Piano with Joe A.

In a recent interview with Brian Lehrer on WNYC, legendary journalist Nat Hentoff stated, "The last piece I did for them [The Wall Street Journal] - I'm so glad I had a chance to do it - is about a 24 year old pianist and composer named Joe A, who is really the personification of the past of jazz - he's really deep into that -, the present of jazz - he has his own voice - and that leads him into the future of jazz, and he's so important in terms of the validity of jazz...[Joe A & one of his mentors, tenor saxophonist Houston Person] make recordings that - to use the phrase that Duke Ellington really had a chance to use - are 'beyond category' because they're timeless." Born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia, Joe moved to New York in the fall of 2007 to study music at New York University, where he earned both his Bachelor's and Master’s Degrees in Music. While there, he had the opportunity to study with greats including Don Friedman, Joe Lovano and John Scofield. He has performed at venues around the world including the Blue Note Jazz Club in Milan, Blues Alley in Washington, DC, and Preservation Hall in New Orleans; he has led groups at venues in New York City including the Blue Note Jazz Club, the Iridium, the Kitano, 21 Club, Le Cirque, and Jazz at Lincoln Center's Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola, among others. He also recently performed at the "Marian McPartland Piano Jazz All-Star Celebration" at Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola, as well as at Jack Kleinsinger Presents "Highlights in Jazz", as a part of the "Next Generation All-Stars," where he performed alongside tenor saxophone great Houston Person. In addition, he and his trio have performed multiple times at the Blue Note Jazz Club as an opening act for greats including Les McCann, Ramsey Lewis, Philip Bailey (of Earth, Wind & Fire), John Pizzarelli and Hiromi, among others. Joe’s most recent recording, Georgia Sunset, which was produced by Houston Person, garnered much critical praise and reached #6 on the JazzWeek radio charts. Speaking about Joe, legendary pianist Ramsey Lewis stated, "When listening to Joe A perform, it is obvious that he has studied the history of jazz piano. However, his own style of playing is appealing, challenging and quite satisfying." *** Lesson Details *** My lessons cater to the student, the individual; no one is the same and there is no one correct way to learn how to play the piano. I grew up with many teachers who thought otherwise and who nearly turned me off to the instrument entirely, but I luckily found a great guide for me before it was too late. Because of this, I have many methods of teaching. I find it important to talk to the student before beginning lessons; to discover the student's current musical interests, wants, and dreams, and from there I am able to anticipate how our method of study should go. I am laid back and fun in lessons, just as I am outside of lessons, and I have noticed that my past students have enjoyed our lessons. I have also found that my students truly do not want to disappoint me. I think this is not because I will scold them for messing up - which I won't; we will go at the student's pace - but it is instead because they like me. *** Studio Equipment *** home: living room f/w keyboard seating for parents *** Travel Equipment *** Student must have keyboard/piano. Unless it is for music theory lessons, no keyboard required. *** Specialties *** Although technically a "jazz" teacher, I'd be an ideal teacher to someone who wants to learn blues techniques and/or rock and roll or New Orleans type music on the piano. I am very adept to teach jazz piano styles that are pre-1960. Stride/walking bass/walking tenths are my greatest strength.