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Born
in Brooklyn New York, Joe became inspired to become a musician after graduating high school and went on to study at Berklee
College of Music in Boston, Rutgers University, finally receiving a Bachelor's Degree from William Paterson University in
Jazz Studies.
Joe has been performing, recording, and teaching in the New York/New Jersey area for over twenty years
and enjoys playing in diverse musical settings from theater shows to original conceptual music.
In 1982 Joe recorded
his first record “Freehand” for an independent record label featuring Ed Schuller on bass and Peter LeMaitre on
drums. Joe also continued his musical relationship with Schuller and Le Maitre as part of the “Higher Primates Orchestra”
which included players such as Herb Robertson, Mac Goldsbury, Mark Reboul, Ratzo Harris, Roy Cumming, Glenn Davis, Ron Horton,
and Frank Kimborough.
Other recordings as a leader are “Tetraband” (live at Roulette) featuring Joe Battaglia
on guitar,Frank Kimborough on piano, Mark Reboul on saxophone and Peter LeMaitre on drums. “Three As One” recorded
in 1998 features Ron Glick on drums and Rick Montalbano Sr. on Hammond organ. “Of Space and Time” with Ed Schuller
on bass, Glenn Davis on drums, and Mark Reboul saxophone (released 1999).
One of Joe's recent recordings is the
CD "Pastellic Reflections", a duet recording with guitarist Terrence McManus on Flattened Planet records (released
April 2006). This recording features improvised music for steel and nylon string acoustic guitars. Joe has also done
a number of radio shows since 1995 for WVIA radio. George Graham radio show host, producer, and engineer has featured Joe’s
music as part of WVIA’s “Homegrown Music” series.
Show’s include Joe featured with the “Tony
Dominic Quartet”, Duet with Pianist Bob Himmelberger, Tetraband with Bob Himmelberger, Tony Marino on bass and Glenn
Davis on drums. The Tetraband appeared on the show once again featuring Adam Niewood on saxophone,Glenn Davis on drums and
Dan Fabricatore on bass. The “Wayne Shorter project’ and “Jazz Special’ with the Jerry Niewood Quintet
featuring Bill Goodwin drums, Jerry and Adam Niewood saxophones, Joe on guitar, and Craig Kastelnic on hammond organ were
also shows for WVIA radio.
Other musicians Joe has played and /or recorded with: Ben Allison, Dave
Ambrosio, Andrew Bain, Dave Ballou, Kenny Barron, Nick Bayak, Matt Brewer, Greg Bufford, Ron Burton, George Caldwell, Richie
Cole, Roy Cumming, Vinnie Cutro, Glenn Davis, Melvin Davis, Bob Devoe, Bill Mooring, John Dooley, Ted Dunbar, Dan Fabricatore,
Mike Fahn, Ken Filliano, Gene Ghee, Steve Gilmore, Ron Glick, Michelle Glick, Mac Goldsbury, Bill Goodwin, Larry Harlow, Rodney
Harper, Ratzo Harris, John Hart, Freddie Hendrix, Ron Horton, Darrel Ivey, Steve Johns, Victor Jones, Leo Johnson, Vic Juris,
Craig Kastelnic, Clifton Kellum, Frank Kimborough, Eric Kloss, Masa Kumagachi, Sipho Kunene, Bruce Cox, Harry Leahey, Peter
LeMaitre, Connie Lester,Frank Lillie, Jack MacDuff, Peter Maddson, Tony Marino, Gary Mazzeroppi, Scott McClemore, Mike Mellillo,
Terrence McManus, Rich Messbauer, Grachan Moncur III, Bill Moring, Rick Montalbano Sr., Steve Nelson, Adam Niewood, Jerry
Niewood, Taro Okamoto, Alfred Paterson, Dr. Guy Ramsey, Mark Reboul, Herbie Robinson, Cornel Rochester, Dave Ruffles, Jerome
Sabbagh, Tom Sayek, Ed Schuller, Hugh Cicotte, Peggy Stern, Pat Tandy, Lucky Thompson, Oliver VanEssan, Steve Varner, Adrian
Velosian, Barbara Walker, Buddy Williams, Don Williams, Jeff Williams, and Reuben Wilson.
Joe has played New York
Jazz clubs such as "The Blue Note", "Sweet Basils"(now Sweet Rythms), "Knitting Factory", "Zinc
Bar", "Tonic", "Smoke" etc.
Joe can also bee seen as a sideman backing up singers on
the New York cabaret circuit in clubs such as “The Supper Club”, The Algonquin Hotel’s “Oak Room”,
“Don’t Tell Mama” and “Danny’s Starlight”. Joe has also worked with singers/actors/dancers
Petula Clark, B.J. Crosby, Ernestine Jackson, Sam Kaufman, Janice Lorraine, Branice McKenzie, Vivian Reed, C.E. Smith, Glenn
Turner, Debra Walton and “Tony Award” winners Gretha Boston and Anne Duquesnay.
For the Past several
years Joe has been guitarist on many productions for the musical “Cookin’ at the Cookery”, Written and directed
by Marion Caffey. This play brilliantly depicts the life and music of jazz singer Alberta Hunter. Music by arranger/pianist
Danny Holgate. Joe has recently played guitar for the “Ray Charles’ musical review “I Can’t Stop Loving
You”, Joe has worked under the musical direction of George Caldwell, Danny Holgate, Darrel Ivey, Eric Lilly, Bill McDaniels,
Ron Metcalf and Dave Thompson.
Joe likes working in a Trio setting with bass and drums, or organ and drums as
well as backing up horn players.
Joe also can be seen with the Philadelphia based band "Musicqology", lead
by DR. Guthrie Ramsey.
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