Joel Laviolette is nothing if not incredibly diverse in his musical talents. On any given day, you may see him fronting his giant electronica/dubstep Zimbabwean-style marimba band, Rattletree Marimba at an all-night dance party, DJing an Ecstatic Chakra Wave dance at an International Yoga Conference, building marimbas for a school of children in need, presenting a research paper on traditional mbira music at an International conference in Germany, or building the next electronic gadget that he will be unveiling on stage.
Joel builds things. Like what, you say? You name it, Joel has built it. From a house in Zimbabwe, to studio equipment (like handmade compressors and other digital equipment), to tube amplifiers, to marimbas, to crowds that are devoted to his music - if Joel needs it, he builds it. Joel is a creative force in the universe that puts things together, makes things happen, and unites people over his incredibly addictive compositions. Joel�s musical talents are well versed in many areas, like Jazz guitar, African percussion, electronic dance, MIDI implementation, live Video manipulation, and much more.
Joel is a just as much a guru in the studio as his is on stage. His label, Mhumi Records, which he runs and operates himself, incorporates dozens of albums from Joel and his projects to other independent musicians in Africa. Joel records, mixes, produces, and masters the music all himself, and sends the profits back to the musicians involved on the recordings.
Aside from being a creator and musician, Joel is a people person and a family man. He shares his gifts with anyone who is interested by teaching at colleges and workshops around the world, instructing individual and online marimba and mbira lessons, and by turning up the heat on the dance floor at his live shows. He has made his gifts and talents an open book for the world to share. When he�s not on stage or in the studio, Joel spends his time nurturing and caring for his two daughters.
For more information on Joel, visit any of web portals to discover his passion for music, dance, and life.
http://mbira.me/musician.php
http://www.mhumhirecords.org/Joellaviolette.htm
http://www.facebook.com/joel.laviolette.7
http://mbirame.bandcamp.com/
Rattletree is an exciting, high-energy Zimbabwean style Marimba group based in Austin, Texas. Led by Joel Laviolette, Rattletree offers four different programs based on the needs of the event.
Read below to find out more details and see/hear samples of the group. Thanks for visiting!
Joel's Bio:
1984 - First picked up his dad's acoustic guitar and learned an a minor chord. This would awaken his fire for moody ballads and major to minor modulation.- 1987 - After aquiring an old Fender Stratocaster for Christmas, Joel was finally able to transfer his tunes from the old beat up acoustic to the electric. Feedback experimentation was often heard in his bedroom.
- 1987-1994 - Through out his high-school years, Joel focused on both visual arts and music-finally settling on music.
- 1994 - In Taos, NM-in the right place at the right time, Joel first heard the mbira. His life was immediately changed and he knew that this was the instrument he was destined to play. He got the information for the name of the builder (Dan Pauli) and drove down to Santa Fe the next day and tried to convince
Dan to sell him an mbira for the $200 in food stamps that Joel had. Unfortunately for Joel, Dan was equally poor at the time and needed to pay rent. Through some miracle, Joel managed to convert those foodstamps into cash and that day had his own mbira. He headed back to Denton, TX where he had been accepted into UNT to persue a Jazz Guitar degree.
- 1995-1996 - While at UNT, Joel learned the skill of teaching himself to learn, and he has been so grateful for that. After a year at UNT, Joel's obsession for the mbira was all consuming, and he was spending upwards of 10 hours a day playing his mbira. He quickly realized he needed more input, and moved back to New Mexico to join the band Jaka as the guitar player.
- 1996-1998 - During these two years, Joel played guitar with Jaka, and traveled around the US and Canada meeting and learning from any other mbira player he could.
- 1998 - By this time, Joel realized he needed to go to the source of the mbira-Zimbabwe. He had high hopes, but little money. During that time, he was lucky enough to meet and study with Newton Gwara, Sekuru Chigamba, Wiriranai Chigonga, and Garidziva Chigamba. He quickly ran out of money however, and had to return to the United States after just four months.
- 1999-2001 - After working furiously for a year, Joel returned
to Zimbabwe in October, 1999. He had refined his mbira style by then and knew that he wanted to spend his time learning from mbira master Newton Gwara.
He met up with Gwara and rented a stand in the high-density suburb of New Zengeza 4 in Chitungwiza.
He built a house there which eventually came to be known as Mhumhi Studios and Joel and Newton Gwara formed a band, the "Nheravauya Mbira Group", and played several times a week in the ghetto bars of Chitungwiza and Chikwana. The group was a hit not just because of Gwara's genius on the mbira and vocals, but because of the novelty of "Joel from America" in the group.
Often, audience members would jump on stage and look behind the gourd deze just to see if Joel was actually playing the instrument! To their amazement, he was, and was in fact performing at a level of competence that spirit possessions were a common thing at their performances-even in the busy bars and nightclubs.
For the next year and a half, Joel traveled constantly throughout Zimbabwe meeting musicians, playing ceremonies, and talking to musicians that were interested in recording. He came to record many groups and types of mbira. These included the ChiSanza, Munyonga, Nyunga-Nyunga, Njari, Dongonda (njari neMakonde), mbira orchestra, Matepe, Nyanga (panpipes), Mbira DzaVaNdau, as well as several of the players of the Mbira DzaVaDzimu. The fruits of those recordings can be seen and heard on Mhumhi Records, Joel's non-profit record label. - 2001-2006 - After returning to the States, Joel moved back to New Mexico. He resumed his role as one of the guitar players of the New Mexico musical institution, Wagogo. He also began collaborating again with Dan Pauli. Joel and Dan formed the group Common Thread and began working on original music that was in the spirit of Zimbabwean
traditional music. This led to further explorations in using guitars and western instrumentation in the Zimbabwean style. Importantly, this also opened the way for Joel to begin his exploration of his own personal voice in the music.
- 2006-present - Joel moved to the Austin, TX-also known as the Live Music Capitol of the World. He quickly embraced the music community there, and formed the group Rattletree Marimba, and spends most of his time playing locally, touring regionally, and teaching.
- Joel teaches marimba and mbira classes, and also offers online music lessons to those that want to study with him around the world. He has been honored to be a regular teacher at Zimfest, conducted workshops at PASIC, and has taught many workshops and Master Classes at Schools and Universities around the country.
Self Released:
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Ndiro YeMidzimu
Solo cd of traditional and original mbira and matepe music. Contemplative and meditative music.
Available on CD Baby and iTunes 
Rattletree Marimba: Live EP
My current band. Five piece high-energy Zimbabwean style marimba band. Rattletree Marimba Website
Available on CD Baby and iTunes.
Studio Session Work:
- "Nelson" Instrument: Mbira. A tribute to Nelson Mandela. Written and arranged by Gregory Engle for the record Take it Personally
- "Market Day" Instrument: Marimba. Written and arranged by Gregory Engle for the record Take it Personally
- Baile Sosegador Band: Wagogo. Tracks 1, 6 (Mbira). Track 4 (Guitar).
- Familia Y Amor Band: Wagogo. Tracks 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8 (Guitar) Tracks 2, 5, 9 (Mbira).
Soundtracks:
- "Glimmer" Instruments: Mbira and Marimba. A cue in the movie "One Piece at a Time". Written and arranged by David Rice.
Compilations:
- "Mwana We Shumba" From the Records Ndiro Ye Midzimu. Featured on Mwoyochena KuZimbabwe, a compilation CD to benefit Ancient Ways-a non-profit aid group the works to benefit Zimbabweans.
- Chikende Recorded live and featured on KVRX Local Live, Vol 13 a yearly compilation of the editors pick of best live music on KVRX, Austin, TX.
Produced:
- Most of these albums were recorded and mixed while I was living in Zimbabwe. The recordings are released on Mhumhi Records, a non-profit record label dedicated to fair compensation for African musicians.
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Newton Gwara | Nhengure
Gwara is one of the finest mbira players alive today. He has a silky voice often mistaken for a woman's because of it's purity, and an mbira playing style that is deceptively complex. -
Chaka Chawasarira | Magore More
The worlds first (and after all these years-still only) Studio recording of traditional matepe music. -
David Gweshe | Mhuri Ye KwaNohoreka
Amazing music by one of the most creative arrangers and band leaders in Zimbabwe today.. -
Kunzwana Mbira Group | Shamu Ya Pasi
Direct connection the the Ancestral Spirits with this CD -
Mashozhera Mbira Group | Hurombo
High-energy dance music! The way mbira music is really meant to be played.. -
Mbira Dze Nharira | Kudya Kew Nzeve
A fine Studio Recording from the originator of the new mbira sounds in Zimbabwe. -
Sekuru Gora, Chigamba, and Moyo | Vakuru Chaivo
The true masters of mbira music. The elders show that they are still on command. -
Simon Mashoko | Hallelujah
An incredibly intimate solo recording from the Late Simon Mashoko's home village. -
Mbira Dza VaNdau | From Chimanimani to Birchnaugh Bridge
One of the rarest Mbira types in Zimbabwe-Very unique and beautiful! -
Traditional Music of Cancune, Mozambique | ChiSanza, Nyanga
Intricate panpipe orchestra and facinating solo Chisanza music. -
Mhumhi Records Compilation 1999-2004
Can't make up your mind? Try the sampler.