Past till now..
Joe found his fathers steel slideguitar in the attic one day when he was 9 and decided to keep at it. 30 years later he still likes it. Now living in Portland Oregon after many years abroad and up and down the West Coast, Joe enjoys the musical diversity of the great northwest.

Joe is a native of the Northern California, San Joaquin Delta region. 7 years ago He relocated with his family to Portland after a ten year stay in various areas of Los Angeles. 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.

In Los Angeles he played every acoustic venue available, as well as receiving weekly airplay on the prominent radio station KCRW in Santa Monica. Joe has performed at countless venues & numerous festivals Including the Portland Waterfront Blues Festival (the past 4 years), Portland Brewers Festival, Park City Utah Founders Tile Bluegrass and Folk Festival, Pasadena Blues Festival, String Summit and the Listening Room concert series in Los Angeles. He has opened with such luminaries as John Mayhall, Paul Geramia, LouisianaRed, Keb Mo, Paul Livingstone, Eddie Kirkland, John McEuen, Charlie Musslewhite, Preacher Boy, Canned Heat, Sonny Landreth & Little Charley and the Nightcats to name a few.

In addition to being a musician, Joe is a highly trained Fine artist who paints and creates any number of strange things. Art for Joe is a unified exploration, one that doen't have borders. When he performes on stage he is in a way painting with sound, ebbing and flowing towards new realms of experience.

Moving to the Northwest 7 years ago -He carried with him his unique brand of music and has now found the perfect musicians to help him create it. Together as a collective, JMQ 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.

The Joe McMurrian Quartet, is the new face of American Roots & Blues music
”Joe’s guitar playing and singing have that rare quality of unearthly wisdom and understanding. Joe is joined by three of Portland’s most innovative musicians and the connection is as immediate and natural as thunder and lightning…” Radio host Brad Brenner of Portland’s KMHD 89.1 FM

JMQ'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 JMQ's unique original sound. In a current interview Jimi was quoted saying..
"This band is threatening to be THE MOST DYNAMIC BANDS I will ever play with!"

Holding the bass chair is the original Q Head 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.Ê Lipkind was also a longtime member of legendary rock band I Can Lick any Son of a Bitch in the House.David has found a home with new project JMQ, as he is allowed to stretch out, become an integral part of the song structure, while masterfully improvising, help steer songs in different directions, as well as help accompany his band mates.

Nominated for best new act by the Cascade Blues Association JMQ has been gaining momentum at an excelarated rate. After returning from their summer tour in the great state of Alaska JMQ took the Waterfront blues festival by suprise and by storm receiving standing ovations at both of their performances. They are currently working several times a month throughout the Northwest

With his new band in tow, The Joe McMurrian Quartet have just released "JMQ - Joe McMurrian Quartet Live at the White Eagle", which spotlights seven new songs as well as some highly rearranged traditionals, all weaved into the sonic fabric of the JMQ sound.This new classic is scheduled for release by BSMF Records in Japan early in 2008.

The live album is a deep mix of Delta/Hill country blues power, delicate finger-style slide contortions, and vocal infused scenes of talking rivers, cities on fire, loves trickery, dogs with gills, smoke building windows, failed preachers, Coo Coo birds, L.A freeways, boats of leather and stone cast across improvisational creationism and Rosewood soaked brain waves.

"We are a progressive blues based band," says McMurrian about the quartet's sound. "influenced by all music and a whole lot of old American music like the blues, But what we do is anything but regular blues; it's new blues, if you will, and should be seen as modern yet approachable by young and old listeners."

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. JMQ is the new face of American Roots & Blues music, one that crosses limiting musical boundaries, trivialities and fads and soars up within the infinity of sound.

2003