Joel was born in Sackville, New Brunswick, took up saxophone at age ten, and as a teenager studied with maritime-raised Jazz legend Don Palmer. This launched him off to study Jazz performance at McGill University. His career as a bandleader took off in 1997 when he showcased his debut CD, Find A Way, at the Montreal Jazz Festival and won the DuMaurier Grand Prix de Jazz. He is still creating and producing compositions, improvisations, albums, and shows which continue to be recognized with awards (Juno win 2012, ECMA 2012, 2016, 2021). Even more importantly, his music communicates joy, celebration, humour, and curiosity about our amazing planet.