radtke (violinist, guitar, backup vocals), and Jim Cooper (percussionist, guitar, harmonica)
“Blues is what we do best but it’s not all we do!â€
In the Roots/Blues world, Jo Wymer has not gone unnoticed. Legendary Blues Guitarist Sue Foley has taken notice of Jo and her skill as a musician and songwriter. Ms. Foley has listed her as one of the top, female, blues guitarist/songwriters. Visit www.guitarwoman.com for more details. Women like Anne Rabson and Roxy Perry have taken a interest as well.
When you listen to Jo Wymer and the Itty Bitty Band you will hear all the influences in their music. Patty Griffin, Dolly Parton, Sue Foley, Eva Cassidy, Etta James, Koko Taylor, Bettye Lavette, Elmore James, Lucinda Williams, Bonnie Raitt, John Haitt, Ryan Adams, Patterson Hood and many other influences bleed throughout their music.
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Jo Wymer and the Itty Bitty Band are now being heard on the following radio stations...
COOL VIBES RADIO - Acoustic Diner - PENNSYLVANIA
MIDNIGHT SPECIAL BLUES RADIO - EUROPE
MVYRADIO - BOSTON/MARTHA'S VINEYARD (MV based)
BILLBOARDRADIO BLUES - EUROPE (UK Based)
BLACK OWL MUSIC RADIO - U.S. (Miami Based)
BLACK OWL MUSIC RADIO - EUROPE (UK based)
BLUES CAFE ON LIVE 365 - AUSTRAILIA (based)
HOME GROWN RADIO - NEW JERSEY (based)
HELSINKIS BLUES CAFE - FINLAND (based)
KIAC INTERNET RADIO - WORLDWIDE (UK Based)
NEON PRODUCTIONS RADIO
MUSICTOGOUSA.COM
THE SONGWRITER'S NETWORK
KICKBACK RADIO
ARTWORKS ON THE NET
UPSTAGE RADIO - NEW JERSEY (based)
THE BAND HOUSE LIVE - GEORGIA (based) http://sc6.spacialnet.com:21104/listen
BAD BOBS ROCK SHOW http://hive.rockandrollhosting.com:9022/listen
OUTFITTERS. TV LIVE RADIO - VALDOSTA, GEORGIA
http://www.outfitters.tv
Thanks so very much to all those stations.
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CHECK OUT WHAT THE PRESS IS SAYING ABOUT JO WYMER AND THE ITTY BITTY BAND
SHINEBONE MAGAZINE - April 2008
By Rob Wheary
Jo Wymer and the Itty Bitty Band
There’s a quote from Kid Rock that says, “If it looks good, you’ll see it; if it sounds good, you’ll hear it; if it’s marketed right, you’ll buy it; but... if its real, you’ll feel it.â€Jo Wymer is real.Playing the blues from the guitar and with a voice that rivals that of Heart’s Nancy Wilson, one of the greatest voices in rock history, Wymer brings out the soul of the music that she is singing about. Her song, “Boulevard†is one of the best that I’ve heard in a long time.All of the tracks that I heard were live songs, so I can only hope that there is more to come from this artist in the future, so that more can feel what music needs today, a singer like this.
THE TWO RIVER TIMES - UNCLE MIKE - Feb 2008
11th ANNUAL BROOKDALE GUITAR SHOW
Next up was blueswoman Jo Wymer & The Itty Bitty Band. This Freehold based singer/songwriter has been making a name for herself among local blues fans and this day's performance was no except to that rule. Accompanied by Fred Dorward (acoustic bass guitar) and Helen Radtke (electric violin/tambourine), Jo Wymer (lead vocals/acoustic guitar/harmonica) treated the crowd to her big, bold, down and dirty style of blues with outstanding renditions of "Fool No More" (this original set the tone for what was to follow/way cool violin play), Billy Holiday's "Fine And Mellow" (big time vocal/ crowd ate it up), "Evil Man" (another strong lead vocal/terrific lament), "Satisfied" (touch of country featuring hot fiddle/big toe tapper), "Careless Love" (Jo gets down on this mournfully moving ballad), "Burn It Off" (Fred steps up and shines on this upbeat original), "Boulevard" (a crowd favorite), "You Don't Matter To Me" (blues with a feeling/fine vocal and violin play/huge finish) and Koko Taylor's "The Man Next Door" (Jo lets it all hang out as she goes out wailing on this killer blues ). Simply put this was another stellar performance by one of the better blues vocalist on the local scene. And there is nothing itty bitty about her band!
PRINCETON ARTS COUNCIL - JOHN IRVING - Feb 2008
Jo Wymer, Blues Chanteuse & the Itty Bitty Band
Rockin' Blues and Rollin' Rhythm
The Blues is an honest expression of life's pain. Lots of singers can fake that lament, but, like Billie Holiday, Jo Wymer gives passionate voice to the reality of blue existence, and with that voice, this woman from Freehold manages to bludgeon and seduce you at the same time. With her band, Jo wins acclaim and awards (e.g., Asbury, 2006 -- Top Blues Band). Such accolades do not come without a magical presence on stage and finely crafted technique (she's a former Juilliard student). But it's the soul of this substantial woman that has insinuated Jo Wymer and her band into the consciousness of listeners up and down the Jersey Coast, and beyond
GREATER MEDIA - CLAIRE MARIE CELANO - Aug 2007
http://newstranscript.gmnews.com/news/2007/0815/Front_Page/0
67.html
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GOT BLUES?? - CHECK OUT WHERE PEOPLE LISTEN TO JO WYMER!
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