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Joel Holmes

Joel Holmes began teaching himself tunes by ear at age 10. He grew up playing with local bands and primarily in church. His family soon moved from Virginia to Baltimore so that he could attend the Baltimore School for the Performing Arts. Later, Joel Holmes became the Director of Jazz at his alma mater. He attended the Peabody Conservatory of Music at John Hopkins University where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Jazz Performance. Over the years, Joel has received numerous honors including 2 Grammy Nominations, a gold medal in the Act-so competition of the NAACP, and honorable mention in the John Lennon Songwriting Competition, a finalist in the fifth annual Independent Music Awards and an honorable mention in the VH1 Song of the Year Awards. Over the last several years, Joel has toured the world with Grammy winning jazz trumpeter Roy Hargrove, vocalist Nnenna Freelon and Saxophonist Javon Jackson who is an ex jazz Messenger with Art Blakey. Joel Holmes has performed all over the world solo,duos and with his trios touring Italy, France, Taiwan, Japan,Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Greece, Belgium, Germany, Sweden, Norway, Holland, England, Spain, Chile,Ecuador, Uruguay, Canada, USA,Colombia, etc. Joel Holmes has played with Curtis Fuller,Terrace Blanchard, Gary Thomas, Jimmy Cobb,Victor Lewis,Roberta Gambarini, Azar Lawrence,Tim Warfield, Greg Osby, Tim Green, Butch Warren, Reggie Workman, Cecil Mcbee and many more. With such a diverse educational and performing background, it is no surprise that his music blends so many styles and influences. From contemporary jazz to gospel to funk to R&B, Joel can be heard fusing these genres and traditional jazz piano stylings such as Art Tatum, McCoy Tyner and Oscar Peterson.

Awards

Over the years, Joel has received numerous honors including 2 Grammy Nominations, a gold medal in the Act-so competition of the NAACP Baltimore chapter, and honorable mention in the John Lennon Songwriting Competition, a finalist in the fifth annual Independent Music Awards and an honorable mention in the VH1 Song of the Year Awards.

Pianist Joel Holmes and The Green House Expansion Fuse Jazz and Hip-Hop with "Take One"

Source: Joel Holmes
March 3, 2016

The Green House Expansion was founded ONE year ago in Neukölln, JNY: Berlin. Their name comes from the multi-disciplinary artist studio/residence known as The Green House where the band rehearses and creates its compositions. Lead by Grammy-Nominated pianist, Joel Holmes, the band features the award winning jazz bassist Martin Buhl, critically acclaimed Polish drummer, Kuba Gudz and their MC/DJ, Stimulus. Stimulus is most known for his collaborations with Mark Ronson, Chris Dave & Robert Glasper as well as for being ...
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180

Recording

Joel Holmes: Cuban Rhythms Meet the African Skies

Source: All About Jazz
July 20, 2009

"African Skies" is the electric sophomore release from jazz piano prodigy Joel Holmes. Mr. Holmes has been lighting up the Eastern United States for years and has recently been touring the world with Grammy-nominee Nnenna Freelon. Somewhere in between touring and earning his jazz performance degree from the Peabody Conservatory of Music at John Hopkins, Mr. Holmes managed to create ten of the most inspirational songs you are likely to hear this year. The album opens with the dynamic title ...
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156

Recording

Cuban Rhythms Meet the African Skies

Source: All About Jazz
March 26, 2009

African Skies is the electric sophomore release from jazz piano prodigy Joel Holmes.

Mr. Holmes has been lighting up the Eastern United States for years and has recently been touring the world with Grammy-nominee Roy Hargrove & Nnenna Freelon. Somewhere in between touring and earning his jazz performance degree from the Peabody Conservatory of Music at John Hopkins, Mr. Holmes managed to create ten of the most inspirational songs you are likely to hear this year.

The album opens with ...
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117

Performance / Tour

Joel Holmes: "African Skies" Reprise

Source: All About Jazz
October 11, 2008

Pianist/composer and rising star Joel Holmes debuts material from his new jazz CD African Skies. His quartet includes Joel on piano, Eric Wheeler on bass, and Joel's special guests: Gary Thomas on saxophone and Shirley Horn's longtime drummer, Steve Williams! House Concert 8:00 PM 6004 Hollins Ave Baltimore MD 21210 410-624-2222 or 410-952-5582 Price: $40 w/dinner - $25 show only About Joel Holmes Joel Holmes is an honest to goodness ...
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172

Recording

Joel Holmes' New CD, "African Skies," Featuring Gary Thomas

Source: All About Jazz
July 3, 2008

146

Performance / Tour

Tim Warfield with Joel Holmes Quintet at An die Musik Live

Source: All About Jazz
April 25, 2008

Saxophonist Tim Warfield will help Joel Holmes celebrate the release of Holmes' new CD “African Skies" with a CD Release Concert at An die Musik Live on Friday, April 25, at 8 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.

In 1990 Tim Warfield, Jr. was chosen to be a member of trumpeter and CBS/Sony recording artist Marlon Jordan's Quintet. In 1991 he was selected to record Tough Young Tenors on the Island/Antilles label, listed as one of the top ten recordings of the ...
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103

Performance / Tour

Joel Holmes Trio Live at An Die Musik, July 7

Source: All About Jazz
June 23, 2006

138

Recording

Pianist Joel Holmes Releases "Eternal Vision"

Source: All About Jazz
May 19, 2006

Baltimore, MD -- Joel Holmes, a traditional jazz pianist from Baltimore, MD, has released his brand new album Eternal Vision. The CD contains 13 tracks of inspirational music that soothes the soul, taking the listener on an unforgettable journey through jazz standards, arrangements and originals. “This debut by Baltimore pianist Joel Holmes is without question a serious jazz album full of tightly executed ideas and strong chops," Eliot Caroom of the Baltimore Jazz Alliance writes.

Joel was born in Arizona ...
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Recording

Joel Holmes Releases Debut CD "Eternal Vision"

Source: All About Jazz
February 10, 2006

Joel Holmes has just released his Debut CD Eternal Vision.

Joel Holmes was a Finalist in the 5th Annual Independent Music Awards in the Jazz Originals song category. You can find it listed in the Musician's Atlas 2006 magazine.

Joel Holmes has also been selected to receive a Maryland State Arts Council Individual Artist Award for $3000.

His album received a great review in the Baltimore Jazz Alliance newsletter.

Joel Holmes is also having a concert at the Barnes and ...
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" “African Skies” is truly an original album that any jazz and jazz fusion fan should add to their collection. " - -Chris & the RadioIndy.com Reviewer Team , -Chris & the RadioIndy.com Reviewer Team "Joel Holmes is the right artist that has created the right album at the right time. "African Skies" is a plush adventure of styles, genres and cultures. From the African continent to Cuba to the Far East...from contemporary jazz to fusion to R&B Joel Holmes takes his listeners on a global sonic journey that is not to be missed." - Blue Canoe Records, Cuban Rhythms meet the African Skies (Jul 09, 2009) " Joel Holmes is a name to file and track

Primary Instrument

Piano

Location

Berlin

Credentials/Background

Professor of Jazz Piano At the University Of Maryland Baltimore County 2003/2005 Jazz Department Head at the Baltimore School for the Arts 2003-2005 Jazz Piano teacher for the Anguilla Jazz Summer camp 2007