joe carnell is a trombonist, composer, and producer hailing from exeter, devon. he began instrumental lessons aged 7 and continued throughout his school life. receiving his grade 8 in year 9, Joe then went on to study music and music technology at gcse and a-level. following the completion of his school education, joe continued to study at the prestigious royal birmingham conservatoire on the bmus (hons) jazz course.

whilst studying, joe was fortunate enough to be coached by stalwarts of the jazz scene, including maria schneider, jerry bergonzi, john fedchock, tim berne, mike gibbs, matt mitchell, and john surman, as well as regularly being taught by jeremy price, percy pursglove, ashley horton, and john o’gallagher. in 2019, during his time at the royal birmingham conservatoire, joe was delighted to partake in the european jazz laboratory, a small ensemble made up of young musicians from across the continent, as well as being invited to guest with the milan conservatory jazz orchestra later that year.

since graduating in 2021, joe has developed a busy playing career, covering a multitude of genres including: large ensemble jazz, small ensemble jazz, pop, latin, NOLA, ska, funk/soul, motown, trad jazz, orchestral, and pit work, amongst many others. in recent years he’s been privileged to play in some of the uk’s and europe’s most prestigious venues including: glastonbury festival, ronnie scott’s, the royal albert hall, teatro rossini, montreux jazz festival, elb jazz, birmingham symphony hall, love supreme jazz festival, and cheltenham jazz festival.

joe can be found in many ensembles across the uk. selected highlights are a uk tour with manchester based beats and pieces big band in early 2023, as trombone/mastering engineer with the olivia murphy jazz orchestra in 2022, and an italian tour with mike westbrook and the uncommon orchestra in 2018. joe has been a long term member of the uncommon orchestra, joining in 2014 and taking over the lead trombone mantle in 2018.

in addition to his performing career, joe is an established producer and recording/mixing/mastering engineer. he founded the label iola music in 2019 in an effort to give artists the tools and platform to make an impact in the ever-evolving landscape of independent music.