BIO

Joe Cramer is a performing, composing and recording guitarist, presently residing in Austin, Texas.  Originally from the Chicago area, he started playing blues in The Mulberry Stump Blues Band in the early nineties, followed by New Orleans style funk, jazz and hard rock with Gilgamesh.  He then formed the band Tall Grass Magicians in 1995 which played original music in and around the greater Chicago metropolitan area, showcasing music from two albums.  Joe’s skills as a guitarist have been recognized across multiple genres in notable local-area bands (Michelle Cross Band, Teradactyls, Ian Hall Band) and open rock, blues, jam and jazz performance venues over a 20-year span.

 

After moving to Austin, Texas in 2015, Joe became involved with the Health Alliance for Austin Musicians (HAAM), playing in their Corporate Battle of the Bands while working for the Intel Corporation. Two of the bands, Transistor Troubadours and Overclocked won the overall competition in 2017 and 2018, with an unexpected combination of Texas influenced Rock and Roll and classical Indian Carnatic music. He also started serious study with celebrated guitarist Carter Arrington and began formal studies at Berklee College of Music in Fall 2019, pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Guitar Performance. Joe’s latest project is the Free Range Escape Goat a fun, groove-based ensemble playing blues based rock, funk, and jazz with a southern rock twist.