JOEL HOLMES
Full Profile
Joel Holmes was Born in the United States and embarked on his musical journey in 1996. From a young age, he taught himself tunes by ear and honed his skills playing with local bands and in church.
Joel attended the Baltimore School for the Performing Arts High School and later became the Director of Jazz at his alma mater. He furthered his education at the Peabody Conservatory of Music at John Hopkins University, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Jazz Performance.
Throughout his career, Joel has achieved significant recognition, including several Grammy Nominations, a gold medal in the NAACP Act-so competition, and notable mentions in prestigious competitions such as the John Lennon Songwriting Competition and VH1 Song of the Year Awards.
Joel Holmes is a highly accomplished musician who has made a name for himself through his extensive touring experience with renowned artists such as Grammy-winning jazz trumpeter Roy Hargrove, vocalist Nnenna Freelon, and saxophonist Javon Jackson.
Joel was a member of Carl Craig’s Versus Synthesizer Ensemble for 3 years, where he showcased his talent in live Techno Music. With a vast repertoire, Joel has performed solo, in duos, and with his trios, captivating audiences across North America, South America, Europe, and Asia. His impressive collaborations include notable musicians such as Curtis Fuller, Terrace Blanchard, Gary Thomas, Jimmy Cobb, Roberta Gambarini, and many others.
Joel’s music effortlessly blends various styles and influences, ranging from Traditional to Contemporary Jazz, Funk, R&B, Jazz Electronica and Deep House Music. Joel Holmes leads a band known as the JOEL HOLMES Expansion band, which focuses on Broken beat, Neosoul, Jazz and Deephouse music.
The JOEL HOLMES Expansion just made their debut at Ronnie Scotts in London in October 2023, with a sold-out Main feature show.