Joan Crane has been performing fingerstyle acoustic blues in the Northeast and Midwest, delighting audiences with her sense of humor and masterful guitar playing.  She was invited to perform for all the major guitar manufacturers at the National Guitar Luthiers Synposium, and placed third in the statewide Indiana Blues Competition, being the only solo, only acoustic and only female.  Her guitar style ranges from the emotional Delta style to the bouncy, syncopated Piedmont style.

Joan's latest CD, "Back Home" is a live performance recording, featuring three of her longtime "pickin" buddies", Skip Smithson on mandolin, Junior Barber on dobro, and Mike Barber on upright acoustic bass.  Skip has made his mark in the Northeast as an exceptionally talented and innovative mandolin player, having played with many bluegrass and acoustic groups.  His talents also extend to electric guitar, where he performs with the blues band Zip City.

Junior Barber is no stranger to the national bluegrass scene, having been nominated for dobro player of the year, and his CD "Steffi's Waltz" as instrumental CD of the year, in the IBMA.  His bluesy style of playing has been described as "pulling more emotion from one note, than others could with a flurry of notes".  He certainly plays with talent and class.

Mike Barber's playing of the upright acoustic bass has put him in demand in the Nashville recording scene.  He currently performs and tours with the bluegrass band, the Gibson Brothers, who have recently signed with Sugar Hill records.  They just don't come much better than Mike!!!

Together, these four musicians and friends combined their talents one snowy evening in March, the result being "Back Home".  Amplified and recorded with just one microphone, Junior's Audio-Technica 4033, onto a Sony minidisc recorder, this recording is ahead of its time, by going back in time, as it harkens back to the days of a "live recording gathered around one mike".  Absent are all the modern technological bells and whistles, what is left is a pure, honest recording that truly demonstrates the talents of these four individuals.  "Back Home" is a must if you like the unpretentious and real in this world.

Track Listing

Ordering Information

For questions or comments please contact backhome@joancrane.com