Short Biography
Joe Janiga is a powerful and yet sensitive drummer/ percussionist who's versatility and creativity allow him to adapt to many different musical settings. He has played and recorded with groups 3 Leg Torso Sextet, and McKinley, in addition to many others in the Pacific Northwest and Midwest. 3 Leg Torso and McKinley's CD's were nominated for The Oregonian's Top Ten Picks for 2003. Joe is also the co-founder and leader of the critically acclaimed rock/jazz/improv phenom Klezmocracy. He was also the drummer/percussionist for Peruvian guitarist Alfredo Muro's Latin Ensemble from 2001-2003. In addition he has been playing with BossaNouveau, a group that plays modern Brazilian music, since 2004. Most recently he has co-founded the group Voniga which seems to do just about everything from film scores, to dance classes, to wildly improvised music to pop tunes.
Joe has freelanced in Portland with various jazz and blues groups led by Renato Caranto, Terri Robb, Farnell Newton, and Bill Rhodes. He has also had the honor of playing with legendary jazz saxophonist Frank Morgan. Joe has recorded music for film and commercials including the animated films "Magda" by Chel White and Grammy award winner Joan Gratz's film "The Dowagers Feast." Joe was the co-musical director and house drummer for Live Wire during it's first 2 years of broadcast. He was also commissioned to co-compose an original score for Google's film "In The Realm Of The Final Inch."
Joe has been the percussionist/composer with Do Jump! Theater, and dance accompanist for Reed College and Oregon Ballet Theatre's Outreach programs since 2000. He is an active percussion mentor and accompanist in the public schools in Portland including Beaumont, Tubman, King, Sitton and others. Joe also teaches privately in his NE Portland studio.