Joe Tatton Interview

Pianist Joe Tatton, Known For His Work On Corinne Bailey Rae's Grammy-Nominated Track "Put Your Records On," Has Released A New Album "Galáctico" With The Joe Tatton Trio! 

INTERVIEW BY: GINA SEDMAN, WRITER/JOURNALIST & HEAD EDITOR 

Joe Tatton is a dynamic keyboard player, best known for his electrifying work with the renowned funk band The New Mastersounds. As a co-writer and producer for the innovative project Rodina, he consistently pushes musical boundaries. His long-standing collaboration with The Haggis Horns further solidifies his role as a major force in the funk scene. Joe’s talent has also graced Corinne Bailey Rae's Grammy-nominated hit, "Put Your Records On." Now, he's stepping into the spotlight with his latest album, "Galáctico," released under the Joe Tatton Trio, showcasing his extraordinary versatility and artistry. I had the opportunity to catch up with him and talk about his fantastic career and journey in music. Here's what he shared. 

Hi Joe, thank you for joining me for the interview today. I really appreciate it. No problem.  

I've heard your music, and you're incredible. You’re a talented musician, and it is truly an honor to interview you today. So, thank you again. It's a pleasure, thanks for having me.    

Absolutely! Joe, I'd love to kick things off by sharing some background about you for those readers who might not be familiar with your music. Can you tell us where you hail from and where you currently reside? Sure, right now, I'm in a town called Buxton, which is in the north of England. The nearest big city is Manchester, which is in the countryside.  

I haven't opened the windows because it's so hot, but there are green fields outside my window. Where I live is called the "Peak District."   

I grew up here, and then I moved to Leeds, where my music really took off. That's where I met " The New Mastersounds," the band I tour with. We all met in Leeds, about two hours north of here. That's when I started playing the Hammond organ. Eventually, we went to the United States, which was our primary audience. So, this new album has come out because of that.  

That's fantastic! Joe, what motivated you to embark on your musical journey within the Leeds music scene? If I'm not mistaken, you began around 2001. In 2001, I was already into music when the band " The New Mastersounds" formed. Around that time, I moved to Leeds and enrolled in a jazz course at college. Before this, I was into rock, acid jazz, and generic funk like "Average White Band," "Kool And The Gang," and Stevie Wonder. However, upon moving to Leeds, I discovered a new interest in obscure jazz and soul jazz. This shift was the catalyst that brought me to where I am now. Before moving to Leeds, when I was near Buxton, I played in bands and played the guitar. I also played the cornet in brass bands. While I was passionate about music, I had not yet delved into jazz.  

Awesome! Can you share with me how many instruments you play besides the piano? I started on Bb Cornet as a child and learned to play in the brass band and read music a little bit. It was sort of a marching band, like a New Orleans-style band, which was awesome because it gave me a good musical beginning. When I was a teenager, I played a bit of guitar—it was a rock guitar. Then, I started learning piano, which is my main instrument.  

So I really only played three instruments, and to be honest, even though I know how to play the Cornet, I couldn't get a note out of it today because it's something you have to play every day, and I've let it lapse a little. But I play a little guitar, piano, and organ. 

I sing, too. I sang a little on my first album, but I wouldn't call myself a singer. It's just more about the fact that I enjoy it. 

Awesome! I was going to ask you to sing for me, but you just covered yourself when you said, "I wouldn't call myself a singer" (Laughs). But that's so cool! So, Joe, who do people say your sound mostly resembles? Well, for my first album, I was inspired by a singer from Mississippi named Mose Allison. He doesn't really have one of those powerful voices, but he writes great songs. 

So, I was like, "I love this guy! I'm goanna do an album like him," so I did. I did a bit of a tribute to him called Big Fish. It's not on vinyl, but it is available online and on CD. But yes, the keyboard is my main instrument, though I also play other instruments. 

Awesome! And you do a mighty fine job at that. Now, Joe, how would you say your experience with The New Mastersounds shaped your musical career over the past 18 years? Wow. Well, it pretty much molded me. It was sort of the main factor, really, because I was 28 when I joined The New Mastersounds. So, it's been a long time. 

When I started touring America with The New Mastersounds, we were just getting a bit known, really, and I just suddenly got to see all these amazing American musicians like The Meters. I ended up jamming and meeting lots of bands on the scene in America, like Greyboy All Stars and many musicians who were just amazing instrumentalists. 

So it's really molded me in lots of ways. It's taught me to believe in myself and to keep going because, in America, so many bands start at the grassroots level and just gradually build their careers. It does happen here in the UK, but there's a much better culture for it in America. Everybody loves live music, and every town sort of supports music, but that's my take on it. 

That's fantastic! You've had quite the journey, touring across Europe, Japan, and the U.S. I'm interested in hearing about your work on the hit single "Put Your Records On" with Corinne Bailey Rae. How did that collaboration come to be? Yeah. So. As I said, we moved to Leeds when I was 18 to study jazz at college. And as soon as we got there, we used to go to a cool little club called The Underground. 

You had to go down some steps under the theater, and it was a kind of cool jazz club. I believe Corinne Bailey Rae was the coat check girl at that time. I know it sounds like a cliché, but it's totally true. She was only 17 at the time, and The New Mastersounds got her to sing a few songs after discovering she could sing. Then, she got a development deal with a record company. Within about a year or two, she was suddenly, you know, signed and became a major artist. So, we already knew her and had been playing some gigs with her on the Leeds music scene as we all did in Leeds. 

Then, of course, when she got the deal and was ready to record her album, she said, "Oh, I need some Hammond organ for this tune." So, I just went and did it, not really realizing that she was going to be quite so successful. And then, luckily, that was the hit tune, "Put Your Records On." 

What a lovely story! It's so accurate—you never really know who you might encounter. I believe the best approach is showing love, kindness, and respect to everyone, regardless of background.  

I appreciate you sharing that with me, Joe. By the way, I absolutely adore that song, and you played the Hammond organ beautifully! Fantastic! Sometimes, when I see infants in strollers, I can't help but think, "That could be the future Prime Minister or President, for all we know. 

Treating people with kindness and respect is always important because you never know what lies ahead. Now, let me ask you another question. You've played with legends like Maceo Parker, Fred Wesley, and members of The Meters. Can you tell me how they have influenced your style? Yeah. Well, Maceo Parker—I saw him when I was about 18 or 19 years old in Leeds. 

I love his showmanship and how he connects with the audience. I would never have thought I'd end up playing a full set with him on Jam Cruise. It was amazing. And then he sat in with The New Mastersounds. It's just been incredible. And with The Meters, I was listening to them when I was around 20. That's when I really got hip to that, but it was so amazing. 

Again, I'm thinking, how is it possible that I end up playing with them all, seeing them all the time, and being friends with them? It's incredible. 

How wonderful to play with such talented, legendary artists. Now, Joe, let me ask you about the Joe Tatton Trio. How did the group initially form, and can you tell me more about it? What brought the idea to life? Sure. Well, it sort of evolved, really, through different Projects. I did a one-off single with a guy on ATA Records. 

We did an instrumental piano trio track called "Bang Bang Boogaloo" and "Sunday Shade," and that was well received in the UK. Off the back of that, I started doing a couple of gigs playing piano trio, instrumental funk, and some bluesy Mose Allison things. Fast forward a couple of years later, my buddy in America said, "You need to make an album of Mose Allison tunes." So, I did the Big Fish album and recorded it in Nashville between tours. 

Then, fast-forward another year, and The New Mastersounds recorded with this Spanish guitarist named Lucas de Mulder. He's a really talented young guitarist from Madrid, Spain. He came to Denver and recorded an album with The New Mastersounds, and we just hit it off. He loved my playing, and I loved his. We said we must make an album, so that album is Galactica. We made that in my studio here in the UK. 

It was with the Hammond organ over there (he points at his Hammond organ). It's the same studio where we actually made The New Mastersounds' latest album, Old School. 

So, that's where we are now. We've just released this trio album called Galactica. So far, I've done a Hammond Organ trio album, and I have a feeling my next one might be a Fender Rhodes album. 

There are times when some people laugh at my gigs because we'll have six people on stage, but it's just the platform. We might even have a Joe Tatton show with a string orchestra, you know. 

Awesome. I love it! Now Joe, your latest project features incredible talent, including a Spanish guitarist, Lucas de Mulder. Tell us more about that! Yeah, Lucas is fantastic! And we've also got Luke Flowers on drums—he's played a lot with Corinne Bailey Rae. Then we've brought in some special guests like The Haggis Horns from Scotland, among others. The album came out not too long ago. 

Wow, that sounds amazing! You've got many talented artists on this project, including yourself. How lovely! So, where can people buy the album? Is it available on vinyl or just digitally? It's available on CD and online; this time, I've also released it on vinyl. You can grab a 12-inch vinyl from our Bandcamp page—just head over to Joe Tatton Trio on Bandcamp. The album is out on the Rodina Music label. 

You should start seeing it in shops and your favourite online stores. It's also available in the US through the "Colour Red Vinyl Club." Our guitarist and The New Mastersounds set up a label in Denver, Colorado, called "Colour Red." They made the album their Record of the Month for July, so you can get it from their site too at www.colorred.com. 

That's brilliant! Now, one last question. If you could offer any words of wisdom to up-and-coming artists who haven't quite reached your level yet, what advice would you give to encourage them? I believe perseverance is key. It's also important to be prepared, versatile, and flexible. A couple of years ago, like many others, the pandemic knocked everyone's careers for six, but weathering those storms— financial, creative, or otherwise—takes practice. 

Sometimes, that might mean having a backup job or a side gig to keep things going. So many people reach middle age without quite succeeding and end up giving up. But the key is to keep making the music. 

Networking is also crucial, and it's best to approach it with a friendly, open attitude. Don't be competitive or hold grudges. Like how we're chatting now, it's all about being open to different inputs and keeping at it. 

That's such great advice, Joe! It's been a pleasure interviewing you today. You're an amazing talent, and I know you'll go far. I pray that God blesses the work of your hands in accordance with His will for your life. May He protect you, your family, and your bandmates during your travels. I also pray that you're surrounded by kind-hearted, trustworthy people who have your best interests at heart. Keep going, Joe—we're all rooting for you! Thank you, Gina. I really appreciate that.