Joe Boulos

Based in New England, Joe Boulos is an educator, ethnomusicologist, and percussionist whose work bridges the musical traditions of West Africa, the Arab World, and the Americas. He holds a Bachelor of Music in Performance (Drumset and World Music) from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, as well as two master’s degrees—an M.M. in Jazz Pedagogy and an M.A. in Musicology—from West Virginia University.

Joe’s academic work includes field research in Ghana, where he studied the drumming and dance traditions of the Ga, Ewe, and Dagara peoples. This experience deeply shaped his musical perspective, informing his understanding of West African rhythmic structures and their relationship to jazz and contemporary music.

As an educator, Joe maintains a private studio and leads masterclasses and workshops that emphasize the connection between rhythm, culture, and history, encouraging students to engage with music as a way of understanding diverse cultural traditions.

An active performer in New England, Joe is the co-founder of the traditional zaffe and dabke ensemble Baladi Beats and a senior member of the Ghanaian drum and dance group Kekeli Drum and Dance. He is also a freelance musician, collaborating with jazz ensembles, Arab music groups, and West African drum and dance collectives, using intercultural performance as a space for dialogue and creative exchange.

As a composer and recording artist, Joe has released two full-length albums, Standard Times and Damnation of a Flower, along with several EPs and singles. His music explores the intersection of jazz, improvisation, and global musical traditions and is available on all major streaming platforms.

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