Joe has been hailed one of “jazz’s most promising young composers” by Jazz at Lincoln Center.

He has received the following commissions:

• Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis: “Ruby, My Dear” (2018), “Volcanic Suite” (2016),

• Wynton Marsalis Septet: “Limbo Jazz” (2017)

• Jazz Orchestra of Philadelphia: “Venus” from Gustav Holst’s “The Planets” (2018)

• Transcriber/Arranger for Harvard Business School Show (2017-2018)

• Juilliard Jazz Orchestra: “Meditation” and “Eternal Triangle” (2019), “A Fatal Hiatus” (2020), “Nearness of You” (2021)

• Philadelphia Ambassador Big Band: Various Arrangements (2016-present)

Joe is an ASCAP writer and publisher (JoeBlockMusic).

Joe has received awards from organizations such as the National Youngarts Foundation (2017, Honorable Mention for Jazz Composition) and Jazz at Lincoln Center (2016, J. Douglas White Composition/Arranging Contest Winner). As a bandleader, composition is Joe’s priority. He utilizes the entire ensemble in order to express his visions, emotions, and values as a musician, artist, and human. His willingness to take risks and explore new forms in his music provides the foundation for his unique compositional voice. He strives for a high level of musical energy and artistic clarity, blurring the lines between past, present, and genre to deliver a sonic concept that is informed, provocative, and affective to listeners of any background.Some of Joe’s compositional influences include Duke Ellington, Thelonious Monk, Herbie Hancock, Wynton Marsalis, Keith Jarrett, Gerald Clayton, Ambrose Akinmunsurie, Brad Mehldau, and Claude Debussy.

Joe teaches arranging lessons, in person or virtually via Zoom. Contact him for more details.