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Joe's first instrument was trumpet, but he quickly gravitated toward guitar when his father owned a Gibson SG and a small amplifier. Formal lessons with jazz guitarist Carmen Konica acquainted him with chord structures and fundamental skills, but his true love blossomed when he fell for the thrill of turning amps up loud and making noise that both thrilled him and annoyed others.
Learning by Ear and the Gift of Listening
A recurring theme in Joe’s story is the importance of ear training, especially in the pre-tab book era of the late 80s and early 90s. He learned much of what he knows from listening carefully—whether on cassette decks or records—rewinding signatures phrases and trying to mimic them. This process of looping and dissecting solos was crucial to developing his style.