Biography
Joel Holmes was born in Arizona on December 6, 1982. The family moved to Virginia where, Joel�s mother, Theresa first noticed her son's early
musical talent when Joel would sit at the piano andplay tunes by ear.
Joel soon outgrew his home tutoring and was enrolled in professional piano lessons at the age of 10. His talent was impressive enough for his mother to suggest he pursue an education in music. With Joel�s promise to work hard, the family relocated to Baltimore so he could attend the Baltimore School for the Arts.
It was at school during Black History Month where Joel heard the musical sound that would change his life, �I first heard ragtime at music class. It was like a window opening. With a growing passion,
Joel soaked up a steady influence of jazz greats like Oscar Peterson and Art Tatum.
After high school, Joel attended the acclaimed Peabody Conservatory of Music at John Hopkins University on full scholarship. He gained popularity with his fellow
students playing impressive performances at various festivals and venues.
Joel has studied with Bobby McFerrin, Roy Hargrove and a slew of other respected musicians. He has also taught music and theory at the Rock
Junior Academy, the Baltimore School for the Arts as well as given individual private lessons in jazz and classical music.
A recent Bachelor of Arts graduate in Jazz Performance, Joel�s accolades include a silver medal in the Local and National Levels and gold medal in the Act-so Competition of the NAACP, an honorable
mention in the John Lennon Songwriting Competition. Joel Holmes was a Finalist in the 5th Annual Independent Music Awards in the Song Catergory under Jazz Orginals. You can find it listed in the"Musician's Atlas 2006 Magazine. Joel Holmes has also been selected to revieve a Maryland State Arts Council Individual Artist Award and a Peabody Grant.
Now at 23, Joel composes his own style of music blending an array of traditional and contemporary jazz, gospel, R&B, soul, hip-hop, neo soul, funk, classical and pop. Although unique, Joel's music reflects several influences like Keith Jarret, Art Tatum, Herbie Hancock and Ahmad Jamal, albeit steadfastly maintaining a Joel Holmes identity. A
self-declared improviser, his music is what he refers to as �a direct expression of musical influences, spiritual freedom and personal interpretation.
In addition, he plays a repertoire of over three hundred well-known tunes and is a respected pianist both nationally and internationally, with an impressive fan base of several hundred people. He has opened for The Temptations, The Manhattans, Tonex, Regina Bell and Phil Perry.
Joel has had the honor of performing at The Kennedy Center, Meyerhoff Symphony Hall, The Litchfield and The Hartford; Morgan State University�s tribute to Baltimore Legends; performed jazz with the Legendary Cecil McBee, Baltimore Divas featuring Ethel Ennis and Ruby Glover, the Dontae
Winslow Trio and Quartet, The Rhonda Robinson Trio; played for theatre companies such as The Theatre Project, Center Stage and Everyman
Theatre; and takes pride in performing at jazz festivals both solo as well as with various jazz groups including his own, The Joel Holmes
Trio.
Formed in 2001, when Joel was still a student at Peabody, The Joel Holmes Trio has grown in reputation. The group, with Joel at the helm,
consists of two sets of talented musicians, Anthony Jenkins (upright/electric bassist) with Devin Gray (drums) and Eric Kennedy (drums) with Herman Burney Stick (upright bass).
The group is currently getting radio airplay at Mosaic Online, a popular online jazz radio station. Due to increasing popularity, The Joel Holmes Trio is touring extensively throughout the East Coast has just completed a tour in Taiwan. The Trio released their new album, "Eternal Vision," in December 2005.
Instrumentation
Joel Holmes Piano, Eric Kennedy Drums, Herman Burney Bass
Discography
Debut CD, "Eternal Vision." 2006
http://cdbaby.com/cd/joelholmes
African Skies -2008
Links
| http://www.joelholmes.com |