We’re excited to welcome one of the highlights of the New York jazz scene to Jazz Port Townsend in 2011. Tenor saxophonist Joel Frahm brings with him a growing reputation as an instrumentalist, composer, and band leader.

Having made a name for himself through his associations with singer Jane Monheit and boyhood friend, pianist Brad Mehldau, Joel has also worked with Maynard Ferguson, Betty Carter, Matt Wilson, Larry Goldings, Kurt Rosenwinkel, The Village Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, Kyle Eastwood and many others.

“Joel Frahm, one of the young band leaders often heard in New York’s small jazz clubs, sounds supremely comfortable playing the tenor saxophone.”
–Ben Ratliff, The New York Times

On his latest recording, We Used to Dance, Joel is surrounded by Stan Getz’s legendary rhythm section–Kenny Barron, Rufus Reid and Victor Lewis. It is his most ambitious work to date, featuring six of his original compositions. “It was an honor and a watershed experience for to make this record with these incredible musicians” he says.