A talented jazz musician, composer, and educator, Joel LaRue Smith’s passion for his art emanates from him. He began playing piano at the age of five and has since traveled around the world performing, sharing his original work touched by a strong Afro-Cuban influence. Watching him play the piano and listening to his compositions, it’s impossible not to feel swept away. As we captured his headshots at Colby College’s Gordon Center for the Arts, I reveled in his pure joy! Joel (pronounced “Joe-elle”) and I have a special connection because he was my advisor during my undergraduate studies at Tufts when I majored in music. During this photoshoot, he was just as animated and expressive as I always remembered him to be in the classroom. Thanks for choosing me to photograph your joy, Joel!
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Life Behind the Lens
