Joe

I am a freelance professional Trombonist who graduated from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in summer 2020 with a first-class honours in BMus (Hons) Jazz Trombone. I have trained in both classical and jazz under the direction of internationally recognised trombonists Trevor Mires, Eric Crees, Scott Stroman and Dave Gibson. I started my musical journey coming through Tomorrow’s Warriors Youth Organisation; and now as a graduate I am a performer and educator.
I have firmly established myself as a working musician in London’s vibrant music scene performing regularly in the UK and abroad. I am a member of Balimaya Project; Mercury Prize nominated SEED Ensemble, and have toured the country with international jazz artists such as Jason Moran and have recorded with Black Midi and Cherise Adams-Burnett. I have performed at the BBC Proms, Love Supreme Jazz Festival, Berlin Jazz Festival, Montclair Jazz Festival (US), and venues such as the Royal Festival Hall, Barbican, Ronnie Scott’s, Jazz Café and Dizzy’s Jazz Club in New York. I am currently writing for my own projects as well as working on bringing a musical residency to my local community, Catford. I am a highly skilled performer, educator, composer, arranger and band director. I have a strong knowledge in harmony, composition, arranging, instrumental technique, improvisation and have strong piano skills, I am especially passionate about improvisation and composition and I have written for Symphony Orchestra, Big Bands and I am currently writing for smaller ensembles.

Availability: Enquire for availability

Willing to travel: 10 miles

Experience: I have 4 years experience in music education, in a variety of roles and environments. I had the role of teaching assistant at Jazz House Kids Summer workshop for 3 years consecutively in New Jersey, US. This consisted of me leading sessions in improvisation, combos, trombone technique, and assisting the faculty run improvisation, big band sectionals, composition, 1:1 trombone lessons and teaching students from all over the world.

I am currently a member of the National Youth Jazz Orchestra’s Jazz Messengers, which is a specialist group that tours the country on a yearly basis and delivers workshops and interactive performances to primary, secondary and sixth form schools across the country. This is a highly successful program, which has reached over 5000 young people so far, and is in high demand amongst schools all over the country. I also received training as a workshop leader, combo director and big band director as part of NYJO’s Mentor Scheme consisting of me shadowing some of the best educators in the country, and then being assessed on my workshop leading abilities. Alongside this, I have also been a NYJO ambassador, delivering brass master-classes, improvisation classes, and assisting the creative ensemble at NYJO’s weekly Saturday sessions in East London.

Another organisation I currently work with on a freelance basis is Tomorrow’s Warriors. I teach the 4 members of the trombone section 1:1 via zoom, and I will be assisting the running of the big band and giving trombone sectionals. I have also been an ambassador for Tomorrow’s Warriors Jazz Ticket regional outreach program, assisting improvisation workshops in Southampton where I grew up.

Through my own links with these great youth organisations, and my own experience of gaining a place at a conservatoire, I am well placed to help students of any age on their musical journeys - whether it is pursued as a hobby, or as a career path. I understand what it takes to pursue music seriously, and have experience in dealing with both the Trinity and ABRSM instrumental and theory exam boards.