Joe Filisko (2:15 p.m. Open Mike Stage) first came to national attention in 1992 with articles in the Joliet Herald-News, the Chicago Tribune, and the Associated Press, and a feature on Chicago’s Channel 7 News as Harry Porterfield’s “Someone You Should Know.” Filisko is one of the players featured in the 1998 German film Imagination is Limitless – Harmonica’s Journey Around the World. He was named Harmonica Player of the Year in 2001 by the SPAH organization. He has compiled the definitive discography on Big Walter Horton, written the “Harmonica” entry for the Encyclopedia of the Blues, and has written for Bluegrass Limited and RBS Gazette. Joe was given the honor of performing solo at the 2006 Country Music Hall of Fame Medallion Ceremony for the Induction of DeFord Bailey.
He has taught, performed, and judged competitions on three continents for numerous festivals and workshops including David Barrett’s Harmonica Masterclass, the World Harmonica Festival, Fitzgerald’s “American Music Festival,” the Chicago Blues Festival, and WFMT’s “Folkstage.” Joe can be found teaching harmonica every Monday at Chicago’s Old Town School of Folk Music, besides playing evenings with Eric Noden, The Carl Davis Band, and “On the Mainline” (with whom he has appeared previously at the Woodstock Folk Festival) throughout the Chicago area. Just prior to his Woodstock workshop, Joe will be at the Augusta Heritage Festival in West Virginia.
Jerry Portnoy, who has played with Muddy Waters and Eric Clapton, said, “Joe Filisko’s command of the harmonica, especially his mastery of pre-war harmonica styles has few, if any, rivals. He plays to the strengths and unique capabilities of the instrument and employs the full range of tonal colors, trills, flutters, chord rhythms, and other special effects that make his playing so expressive – all in service of the music. My admiration for his skill and musicianship is boundless.” And Bear Family Records “would rank him amongst the top ten of blues harp players, worldwide.”
Visit Joe Filisko at Filisko.com.
