Biography

Joe Hincke is a professional Ottawa area bass player specializing in providing session musician services to bands, musicians and organizations.

He began his music education at an early age with piano lessons taught by his mother, a musician and teacher. In junior high school, Joe discovered his passion for the bass when he found an odd Steinberger knock-off in a closet at his church and began teaching himself to play it with the help of some ancient method books discovered along with the bass. Soon, Joe began playing in the church worship band, learning how to follow chord charts and watch for cues from the worship leader.

In high school, Joe took three years of vocal performance classes, and began singing in his church and school choirs, performing gospel, hymns, and Broadway material. Joe continued to teach himself how to play the electric bass and formed a band with friends from school. Joe had the opportunity to serve as music director for the Cornwall-Alexandria diocese events of World Youth Day 2002, where he directed his band and led worship for 500 youth from around the world.

Joe took his enthusiasm for music to the next level when he decided to pursue a music degree at Carleton University. While there, Joe studied jazz bass performance under renowned bassist, composer, and educator John Geggie. He also received formal training in orchestral arranging, composition, ear training, and jazz theory from Carleton University's experienced music professors. As part of his degree program, Joe participated in the Carleton University Choir and sang tenor for their 2004 summer tour of France and Normandy under the direction of Lisette Canton. In 2005, Joe played bass in the backing band for the choir's well-received performance of David Fanshawe's African Sanctus, led by Matthew Larkin. 2006 was a great year for the Carleton music program with the establishment of the Carleton University Fusion Ensemble (C.U.F.E.), founded and directed by acclaimed guitarist Wayne Eagles. During his time with C.U.F.E., Joe performed in two Carleton music showcases featuring the talented students of the music program. It was while in C.U.F.E. that Joe honed his jazz fusion 'chops' and learned to appreciate an even wider range of jazz styles.

In 2007, Joe began his career as a session bassist and tumbled headlong into the turbulent waters of life as a freelance musician. On Wayne Eagles' recommendation, Stuart Watkins, a top Ottawa musician and international touring bassist, began hiring Joe as a sub for gigs and passed Joe's name along to other musicians looking for a bass player. Soon Joe was working regularly in the cover band scene, playing with various bands and musicians. It wasn't long before Joe moved up from 'fill-in' to 'first-call' status with some of the musicians and bands he worked with and he began to develop a name and reputation for himself in the Ottawa music community. Eventually, Joe connected with Alicia Borisonik, an Argentinean pianist, vocalist, violinist, and accordionist who hired Joe for two CD release shows - one at Carleton University's Kailash Mital Theatre and the other at the N.A.C. 4th Stage. Since these first gigs, Alicia has since called upon Joe as her primary bassist for various gigs in Eastern Ontario including her 2008 Sunfest appearance and her 2009 Ottawa Jazz Festival performance, which was recorded and broadcast by CBC Radio.

Joe continues to refine his skills as a session bassist as he connects with more and more musicians and bands in the Ottawa and surrounding area. Please check out the Links page for links to websites of some of the artists Joe has worked with.

Some other notable career highlights to date include:

-2009 performance and CD recording of The Mystic Centre, sung by the Christ Church Cathedral Girl's Choir, composed and directed by Timothy Piper.

-2009 CD release performance with Reverend Ernie Cox at the N.A.C. 4th Stage.

-2010 CD recording of Blake Walter's album, Together Again.

Joe lives with his wife Katrine in the Vanier area and is a self-confessed gearhead, tone freak, theory nerd, techie, and sci-fi geek.