Joe Iadanza

New Music Gets Right to the Heart; Spans Folk, Rock, Roots and Americana Genres

Long Island -based folk-rock singer-songwriter Joe Iadanza composes and delivers deeply personal and inspiring original music. On his recent debut studio release, Traveling Salesman, Iadanza’s soaring poetic vocals and percussive fingerstyle guitar grooves are accented by the musical talents of a unique group of classically-trained, jazz-schooled and folk-versed musicians.

Featuring original songs by Iadanza, Traveling Salesman is a heart-opening – sometimes foot-stompin’ – album that spans the genres of folk, rock, roots and Americana. It is imbued with what one British music critic called a “European jazz” feel that harkens back to a bygone era. Traveling Salesman explores timeless themes of love, stepping out into the world, and learning to enjoy the ride.

On the album, Iadanza is joined by his core band: Carolin Pook (violin), Craig Akin (double bass) and Joe Hertenstein (drums and percussion).  Folk harmony trio Gathering Time (comprised of Glen Roethel, Hillary Foxsong and Stuart Markus) provides extensive backing vocals, while taking the lead on the album’s closing track.  David Mowry, of the noted Philadelphia-based father and son duo Beaucoup Blue, plays slide-dobro on one of the album’s tracks.  “Collaborating with friends and giving these talented musicians the freedom to create from their own perspective contributes to the album’s unique sound,” says Iadanza.

He recently celebrated the album’s release with a full-band show as part of The Eclectic Café’s season opener in Bay Shore and will be performing songs from it during a number of late-night showcases at the Northeast Regional Folk Alliance (NERFA) conference in Kerhonksen, New York next month.  He and his band also will be part of a special AcousticMusicScene.com Multi-CD Release Party during the conference that also will feature Gathering Time, Boston’s Guy Mendilow Band, and singer-songwriter Glen Roethel.

Long Islanders can catch the “Traveling Salesman” when he brings his musical wares to the Port Washington Public Library on Sunday, Oct. 26, at 2 p.m.  Iadanza will be part of the library’s Fourth Annual Celebration of LI Talent. WFUV’s John Platt will emcee the free event that also features singer-songwriters Johnny Cuomo, Caroline Doctorow and Lois Morton, as well as the Homegrown String Band. 

On Wednesday, Oct. 29, Iadanza will be joined by his band for a 30-minute set preceding the screening of a filmed performance by the Sparrow Quartet (featuring Abigail Washburn, Bela Fleck, Casey Driessen and Ben Sollee) as part of the new “WoodSongs at the Movies” series at  the 62nd and Broadway Cinema in Manhattan.  AcousticMusicScene.com has partnered with Clearview Cinemas in booking talented regional artists for this new venture that brings folksinger Michael Johnathon’s internationally syndicated  WoodSongs Old-Time Radio Hour to half a dozen of its big screens in the New York metropolitan area.

A U.S. tour of solo and full-band performances to support Traveling Salesman is being planned for 2009.  The album is available at select retailers, live shows, and online at CD Baby, itunes, DigStation.com, amazon.com and joeiadanza.com.