Joel Laviolette Music

Joel Laviolette Music

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Joel Laviolette is an Austin-based composer, instrument builder, and educator whose roots are based in Zimbabwean mbira traditions.

Photos from Joel Laviolette Music's post 04/07/2026

Thrilled! Just checked the proofs of my two books! They’ll be printed by Friday!

Mwana We Shumba (Harp Duet version) 03/21/2026

My little brother, Liko, passed away in 1995. In 2000 his spirit came to me on a stormy night in Mozambique. He taught me this song on the mbira and told me it was the song to play to remember him. I'm really honored to share this version written for prepared harp played by the amazing Dr. Mallory McHenry and Natalie Rochen. The recording was engineered by Elise Etherton at the Butler School of Music recording studio, videography by Andrew Stoltz, and mastered by Nick Landis. I'm so happy that this song for Liko is going out in to the world!
https://youtu.be/ZbjdYUFHMjI?si=0oxVy7b7rDsaBkAt

If you are a harp player, please get in touch if you interested in performing this piece, and share widely! The piece itself is quite challenging as each performer is feeling their own independent shifting time signature throughout-resulting in offset barlines between players, and no shared "one". This piece is an expression of what I call multivalent rhythmic orientation.

Mwana We Shumba (Harp Duet version)

Photos from Joel Laviolette Music's post 03/09/2026

Spent the day mixing my solo piano piece “Winter”. Coming soon! Thank you to Michael Lenahan for his wonderful performance!

12/16/2025

Thanks for being a top engager and making it on to my weekly engagement list! 🎉

Doreen Chinamora, Munya Ronald Agron, Evolution Toto, Obert Maphosah, Leo Zango

12/14/2025

The best medicine.

12/13/2025

I’m very much looking forward to sitting in with Marimba Komborera on this New Years Eve show! If you are in Maui, get your tickets now!

12/02/2025

Landing in beautiful Maui! Aloha!

11/29/2025

Great time in electric band rehearsal today!

11/27/2025

Happy thanksgiving! I am grateful for all the love and support that enables me to continue with this creative life!

Poster that’s hanging in our studio for the algorithm….

11/26/2025

This is interesting…I’m working on this grant and one of the questions seems simple enough “what streaming service represents the highest percentage of your streams”….i assumed Spotify or YouTube, but nope-it’s Facebook (Instagram) by a whopping 50%!

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Austin, TX