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Joe Elefante's Wheel of Dharma Joe Elefante is a pianist, saxophonist, vocalist, composer, arranger, and bandleader. Joe has traveled 4 continents playing and conducting jazz and musical theater. Joe founded the Joe Elefante Big Band in 2001, which was the house band at Cecil’s Jazz Club for three years and was featured on ABC’s Nightline and in the Wall Street Journal. He was named a Jazz Ambassador by the Kennedy Center, and has toured Eastern Europe and the Middle East as a jazz pianist for the U.S. State Department. He has also been selected to the prestigious BMI Jazz Composers Workshop in NYC and the Betty Carter: Jazz Ahead program at the Kennedy Center. He has also musically directed, conducted or played countless theater productions, including several at the Paper Mill Playhouse and Jersey Boys on Broadway and National Tour. After majoring in jazz saxophone and piano at New Jersey City University, Joe performed and recorded music full time for the next fifteen years before settling down to raise a family. He worked as a schoolteacher and part-time musician for the next decade, losing touch with his jazz roots as the years passed and responsibilities piled up. After the tragic death of his wife of 16 years to cancer in 2024, Joe realized that life is too precious and fragile to not follow his true north: writing and performing vital, original jazz music with the best artists on the scene. This realization, in conjunction with his passion for Buddhist teachings - or dharma - are the fuel that ignites his artistry.Joe’s latest project is Joe Elefante’s Wheel of Dharma, a jazz quintet featuring Freddie Hendrix on trumpet, Erena Terakubo on saxophone, Sameer Shankar on bass, and David Heilman on drums. Wheel of Dharma (WOD) performs all original material, but with a reverent eye on the past, present, and future of music. Joe Elefante’s Wheel of Dharma Joe Elefante’s latest project, Wheel of Dharma, marks the debut release of a quintet that brings together an extraordinary lineup: Joe Elefante on piano, Freddie Hendrix on trumpet, Erena Terakubo on saxophone, Sameer Shankar on bass, and Dave Heilman on drums. This album combines Elefante’s original compositions with a profound respect for jazz tradition, all while pushing the music into fresh, modern territory.The connection between Elefante, Hendrix, and Heilman runs deep, stretching back over 25 years to their college days, when they first met and began their musical journey together. Reuniting for Wheel of Dharma has allowed them to tap into that rich history, creating a sound that’s steeped in shared experience and artistic chemistry.This release carries a powerful personal significance for Elefante. In March 2024, he suffered the devastating loss of his wife, Caryn, to cancer - a tragedy that brought him face-to-face with life’s impermanence. This profound loss reignited his passion for music and reaffirmed his calling to pursue it full-time, fueling his drive to create and share his work as never before. Wheel of Dharma is a tribute to Caryn’s memory and a celebration of Elefante’s dedication to his art. The album features five original compositions by Elefante and one piece by Terakubo, titled “Rocky, ” each track capturing the quintet’s dynamic synergy and expansive sound. Independently recorded and produced by Elefante, this project reflects his commitment to honoring both the music and the personal journey behind it. TRACKS, TIMES, COMPOSER: Bad Dancing 5:55 (Joe Elefante) Rocky 6:33 (Erena Terakubo/Vincent Herring) The One Who Knows 5:42 (Joe Elefante) The Earth Is on Fire 5:49 (Joe Elefante) Samadhi 6:08 (Joe Elefante) Lion’s Eyes 6:40 (Joe Elefante) TOTAL RUNNING TIME OF CD: 36:52 PLAYERS, INSTRUMENT: Joe Elefante: piano Freddie Hendrix: trumpet Erena Terakubo: saxophone Sameer Shankar: bass Dave Heilman: drums Artist: Joe Elefante’s Wheel of Dharma Album: Wheel of Dharma Label: Self-Released Add Date: January 13, 2025 Street Date: October 25, 2024 Website: https://www.joeelefantemusic.com SoundCloud: https://on.soundcloud.com/o3mTyKuYxndfss2j7 YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/@joeelefantemusic Joe Elefante’s Wheel of Dharma Sunday, Mar 23, 2025, 7:00 PM EDT Madison, 10 Kings Rd, Madison, NJ 07940, USA Joe Elefante's Wheel of Dharma will be performing at the Madison Community Arts Center in Madison, NJ on Sunday, 03/23/2025, @ 7PM. Joe Elefante's Wheel of Dharma Sun, Apr 13 New Providence Joe Elefante's Wheel of Dharma will be performing at Elefante Music & School for the Performing Arts in New Providence, NJ on Sunday, 04/13/2025, @ 3PM. |
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