History:

Joel began his rudimental study of the drums in 1968 while attending Somerville High School. He played in High School Concert Band, Marching Band, Senior Year Dance Band, and with the 4-H “Music Makers”.

Joel’s first paying gig was a Bar-Mitzvah in December 1969 with “The Fives”, a variety band.

While attending Rutgers University 1979-1984 Joel studied with Michael Carvin (Motown staff drummer 1969-71), and Kenny Barron Manhattan Pianist), Philly-Jo Jones (drums), Freddie Waites (drums), the Bridgewater brothers, Charlie Rouse and others known as The “Rutgers Jazz Professors”.

He worked his way through college with various cover bands; Time Piece, Radiance, The Peach Trio.

Joel then moved to San Diego post graduation in 1984 and played with two trios: Voyeur (Power Rock), and Encore, a top 40 band. During his tenure in San Diego, Joel did a recording project with The Obono Music Company with the four piece band Dakshina (originals), under the direction of Nii-Amon Ashie.

Upon arriving in Albuquerque November 1985, he hooked up with several Country “road bands:” Whiskey River (1986-87); Quartermoon (1987-88); Gabriel Lee & White Cadillac Band (House gig at The Homestead in Los Lunas 1987-90); Second Hand Rose (1990-92, who won for NM State in The “GMC/Tru-Value Showdown” which advanced the group to a performance at Billy-Bobs in Ft. Worth, TX, a contest with 6 other bands, which once hosted a contestant named Garth Brooks); Isleta Poor Boys (1992-2006).

More recently, Joel has worked with The Keys Band (2006 – Present); Karl Richardson Trio (Eclectic Jazz and Variety, 1996-Present); Temporary Tattoos with Seth Hoffman (2014-2018), a uniquely all original band.

He also filled in with the ABQ Philharmonic Orchestra on congas and timbales (pre 2007) in Bernstein’s “Symphonic Suite” under the direction of David Felberg.

Joel has always been on call with several local bands: Stratus Phear (80’s Rock Band); Twist & Shout (Beatles Tribute Show Band); Raven & The Sweet Potato Pie Band (Blues Cover Band); Sally Townes Band (NOLA Style Blues, R&B); Los Radiators/SWAG (variety); Saudade (Braziliero); Exit 195 (Country); Next of Kin (Country, 2001, with Joel on Keyboards); NM Jazz Workshop Latin Jazz Ensemble; Big Band Workshops; the Outpost’s Jimmy Arhends’ class; Brown River Band (Country); Shot of Gold/Double Shot (Country), and others.

During his tenure with the Country  bands, Joel has opened for: Johnny Lee, Lionel Cartwright, Billy Dean, Chris LeDeoux, Terry Clark and other main attractions.

In 2001, Joel won the NM M.I.C. (Music Industry Coalition) award for “Best Arrangement of a Previous Work” (Londonderry Aire) in which he played piano, tin whistle and percussion.

Joel discovered early on that he had a good voice and a keen ear for relative pitch.  Since the age of 8, when his parents moved a “Club” piano (acoustic upright, 5 octaves) into their Livingroom, he took an interest in practicing the instrument. His love of Piano brought him to be in Kenny Barron’s keyboard harmony class at Rutgers University (1982), and further lessons in Albuquerque with Arnold Bodmer from 1993 to 2006.

Joel sings both impeccable harmonies and Lead Vocals in many of the bands he has been a part of, thus adding to the talent and variety each time. Joel notes that: “Experience has taught me that vocal Harmony is the ‘other’ unseen instrument in the band. It is the Synergy that has driven many Bands to great success, and cannot be overlooked; when you add a 2^nd and then a 3^rd harmony part to a Lead vocal, you have created an additional, unseen ‘chordal’ instrument to the band.  It is the secret to success in so many of the Commercial Bands we know and love!”

As a Drummer/Vocalist, he has always been in demand for both Live and Studio engagements.

He respects the differences in Personalities that come with Talent, and the flexibility it often takes to work together as a “Unit”. He has good interpersonal and communication skills.

Availability

I’m available for gigs or studio work. I desire to find a working band, showcasing at venues that have an emphasis on the value of good entertainment and compensation.