Joel Frahm - Saxophone
Mitch Watkins - Guitar
John Fremgen - Bass
Daniel DuFour - Drums
About Joel Frahm
Born in Racine, Wisconsin in 1969, saxophonist Joel Frahm began his musical journey with classical piano and bassoon before switching to tenor saxophone at 14. After his family moved to Hartford, Connecticut, he joined the city’s high school jazz program, where he first met pianist Brad Mehldau. Frahm went on to study at Rutgers University’s Mason Gross School of the Arts and later earned a B.A. in Jazz Performance from Manhattan School of Music. Quickly establishing himself in New York's jazz scene, he performed with top musicians including Matt Wilson, David Berkman, Maynard Ferguson, Betty Carter, and Pat Martino.
Frahm has become known for his stylistic versatility, strong improvisational voice, and skill in supporting vocalists. His collaborations span generations, including artists like Kurt Rosenwinkel, Ingrid Jensen, Diane Schuur, and Jane Monheit. His 2004 duo album "Don’t Explain" with Brad Mehldau received critical acclaim for its inventive interplay. Since then, Frahm has released multiple albums as a leader, contributed to over 100 recordings, and played on Grammy-nominated and Grammy-winning albums by Freddy Cole, Dafnis Prieto, and Mehldau. A dedicated educator, Frahm now teaches at Texas State University, where he is developing a sought-after saxophone program.