Maricela’s Smile features Joe Moss’ most-ambitious set of blues yet, with journeys into not only the west and south sides of Chicago blues, but also includes healthy doses of R&B, funk, soul and jazz to the mix, a testament to not only his musical influences growing up, but also the breadth of his experience as a veteran musician.

The CDs dozen tracks include 10 originals, plus Joe’s take on the blues/rock of Free’s “Fire and Water,” as well as a soulful version of “Big Leg Woman,” previously recorded by such legends as Freddie King. Maricela’s Smile closes with the live track, “Ain’t Got No Money,” which gives the band members ample room to stretch out into improvisation, touching on jazz and even the jam/roots/rock sound of The Allman Brothers Band.

A guitarist since he was 15 years old, Joe Moss also turned his younger brother, Nick, on to the blues, who has gone on to develop a strong following in his own right. Joe’s entry into the world of blues came from noted guitarist Buddy Scott, who spotted Moss during a jam session at the celebrated Chicago west side club Rosa’s Blues Lounge and promptly put him to work as a member of his Rib Tip band. In 1992, Joe toured Spain with Buddy and also recorded with him on Scott’s Bad Ave. CD, as well. Moss very quickly became an in-demand sideman with many of Chicago’s hardest working bands, playing guitar on the bandstand for Zora Young, Li’l Smokey Smothers, Syl Johnson, Lefty Dizz, Magic Slim, A.C. Reed, Billy Branch and Little Mack Simmons, among many others. Tours with these artists brought Joe exposure outside of the U.S. in Canada, Turkey, Switzerland, Holland, Belgium, France and Germany.

In 1997, he released The Joe Moss Band’s debut self-titled CD, following that with his second album, Monster Love, in 2003. “Monster Love is the work of a skilled craftsman,” said Jeff Johnson in his review for the Chicago Sun-Times. During the ensuing years, Joe Moss has also become a regular not only in Chicago clubs like Buddy Guy’s Legends and The House of Blues, but at venues and festivals around the country and in Europe as well. Buddy Guy, who knows a few things about playing guitar and entertaining, called Joe “energetic, a strong guitarist and always a crowd pleaser” after catching many of Moss’ frequent gigs at his club.