Joel is a singer-songwriter who plays a unique instrument called the sazouki, a giant mandolin created by a luthier in France. Born in Brazil and now living in France, Joel’s music is influenced by the rhythms and harmonies of his homeland. He has recorded two albums in Brazil, both produced by his music partner, Swami Jr. Swami Jr. is a talented musician and was also the music director of the Buena Vista Social Club.
Joel writes songs in different styles. His music can be mellow like bossa nova, energetic like samba, introspective like folk songs, tribal like hip-hop, and classic like Latin rock. Despite these varied styles, Joel’s music always has sincerity, high musical quality, and good vibes. He sings in multiple languages, including Portuguese, French, Spanish, and Japanese. In addition to singing, Joel plays several instruments in his songs, such as bass, kalimba, and keyboards. On his two albums recorded in Brazil, he played mandocello and mandolin.
Joel’s first album, “Canções,” features many special guests, including the talented guitarist Chico Pinheiro and the great Portuguese singer Eugénia Melo e Castro. This album has a traditional Brazilian flavor. His second album, “Labirinto,” combines a Bossa Nova quartet with a string orchestra, creating a unique sound. The quartet includes Tiago Costa, Swami Jr., Sergio Reze, and Joel himself.
Besides performing his own songs, Joel also makes original arrangements of songs by other famous songwriters. He has covered songs by Chico Buarque, Jimi Hendrix, Tom Jobim, Cole Porter, Georges Brassens, and many others. In the past two years, Joel has been working on different singles. Each single is a unique project. Sometimes he works alone, and other times he collaborates with musicians in Brazil. Joel has many friends in Brazil who are both musical partners and graphic artists who help with the album covers. For Joel, music and friendship go hand in hand.
