It is easy to get caught up in this man's impressive hot and heavy blues style.

Voted Northwestern PA's #1 blues artist by area audiences.

A Little Bit More About Jake:
Every once in a while a talent comes along that it is reminiscent of other great talents, and you know that all they lack is a partnership with a likewise talented artist development team. 

Take for instance the partnership between Elvis and Colonel Parker.  One could not have found the zenith of success they did together without the other.  

Today we would like to introduce Jake Banta to you, regionally known as Jake’s Blues to literally tens of thousands of music lovers. 

Like Elvis, Jake hails from a rather rural community and even today holds on to his farmer’s son roots.  Like Stevie Ray, the man can tear it up but his style is more sexy, sort of a funk meets the blues feel to it.  When I tell you that people love this sound I kid you not.  In fact Stevie Ray’s band Double Trouble even recorded some cuts with Jake and there was some talk about all of them getting together too.

Interestingly enough the first CD that was released contained such heavy blues hits as “Telephone Man” the perennial favorite of showman such as T-Bone Walker and that was a bold move.  But the people loved it and the race was on to record a second CD and at the same time find gigs.  It was the live gigging that began to shape Jake’s stage presence and his big shaping experience would be when he began to open for the likes of Buddy Guy, Bo Diddley, and others. He watched them from the wings, studying their stage presence and learned that their swagger on stage captivates audiences.  As Jake continued the nocturnal journey of one joint after another he paid attention to what the audience said they wanted and all of those things mixed together is Jake.

Here’s what Jake has to say himself:

MY FIRST LP- (CD) WAS RECORDED AT WILLIE NELSONS STUDIO, PERDANALIS DOWN IN AUSTIN TEXAS. THAT WAS RELEASED A LONG, LONG TIME AGO NOW.  THE CD IS TITLED "FIRST TIME OUT" AND FEATURED CROWD PLEASERS: DOWN IN THE GUT AND DRIVIN SOUTH.

OUR SECOND CD WAS RECORDED IN A CHURCH CONVERTED INTO A STUDIO IN CLEVELAND, OHIO OF ALL PLACES.  IT FEATURED SONGS SUCH AS MIRROR MIRROR AND ELMO'S BLUES. 

THE THIRD CD WAS RECORDED IN SAN DIEGO.. THAT TOO WAS A WHILE AGO, IT WAS RECORDED AT SIGNATURE SOUNDS STUDIO AND FEATURED SUCH SONGS AS NEVER CHANGE, SETTIN ON A SUNRISE, AND MOONDOG.  DOUBLE TROUBLE PLAYED ON THAT CD. THE SONGS THAT WERE ON THAT ONE INCLUDED "JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE".

I STARTED GIGGING IN 1991, THAT’S TWENTY YEARS AGO NOW.  BEFORE JAKE’S BLUES I PREVIOUSLY HAD A BAND CALLED JAKE AND THE FATT BAND.  I GREW UP ON OUR FAMILY FARM IN WATERFORD ,PA.WITH A LOT OF BROTHERS AND SISTERS.  ENLISTED IN THE NAVY IN 1983 BECAME A NAVY SEAL.  I HAVE TRAVELED AND TOURED THE U.S. IN THE BAND FOR SEVERAL YEARS.  I EVEN TRAVELED TO CENTRAL AMERICA AND THE MIDDLE EAST SEVERAL TIMES SERVING OUR COUNTRY.  I PLAYED ON MAINSTAGE AT WOODSTOCK FOR THEIR 30TH. ANNIVERSARY CALLED  "A DAY IN THE GARDEN".  I HAVE EVEN PLAYED AT A WOMENS PRISON..ON MOTHERS DAY. CAN YOU PICTURE THAT? 

I LIKE HOME MADE BEER,FARMING AND CHOKIN A GUITAR NECK.  I HAVE THREE SONS AND A BEAUTIFUL WIFE.
MY MOTTO IS "GOOD TIMES".

In conclusion the music speaks for itself and of course to experience the energy of a stage presence that pleases audiences to the max you just to have stop in and see for yourself.  He’s a good looking guy with humble roots with a story that is ripe for matching up with stardom.

John McNerney
XIIE
www.xiie.net