Joanie Beau (Solo/duo or Band)

Joan Bujacich with Tour Baby:  Innovative Networking for Independent Musicians


written by Dave Madeloni Thursday, October 2,2003.



Major Label Artists Represent  less than 1% of the music that exists in the world today. Unfortunately, they also command more than 99% the media's attention. So, many deserving performers remain obscure and unheard.


There are some reasons for optimism amongst the indie underdogs these days. The world-wide reach of artist websites, the decreased cost of producing cds, and the burgeoning number of venues available for playing live, has made for new, intriguing ways of receiving all-important exposure. But the odds remain stacked. With unadventurous radio controlled by a handful of conglomerates and the music press obsessed with celebrity voyeurism, finding independent music with guts, heart, and integrity takes some digging for fans and some innovative networking on the part of the musicians.


One such innovation is coming to Brattleboro next Wednesday night, when Tour Baby invades the River Garden, the usual setting for the Wednesday Night Song Jam, Derrik Jordan's fine indie showcase series. The ubiquitous Jordan explained, "Tour Baby is a unique concept in which independent artists have banded together to put on a national tour of regional artists. Ideally, one band from every show "tags" or goes on to open the following nights show in the next town." Each Tour Baby gig is unique, featuring a variety of local players along with an artist coming from the previous show-with a ceremonial doll in tow.


The Brattleboro "tagger" will be New Jersey pianist/singer/songwriter Joan Bujacich, who happens to be one of Tour Baby's organizers. "The idea grew out of a group on the internet called "Musical Thoughts," of which I am a member," wrote Bujacich via email. "A bunch of people launched it and I jumped on to help organize the NJ show in 2002. . . .   Through persistence and a strong belief in this concept of artists helping each other, I ended up on the "Exec" Board, which I affectionately call the "Big Babies."


The grassroots effort, fueled by the kind of linking that cyberspace fosters, could serve as the antidote needed for struggling musicians to overcome the forces that have impeded their ability to be heard…and seen. "We are empowering artists to put on shows," said Bujacich. "We are developing the tools on how to put on a show, how to promote a show, how to get sponsors interested in their shows."


Like an October hurricane, Tour Baby II is heading North. "This year the first show started in Miami and is making its way up the East Coast," explained Bujacich. "The night before my show in Montclair, NJ there will be a show in Philadelphia. The band Flashcube from that show will play at my show, bringing the Tour Baby 'baby.'"


Bujacich, whose parents were musicians, started playing piano at age five. Subsequently, she joined a plethora of bands before flying solo. In many ways, Bujacich represents what is best about indie artists:   a dogged persistence and a passion for their craft. She takes a musical approach that is difficult to pigeonhole, incorporating pop, jazz, classical, and rock influences into a sensual musical stew. "I studied classical right through college and beyond and started playing in bands in 6th grade and kept that going as well. I played in so many different types of original bands along the way from rock, punk, R&B, funk, fusion that I eventually just wanted to concentrate on my own writing and had to give up the other bands to focus on my work. I've always written music. I have little scraps of paper with lyrics on them in crayon from when I first could write and started writing piano music early on, too. I also write more contemporary piano music in a Prokofiev, Ravel, Bartok-like style, but again with my own jazzy-like stamp on it." All the disparate musical elements that Bujacich absorbed over the years eventually melted into the multi-genre sound captured on her latest cd, A Fine Line.


When asked about her influences, Bujacich identified two inventive icons. "If you think of a Frank Zappa, (though my music does not sound like his), he has rock and jazz and classical and a show-like quality to his music -- like a contemporary opera! And then he also composes more art music, contemporary classical. Joni Mitchell also writes in an acoustic folk-rock style and then later had a jazz influence in her music, but she took that jazz influence and made it her own."


Joan Bujacich has taken her many influences and made distinctive music that is clearly her own. Thanks to Tour Baby, she will get the opportunity to share it with us.

- Brattleboro Reformer

Montclair Singer/Pianist Performs Aug. 28 At The Stone Pony

Thursday, August 15, 2002


Montclair singer and pianist Joan Bujacich, the New Jersey organizer of “Tour Baby,” a national tour to promote independent music, will be performing on Wednesday, Aug. 28, at The Stone Pony in Asbury Park, as part of the national tour. “Tour Baby” will cross 54 cities in four months, each show comprising top local artists instead of a single touring lineup.
Why the unique approach? Hundreds of musicians are banding together to raise awareness of independent music — the music you don’t hear on mainstream TV or radio. “Tour Baby” aims to highlight the top local bands and artists of all musical styles and genres, and to introduce these musicians to a broader cross-section of the communities.
Bujacich will perform music from her newly released CD, “A Fine Line.” “I am very excited about performing at The Stone Pony, and bringing other New Jersey talent to the forefront as one of the two organizers of this big event,” Bujacich stated. “We have worked extremely hard to put this show together. Working with other artists on the Internet has been quite challenging and empowering at the same time.”
Bujacich will be performing with her band, the Joanie Beau Band. An accomplished pianist, she will be singing her songs and playing piano.
“I have a fantastic band,” she went on to explain. Joe Bilotti, who has toured the world with Soft Parade and who was music director on her new CD, will be playing guitar. Sue Williams, who has backed up Eric Clapton, Vanessa Williams and was also a member of Southside Johnny and The Asbury Jukes, will be playing bass. And Dennis McDermott, who performed on the hit song “Walking in Memphis” and has toured with Donald Fagen and The Bacon Brothers, will be on drums.
Although she has studied and played piano since she was 5 years old, bass was the instrument Bujacich performed on in her first rock band while still in the sixth grade. She moved on to the organ by the time she reached seventh grade, and ever since, her entire career has been a balancing act between classical music and rock.
Bujacich studied at the Manhattan School of Music, but couldn’t wait to graduate and play in all sorts of bands. And she did, playing and composing everything from funk to fusion, punk to power pop, and jazz to country. She has performed in clubs and restaurants throughout the metropolitan area, including the C Note, the Cutting Room, Triad, and CB’s Gallery in New York City, and Trumpets Jazz Club and the Soda Pop Shop in Montclair. She has appeared on “The Phil Donahue Show” and on many local cable shows.
The Stone Pony is located at 913 Ocean Ave. in Asbury Park. Tickets are $10 at the door. For more information about Joan Bujacich and the show visit www.joanbujacich.com

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- Montclair Times

Joan's voice has been compared to
K.D.Lang, Joni Mitchell, Kate Bush and Jewel and her song writing has
been described as anything from a newer sounding Laura Nyro to Rickie
Lee Jones and Sting with a little humor from Frank Zappa. More often,
she has been labeled the new Carole King of the New Millennium. Her
music is labeled as that of piano music, but not as lounge as Nora
Jones. You might find her on the VH1 circuit, but if you see her on MTV
then I wouldn't suggest playing her music.
-Modern Mark KSCU Radio Review
- Modern Mark KSCU

Get Fancy Magazine
February 2001
by Melyssa A. Harmon


Spend your Rent check and say goodbye Dolly 'cuz Joan
Bujacich's self released Dress Of Dawn is rarin' and ready for
Broadway and beyond!

Although Dress Of Dawn has yet to become a musical it screams to be, anyone who can appreciate the art of contemporary musicals will embrace Joan Bujacich with open arms. This artful collection laced in Broadway musicianship
bounces from the dramatic, Amy Grant piano and rock guitar synth string pop of "Innocent To Me" and it's sweet childhood
reflections, to the sad, piano- laden story of confusion and
oddity of lost love and hearts apart in "Falling". Eerie and unpredictable are the haunting chord progressions of the
spooky title track mysteriously winding it's way into staccato
vocals in an eastern violin- flair while "Lovely Face" finds Joan
pouncing 'round in a Kate Bush - like sound that is beyond beautiful.

Just when you thought you had pegged Joan's style, in dances
the Lawrence Welk-like piano chord accompaniment of the
slightly KD Langish "Don't Say A Word," where Broadway
musical turns twang. Theatrics abound again in the curiously
personal story of Joan's brush with Hurricane Floyd,simply
titled "Floyd," and then Dress Of Dawn dances through a series
of smooth jazz meets Euro-Spanish samba flair in the horn happy "Let It Dance." Joan then swoons her way into another
KD Lang like self helper in "Torch Song," a tune that, like
Michael Jackson's "Man In The Mirror," reminds you to turn
toward not away from yourself, your dreams, to be on fire with
life's love. Keeping with the inspirational theme, "If You Want
Her" begs to follow your heart letting love not leave, in a grand
return what is sure to become Joan's signature style, large and
theatrical. Dress Of Dawn concludes with the bluesy jazz
trumpet tap of "Another Smile, Another Day" and soars into the blues rock of "Step Out Of The Blue," which really is a grand conclusion to what feels like a 45 minute modern musical I'd love to see live, providing "Dress Of Dawn" is ever made into a theatrical work. Until then, enjoy the show! - Get Fancy Magazine