Joel Cross

Joel Cross is a native of Cleburne Texas. He began playing guitar at the age of twelve. He started playing in church where his father was the pastor and later began to play in gospel groups with his older sisters and brothers. In 2003 he began college at the University of Houston where he studied jazz with Mike Wheeler, Noe Marmolejo and Woody Witt. While in Houston he played for the universities big band and had the pleasure of performing with Randy Brecker and Tim Hagans. In 2006 Joel transferred to the University of North Texas to continue his studies in jazz. He performed in several of the schools jazz ensembles and enjoyed playing with great musicians Fred Hamilton, Lynn Seaton, John Abercrombie and Eric Scortia. He has also played the at the Gulf Coast Ethnic heritage Jazz festival in Alabama with the Tatiana Mayfield Quintet where he shared the stage with Dave Valentine. He completed his degree in Jazz Studies in 2008 and is currently working on his debut album which is scheduled to be released on June 1, 2009.