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Joe Hakim

Joe Hakim - Musician/Educator/Composer Joe Hakim earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Performance from William Paterson University's Jazz Studies Program under the tutelage of the world renowned Rufus Reid, graduating Cum Laude. During this time, Joe won First Place in Downbeat Magazine’s student competition. He majored in Double Bass, studying with the Grammy-winning Dr. Todd Coolman, and minored in Piano, studying with Noreen Lienhard. Joe also had the opportunity to take lessons with the legendary Dave Holland, a leading force in the jazz world for over 40 years. While in school, Joe had the chance to study and perform with such luminaries as Mulgrew Miller, Vic Juris, Horacee Arnold, John Rielly, Armen Donelian, Harold Mabern, Jim McNeely, Paul Myers, Steve Wilson, Ralph Peterson, and Dave Samuels.

Upon graduating, Joe became immersed in the music scene around NY/NJ, playing hundreds of gigs in all styles of music: Rock, Pop, Jazz, Singer-Songwriter, R&B, World Music, Swing, Big Band, and more. He had the opportunity to play on many famous stages in NYC, including The Izzy Bar, Cleopatra’s Needle, The 55 Bar, The Cutting Room, Kavehaz, Arlene’s Grocery, Detour, Windows On The World, LeBar Bat, The Garage, Swing 46, Zinc Bar, The Knitting Factory, Kenny’s Castaways, The Elbow Room, Continental, The Lion’s Den, Makor, and The NJ Performing Arts Center, often playing original compositions in the process. During this time, Joe had the chance to play with such musical peers as Anat Fort, Nat Janoff, Terrence McManus, Sean Nowell, Nick Mancini, Tedd Firth, Johnathan Blake, Joe Elefante, Alexis Cole, Tomoko Ohno, Jeffrey Burr, Tim Wilcox, Colby Inzer, Craig Yaremko, Nathan Ecklund, Doug Clarke, Tony DeSare , Lenny Roberts, Steve Girardi, Nick Scheuble, Joe Knipes, David Hessel, Matt Ritter, Udi Levy,and many more.

He also worked in the pit bands for such musicals as West Side Story, Anything Goes, Grease, Bye Bye Birdie, A Chorus Line, Crazy For You, Fiddler On The Roof, Into The Woods, Rocky Horror Picture Show, Man Of La Mancha, and A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum.

Joe also began his teaching career around this time, starting at the Calderone School of Music, where he taught from 1999 until 2005. While on the faculty there, he taught electric bass, double bass, guitar, and piano. He also conducted the jazz ensemble and substitute taught lessons on violin, cello, flute, and drums. Joe has also taught at Summit Music Studios, The Amati Conservatory, The NJ Workshop for the Arts, The NJPAC Jazz For Teens Program, and William Paterson’s Summer Jazz Program, as well as being on the music faculty at Essex County College, The Ridgewood Encore Music Program, and Eric Smith Middle School.

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Joe Hakim Various

"Imprints" among top 3 New Jazz Albums recommended along with Branford Marsalis in 2014! Review By Michael Verity/About Entertainment November 2014 "Almost everything about this record is refreshingly simple. It arrived with little fanfare, just a disc in an envelope, without a stack of paper or a heap of hyperbole. The front cover is a surrealist portrayal of a kid on an airport runway, throwing paper airplanes. The back cover is simple gray with a list a songs and a list of personnel. It’s the personnel part of the equation that’s not so simple. This is a piano trio album played by a piano duo, with Hakim playing both double bass and piano and Matt Slocum playing drums. Purists might think the interaction of piano and bass — so essential to the trio format — would fall flat from an overdub approach but the results are quite the opposite. Songs like the soothing “Against The Waves,” the pensive “Unbroken” and the thoughtful “Ghosts And The Poet” all come together flawlessly, speaking to the melodic approach of Bill Evans and the chordal ideas of the late Oscar Peterson catalog, presented with a touch of new jazz, as well. If it weren’t for the notation on the cover, you’d never know this is a duo rather than a trio. It’s a very mellow record — most of the tunes are ambient, atmospheric, soothing — but a fine listen for those looking for a bit of contemplative jazz. Heartily recommended." Review By George Harris/Jazz Weekly December 2014 "If you like your jazz trios filled with lyricism and melody, you’ve got a friend here in Joe Hakim. It’s actually not quite a “trio” per se, as Hakim plays both piano and bass (not simultaneously) along with Matt Slocum’s conversational drums. The three way interplay on pieces such as “Ghosts And The Poet” and “Against The Waves” demonstrate a romantic touch on the piano ivories as well as a La Faro-like extrapolation on the bass. There is enough room for improvisation on material such as “The Road Behind Us” and “Unbroken” but the excursions feel more a part of an organic whole, and not just a simple “mow, blow and go” run through the changes. Hakim’s craft with a pen on “As You Were” suggest and almost orchestral approach to the piano, as Slocum directs and responds with symbiotic work on the drums and cymbals. Hints of modern piano romancers like Evans and Jarrett pop up occasionally, but Hakim’s touch is actually all his own, and it’s one worth listening to." Review By Scott Yanow/Los Angeles Jazz Scene February 2015 "While much of pre-1980 jazz is fairly easy to give a specific name to (such as swing, bop, free jazz or fusion), most of the jazz performances of the past 35 years, other than those purposely played in a historic style, are very difficult to classify as anything but “modern jazz.” Joe Hakim’s Imprints (available from www.joehakimmusic.com) sounds like a melodic and quietly explorative live performance by a trio, at least until one realizes that Hakim (who is joined by drummer Matt Slocum) is featured throughout playing both piano and bass. While it may not technically be a live set, the ten renditions of Hakim’s songs sound spontaneous and will appeal to fans of Bill Evans, Brad Mehldau, and Keith Jarrett. The interpretations are lyrical, often taken as thoughtful ballads, and are full of rich melodies and introspective interplay by Hakim, Hakim and Slocum. Joe Hakim is equally skilled on piano and bass, bowing very effectively on the title cut. This is a recommended set that grows in interest with each listen." Review By Dick Metcalf/Improvijazzation Nation April 2015 "Joe does keyboard and double bass on this great little recording, joined by Matt Slocum on drums; very interesting and quite persuasive for the jazz listener. The pacing on all ten tunes is excellent, and the recording is crystal- clear… well done, especially on tunes like “Ghosts And The Poet“… it won’t totally blow you away, but it will stay in your head for days! I truly loved the bass work on the beautiful (and emotional) “Across The River“… and I have no doubt you will too (Matt’s drums weave wonderfully with the bass on this track, too). If you want to “discover” something magical in the music you listen to, you’ll certainly appreciate my personal favorite piece of the 10 offered up, “Seek and Find“… this is a fine jazz set, and Joe/Matt get a MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED from me for listeners who love well-played jazz. " - See more at: http://www.joehakimmusic.com/reviews/#sthash.0VslSrB5.dpuf

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Primary Instrument

Various

Willing to teach

Beginner to advanced

Credentials/Background

B.M. William Paterson University. Private studies with Rufus Reid, Todd Coolman, Dave Holland, Noreen Lienhard. Full credentials in bio here: www.joehakimmusic.com Beginners through advanced accepted. Lessons available on Double Bass, Piano, Guitar, and Electric Bass, as well as jazz theory and composition.