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Joel Bowers

About Me

Joel Bowers is a 35-year-old native of San Jose, California. Joel is a 1997 graduate of the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, Massachusetts with a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies. In May of 2002 he completed his Masters of Music Jazz Performance and Pedagogy from the University of Colorado at Boulder. While at CU Boulder, Joel was the jazz departments teacher assistant. His duties included coaching a jazz ensemble, assisting the jazz faculty and teaching private students through the Universities continuing education program.

Joel, who has been playing saxophone since age nine, is unique among young saxophonists in that he has a very strong interest in older styles of jazz. His influences include such legendary saxophonists as Lester Young, Stan Getz, Stanley Turrentine, Hank Mobley and Dexter Gordon. He has learned to play in the idiom of those players and has done so quite convincingly. Joel has personally studied under such recognized names as: Jimmy Giuffre, Plas Johnson, George Garzone, John McNeil, Joe Maneri and Jerry Bergonzi. Joel has received numerous Music Scholarship Awards, Special Music Recognition Awards and Teaching Fellowships.

Joel has played many varied venues across the nation both as a leader and as a sideman. He has performed or recorded with many established touring bands and legends of the music world including: Alicia Keys, Big Daddy Kane, Too $hort, Slick Rick, De La Soul, Black Sheep, Biz Markie, Pharoahe Monch, Little Brother, Nice & Smooth, Bun B, Marley Marl, Juice Crew, Apl.De.Ap, Anthony Hamilton, Jennifer Hudson, Lupe Fiasco, Estelle, Fred Wesley, Eddie Bo, Melvin Sparks, Ms. Spanky Wilson, Pete Escovedo, Leon Spencer, Clyde Stubblefield, Masta Ace, Mister Cee, Nappy Roots, Craig G, Ohmega Watts, Aloe Blacc, Nikka Costa, Money Mark, Stanton Moore, Quantic and the Quantic Soul Orchestra, Ron Miles, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Garage a Trois, Robert Walter's 20th Congress, Motherlode, The Motet, L.A. Carnival. He has supported such artists as Al Green, Maceo Parker, The Roots, Naughty By Nature, De La Soul, Whodini, Gil Scott Heron, Ozomatli, The Aggrolites, Mayer Hawthorne, The Greyboy Allstars, Karl Denson's Tiny Universe, Leftover Salmon, Particle, Stanton Moore, Robert Walter's 20th Congress, Zion I, Project Logic, Crown City Rockers, Heavy D, Doug E. Fresh, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, The Sam Kininger Band, Wild Magnolias, Rebirth Brass Band, DJ Z-TRIP, JRocc & Cut Chemist among others.

In 2002 Joel moved to Los Angeles and has since established himself as a sought after recording artist and session musician. Joel has recorded for numerous movie soundtracks including: Our Family Wedding, Good Hair, Sex and the City, Cheaper By The Dozen 2, Sex Drive, Deck The Halls, Bonneville & Barnyard. He has also recorded for several television shows and t.v. commercials including: Take Home Chef, Coca-Cola, Joey, Miss Rap Supreme, The Shot & Comedy Central's “100 Greatest Stand Up's”. When not recording or performing, Joel teaches privately and leads two of L.A.'s funkiest bands, the all-star funky music machine, The Greasy Beats and the soul-jazz Hammond organ sextet JB and The Rebellion. Joel is also a busy sideman in several L.A. bands including Connie Price & The Keystones, Orgone & The Lions.

In August of 2006 Joel joined the teaching faculty at St. Bernard High School in Playa Del Rey, CA and currently instructs the Instrumental Music classes and directs the super funky Viking Band. Joel has previously taught at both Crossroads Elemantary School & New Roads High School in Santa Monica, CA and has been a frequent faculty member at the Stanford Jazz Workshop in Palo Alto, CA. Joel is proud member of the American Federation of Musicians Local 47 and the International Association of Jazz Educators.

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