Biography

 
 

Biography

Joe Jenkins is a multi-instrumentalist performer and educator located in Houston, TX. Hailed as possessing "extraordinary passion, elegance, and humility" (The Clothesline Adelaide) and being "nuanced and powerful" (Kenneth Long), Joe has established himself as one of Houston's most versatile and in-demand musicians.

Joe holds adjunct faculty positions at both Texas Southern University, where he serves as Professor of Woodwinds, and Lone Star College, where he teaches clarinet. He is also on staff at Strake Jesuit College Preparatory as the lead jazz and clarinet instructor. Beyond the classroom, Joe is a co-founder and board member of the Avec Ensemble, a Houston-based nonprofit dedicated to expanding the reach of chamber jazz music.

As a performer, Joe is a first-call musician for Houston's thriving musical theatre scene, regularly working with the Stratford Playhouse and bringing his expertise as a doubler to some of the city's most prominent pit orchestras. In the jazz world, he is a member of both the Texas Jazz Orchestra and the Doc Watkins Orchestra, and performs regularly at Doc's Jazz Club cementing his reputation as a cornerstone of the Houston jazz community.

He was a member of The Tommy Dorsey Orchestra from 2012–2023, touring extensively nationally and internationally. Before relocating to Houston, Joe was integral to the Atlanta music scene, holding positions with the Carroll Symphony Orchestra, where he served as second clarinet and acting principal, the Carrollton Jazz Orchestra, Orquestra Nova Sound, Serenbe Playhouse, and Stage Door Players. Joe has been featured on recordings by Chris Stalcup and the Grange, Lefty Williams, and The District Attorneys.

Dedicated to performing across multiple genres, Joe toured with the international musical theatre production "In The Mood Live," worked with the Joe Gransden Big Band, performed with Tito Puente Jr., given world premieres for chamber ensemble works, regularly performed with the Atlanta Pops Orchestra, and been under the batons of Maestros Guido Rumstadt and Michael Palmer.

Joe has always held a deep passion for education, giving jazz and classical masterclasses throughout the United States, Australia, and New Zealand. While in Atlanta, he was a founding teacher for the Carroll Symphony Music Academy, led outreach and sound learning programs at Charles Drew Charter School, and taught woodwind methods courses at Georgia State University. His students have earned top accolades in the All-State Band, Governor's Honor Program, and music scholarships at major universities and conservatories.

Joe holds an MM in Orchestral Clarinet Performance and a BM in Jazz Studies, from Georgia State University. During his tenure at GSU, he was a featured soloist with the University Wind Orchestra performing Stravinsky's "Ebony Concerto," and served as principal clarinet and alto saxophone in the Symphonic Wind Ensemble and Symphony Orchestra. His primary teachers include Richie Chiarluce, Dr. Andy Hudson, Dr. Robert Ambrose, and Mace Hibbard.

Joe currently resides in Houston, TX, with his dog Dexter. Beyond music, Joe is the co-founder of Pachenkins Coffee Company, a small-batch coffee roasting venture that reflects his passion for craft and quality. Other interests include cycling and exploring Houston's fantastic food culture.

Equipment

  • Clarinet - Yamaha CSGII Bb & A - Clark Fobes Virtuoso 3L - D’addario Reserve Classic 3.5+

  • Bass Clarinet - Buffet Prestige - Clark Fobes 10K CWF AP - D’addario Reserve - 3.0+

  • Alto Saxophone - Selmer Mark VI - Ted Klum NY 7 - D’addario Select Jazz 3M

  • Tenor Saxophone - Eastman 52nd St. - Morgan Excalibur 8 - D’addario Select Jazz 3S

  • Baritone Saxophone - Selmer SBA - Berg Larsen 105/1M - D’addario Select Jazz 3H

  • Flute - Powell Handmade - 14K Emannuel Headjoint