Joe Powers
Harmonica virtuoso, Joe Powers is known for bending and blending genres from jazz to classical, hip-hop to world music, and Argentine Tango. Since gaining a music degree from the University of Oregon he has performed around the world, from Paris to Tokyo and won the Belgian Crystal Harmonica Award/Classical Division in 2008.
Joe has collaborated with renowned Tango maestros including: Narcotango, Tanghetto, Otros Aires, Nicolás Ledesma, Emilio de la Peña, Horacio Cabarcos, Pablo Motta, the UK’s “Tango Siempre”, and Japan’s “Orquesta Aurora”. He has also appeared with groups and artists as diverse as Pink Martini, British pop icon Jamie Cullum, Canadian Boogie-Woogie pianist, Michael Kaeshammer, Sony jazz guitarist Yosuke Onuma, French blues legend J.J. Milteau, and the Ichikawa Symphony Orchestra in Japan.
In 2012 his Tango quintet was featured with sold-out performances at one of North America’s top Classical music series, the Oregon Bach Festival, sharing the bill with super star violinist, Joshua Bell. In 2013 he guest starred with the Vancouver Symphony orchestra kicking off their 35th season with double performances of the Gordon Jacob Harmonica Suite. On his 2016 world tour he gave a sold-out concert with the Barcelona Symphonic Band, and performed the Villa Lobos Harmonica concerto with the Macedonian Philharmonic Orchestra guest conducted by famous Bulgarian conductor, Emil Tabakov. Most recently, on his 20th tour in Japan, Joe was voted “favourite artist” by FM Osaka listeners and his trio was a headliner at the 37th annual Cathedral Park Jazz Festival.
His fifth studio album, “Apasionado” was recorded in April, 2015 in Buenos Aires with some of Argentina’s top Tango musicians and features six of Joe’s original compositions as well as six Tango classics. More information at: www.joepowers.com
You can find more tour details on his calendar page