Joe Taino at Rodeo Bar

Joe Taino became interested in music after watching the Beatles' movie A Hard Day's Night when he was nine years old and growing up in Puerto Rico. He had his first guitar in Puerto Rico when he was 11 and began learning to play everything he could. At 16, he assembled a band, and bought both a sound system and a truck. He was serious. While not a household name, he grew up to become a brilliant blues guitarist that received a NY Blues Hall of Fame Award in August 2013. His most recent album is Incognito.

At Rodeo Bar tonight, Taino played blues, rhythm & blues, Latin jazz, reggae, calypso and classic rock songs. He played a few originals as well, but his sets were dominated by covers of bluesy rock and country songs (Hot Tuna to Ronnie Milsap). It was not the songs that commanded attention, however; it was what his nimble guitar playing did to the songs that proved fascinating. Taino easily transitioned from what sounded like backwoods bluegrass picking to Jimi Hendrix-style stadium rock. Many local guitarists would do well to learn to play lead guitar at the feet of Joe Taino.

Joe Taino plays frequently at Rodeo Bar and Lucille's Grill. In the meantime, visit him at www.joetaino.com.