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"I remember my first paid gig was at some high school in Toronto. I was fifteen and my buddies and I lugged all our amps and stuff there on the subway and buses. We were awful, really bloody awful... and they loved us! I knew then what I was going to do for the rest of my life."
High School year book 1969
Some three decades down the road, Joe stills feels the excitement.
"I make what Europeans call North American music. They don't have the same types of labels we have over here. There's jazz, there's rock and blues and every other sound I've ever listened to in my music. I just do what I do."
And he does it well.
At seventeen Joe was taking lessons from jazz guitar legend Lenny Breau. " I was under age so I had to sneak into his gigs. He saw me hanging around all the time and eventually offered to show me a few things. Trouble was, he was a genius. Once he got started there was no stopping and asking what was what. You had to know an awful lot just to follow what he was doing".
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After a stint at the Miles Davis School of Music and few years on the Toronto bar circuit, Joe packed up his guitar and moved to one of the musical hotspots of the world; London, England. He was soon working with the likes of Bryan Ferry and Joe Cocker while revelling in the British music scene of the early seventies.
Playing at Dingwall's
London 1979
Joe then met a woman who would guarantee his place in musical history. Marianne Faithfull hired Joe as her lead guitarist and co-writer. Joe Mavety co-wrote many of the songs on Marianne's ground breaking comeback album including "Why D'Ya Do it?"," What's the Hurry?" and the title hit "Broken English". "Witches' Song", from the same album, was picked up as the theme song for the 1996 Hollywood box office movie "The Craft" . Mavety spent six years with Marianne, recording and touring, silently holding the reins when direction was needed.
Mixing at Island Studios
London 1980
Joe relocated to Toronto in 1981 and after a 1983 North American tour finally ended his stint with the diva. "It was a friendly move, a matter of the right time and circumstance. We still see each other whenever we can". Back in Toronto he forged new relationships and resurrected old ones. Extensive tour work with Stanley Clarke, Chris Spedding, Dr. Hook and Adrian Belew paid the bills and allowed Joe to pursue his own musical vision. With long time collaborator Michael Fonfara of Lou Reed and Downchild fame, Mavety formed "The Connection" whose first single and video "Crusaders" was featured on the popular television series "Degrassi Junior High".
Taping a CBC pilot with John Tilden
and Eugene Smith |
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Various other musical groupings led to the formation of the Joe Mavety Band in 1988. He was heralded as one of Toronto's finest musicians, carving a name and reputation for himself through his astute playing and dedication.
1994 saw the release of Joe's first CD "Sunburst". The album is a collection of his songwriting gems, including an up-tempo version of "Broken English". Joe's second release "In Orbit" pays homage to one of his favorite Toronto clubs, the Orbit Room. This album of six originals and three covers, including the opening Jazz/R&B arrangement of Lennon and McCartney's "I Feel Fine", concentrates on instrumental sounds and gentle grooves.
Joe relocated to Vancouver in the winter of 1996. Quickly establishing himself amongst the city's more experienced and tasteful players, he has seized the opportunity to explore new creative relationships and refine his craft. This has led to the formation of a flexible collaboration know as Joe Mavety and the Bloodpoets.
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Joe at WestCoast Music
Vancouver B.C. |
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After more than a decade on the west coast, Joe was drawn back home in 2009. Due in part to a desire to play and collaborate more regularly with long-time friend and musical partner Michael Fonfara.
Joe has been playing solo at an eclectic blend of venues, like Nunu's Ethiopian Restaurant in the Queen Street West area of Toronto, and the Chelsea Delta Hotel downtown.
One such gig, Chuck Jackson's regular Sunday show at Mississauga's “Roc 'N' Docs”. Saw Joe playing with Michael Fonfara, bassist Garth Vogan and drummer Terry Martel. There was immediately a connection and cohesiveness with this grouping. An energy that was undeniable.
One very definite component of Joe's return was to record a new album.
During the course of demo recording Joe, Michael and long-time friend Rhythm Ranch owner John Pickering composed and recorded 4 songs for “A Cure for the Blues,” a charitable CD to benefit leukemia research.
A Gibson 175 brought new textures to merge with old almost-forgotten memories. Ghosts of guitars past.
With new axe in hand Joe set up to track with Fonfara, Vogan and Martel. The resulting material is soon to be released as Joe Mavety “The Rhythm Ranch Sessions” on the Blue Saphire label.
Providing consistency and direction throughout is the mature and polished sound of Joe Mavety. |
