Photo: Andrew Walsh

With a guitar/harmonica/bass/drums line-up, Woodbrain (formerly Joe McMurrian Quartet) might be mistaken for a typical blues collective — at least until this fiery Portland, Oregon foursome begins to play, when it quickly becomes apparent they are potentially an evolutionary force in the genre. Or several genres at once.

Woodbrain’s energy is incendiary; their music deeply rooted in tradition. And yet their songwriting and improvisation pull those roots in all kinds of directions informed by the generations of Son House, Jimi Hendrix, and John Coltrane. Without sacrificing an iota of heart or soul, their sound effortlessly skirts boundaries to reach blues, rock, Americana, and jam scene listeners alike.

Together as a collective, Woodbrain is massive machine of sound, - Imagine If Robert Johnson had heard Hendrix and had hooked up with Jack Bruce, John Bohnam and Little Walter, mix in contemporary song writing and one of a kind musical performances and you have an amazing band.

"“Woodbrain is a progressive blues based band," says McMurrian about the quartet's sound. "Influenced by all music and a whole lot of old weird American music like the blues and mountain music, etc. But what we do is anything but regular blues; it's a new blues evolution of the forms. We take reverential influence from all that old American stuff, play full on like a rock band and improvise whenever possible. My songwriting is not in any way trying to be a part of the past by similarity or imitation; it’s out of my experience and the music is just there in the water. We all come from different musical backgrounds and meet in the middle in an astonishing way. “"

Progressive high energy music, Gut wrenching emotion and energy transitioning to graceful melodies, complex harmonies and challenging meter changes make for the most powerful Roots/Blues music around. The sound is rooted in Delta Blues and Old American Roots music, but it is weaved into a modern concept of improvisation and original story telling that owes as much to John Coltrane, Jimi Hendrix or Led Zeppelin as it does to Son House, Mississippi Fred McDowell, R.L Burnside or Bert Jansch. Woodbrain is the new face of American Roots & Blues music, one that crosses limiting musical boundaries, and soars up within the Infinity of sound.

 
http://yellowdogrecords.com/woodbrain

 

Portland Waterfront Blues festival 2008 - Photography by Andrew Walsh

 

 

BAND BIO'S

Founding member Joe McMurrian is a native of the Northern California, San Joaquin Delta region. 8 years ago He relocated with his family to Portland after a ten year stay in various areas of Los Angeles where he went to art school and performed on streets and in the clubs to hone his craft. As a solo artist, McMurrian released his debut, "Rain of Days", which was voted the #2 best independent blues release of 2006 by the International Blues Foundation of Memphis as well as reaching the #5 slot on Japan's Tower Records chart. When he was 9 Joe found his father’s steel slide guitar up in the attic and decided to start playing.32 years later he still likes it.

Joe is deeply influenced by the finger style, slide guitar styles of the Delta Blues and American Hill country masters like Robert Pete Williams, Skip James, Son House, Doc Boggs, , Fred McDowell, Robert Johnson, Bukka White, R.L Burnside, Roscoe Holcomb, Blind WIllie Johnson, Lightning Hopkins and modern players like Buddy Guy, Bert Jansch, Jimi Hendrix, Cream, Leo Kotke, Rev. Gary Davis, Doc Watson, James Blood Ulmer, Albert Collins, Freddy King, John Coltrane, Ornett Coleman, T - Bone Walker, Robert Petway, Thelonious Monk, Chris Whitley, Kelly Joe Phelps, Junior Kimbrough, Sleepy John Estes, Pete Seeger, Bob Dylan, John Fahey, Miles Davis and Rajeev Tarnoth. Joe blends all these influences into a powerful modern gumbo that can switch from gut wrenching hard driving deep electric blue’s to intricate acoustic blues. 2 years ago Joe formed the power quartet Woodbrain and signed in 2009 with Memphis Label Yellow Dog Record.

Photo: Aaron Hewitt

 

 

Woodbrain's drummer is non other than the legendary Jimi Bott also originally from the SF Bay Area.
Formerly of The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Rod Piazza & Mark Hummel, Jimi is one of the most recorded blues drummers in recent history appearing on an amazing number of more than 60 cds! Nine time BMA (Blues Music award) Nominee and his five time CBA Muddy Award Winner for Blues Drummer of the year he brings blazing drive yet percussive sensitivity to Woodbrain's unique original sound.

 

Holding the bass chair is Jason Honl. Formely of ,Pieces & Big Mouth Bass and the only native Portlander in the group. While assembling mellifluous, flowing lines with the mastery of a seasoned Jazz elder he can also seemingly Channel Jack Bruce, Bob Glaub and Noel Redding simultaneously, never losing site of the given song's origin. In recent interview Jason said, his signature Shoeless stage presence is more than just for comfort but rather ..."keeps me grounded in the relentless waves of improv that are crashing through my mind and across the stage!"

 

 

Portland harmonica player David Lipkind is a St. Louis , Mo. born and bred third generation harp blower. Lipkind is one of the most in-demand players in the area, and is known as a versatile, musical, exciting player. Lipkind has recorded with many Pacific Northwest artists and bands as a guest soloist, including rock icons the Supersuckers, Jerry Joseph and the Jackmormans, folk singers David Rea and Darrin Craig (Jackstraw), indie rock heroes the Decemberists, Americana bands Spigot and Drunken Prayer, bluesman Mark Lemhouse and Hillstomp, among others.Lipkind was also a longtime member of legendary rock band I Can Lick any Son of a Bitch in the House.

 

 

 

Original artwork by the legendary comic master Jeff Parker WWW.PARKERspace.COM - Thanks Jeff - You rock!