Joel Holmes is an honest to goodness jazz piano prodigy. Some of us are convinced that he was playing piano in a previous life, but his official bio says that he began teaching himself tunes by ear when he was 4. His family moved to Baltimore from Virginia, so he could attend the Baltimore School for the Arts. He later attended the acclaimed Peabody Conservatory of Music at John Hopkins University, and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Jazz Performance.

He gained popularity with his fellow students playing impressive performances at various festivals and venues, and he is a particular favorite accompanist among area singers.

At (almost) 25, Joel composes his own style of music blending an array of traditional and contemporary jazz, gospel, R&B, soul, hip-hop, neo soul, funk, classical and pop. He says of his compositions, “My music is a direct expression of musical influences, spiritual freedom and personal interpretation.” In addition, he plays a repertoire of over three hundred well-known tunes

He has opened for The Temptations, The Manhattans, Tonex, Regina Bell and Phil Perry. Joel has earned a number of accolades in songwriting including honorable mentions in the John Lennon Songwriting Competition, and the VH1 Song of the year awards and he was a finalist in the 5th annual Independent Music Awards.

Because of his increasing popularity, as a pianist, accompanist and composer, Joel is touring extensively throughout the East Coast, and now world-wide. This past summer, Joel joined the touring band of Grammy-nominated jazz vocalist Nnenna Freelon.

Joel Holmes released his debut album, “Eternal Vision,” in 2004 and is just finishing up his second CD, which is scheduled for release in January 2008