Joel Bowers is unique among young saxophonists in that he has a very strong interest in older styles of jazz: Video

04.07. – Happy Birthday !!! Joel Bowers is a 38 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 at the University of Colorado at Boulder. While attending CU Boulder, Joel was the jazz department’s teacher assistant and his duties included assisting the jazz faculty, coaching jazz ensembles and teaching private students through the Universities continuing education program.

Joel, who has been playing the 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 performed and or recorded with many established bands and legends of the music world including: Alicia Keys, Cee-Lo, Big Daddy Kane, Slick Rick, Too $hort, De La Soul, Redman, The Mary Jane Girls, Pharoahe Monch, Little Brother, Kurtis Blow, Black Sheep, Nice & Smooth, Biz Markie, Marley Marl, Masta Ace, Craig G, Juice Crew, The Beatnuts, Apl.De.Ap, Nappy Roots, Kool Keith, Jennifer Hudson, Estelle, Lupe Fiasco, Lemar, B.O.B, Yo Yo, MC Search, Fred Wesley, Clyde Stubblefield, Money Mark, Mister Cee, Stanton Moore, Quantic, Ms. Spanky Wilson, Oh No, Percee P, Ohmega Watts, Soup, Roc’C’, Garage a Trois, Melvin Sparks, Eddie Bo, Leon Spencer,The Greyboy Allstars, Robert Walter’s 20th Congress, Connie Price and The Keystones, Orgone, Nikka Costa, Pete Escovedo, Rhythm Roots Allstars, Fully-Loaded, Motherlode, L.A. Carnival, The Motet, Ron Miles, DJ Format, Melanie Fiona, Wolfgramm Sisters, Hilary McRae, Dirty Dozen Brass Band and Rebirth Brass Band. Joel has supported such artists and bands as: Al Green, The Roots, Maceo Parker, De La Soul, Big Daddy Kane, Little Brother, Ozomatli, Galactic, DJ Z-Trip, Gil Scott-Heron, Mayer Hawthorne, Leftover Salmon, Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe, Stanton Moore, Robert Walter’s 20th Congress, The Aggrolites, Particle, Zion I, Project Logic, Crown City Rockers, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Heavy D, Doug E. Fresh, The Greyboy Allsatrs, NOMO, The Sam Kininger Band, Wild Magnolias, Rebirth Brass Band, J Rocc, Aloe Blacc & Cut Chemist. Joel has also recorded for many motion pictures soundtracks & television shows including: Sex and the City, Cheaper By The Dozen 2, Our Family Wedding, Good Hair, Sex Drive, Barnyard, Joey, Take Home Chef, Deck The Halls, Miss Rap Supreme, 100 Greatest Stand-Up’s of All Time & The Shot.

In 2002 Joel moved to Los Angeles and has since established himself as a sought after performing and recording artist. When not performing, recording or touring, Joel teaches privately and leads two L.A.’s funkiest bands: the all-star 10-piece funky music machineThe Greasy Beats, and the soul-jazz Hammond B-3 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 Catholic High School in Playa Del Rey, CA and currently instructs Instrumental Music and directs the super funky Viking Band. Joel has previously taught at both Crossroads Elemantary School and at 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.