Joe Puma

A superior guitarist for a half-century, Joe Puma had a steady if low-profile career, uplifting many sessions without getting famous himself. Puma came from a musical family (several relatives played guitar) and his first major job was with vibraphonist Joe Roland (1949-1950). In the 1950s Puma appeared on many recording sessions including with Roland, Louie Bellson, Artie Shaw & His Gramercy Five (1954), Eddie Bert, Herbie Mann, Mat Mathews, Chris Connor, and Paul Quinichette. Puma was seemingly everywhere during that era. He accompanied Morgana King for two years and in the ...