At 24 years of age, Joel Prime stands as one of the new shining lights in Adelaide’s robust drumming fraternity – 2008 recipient of the Helpmann Academy Award for Jazz Drums for graduating at the top of his class at the Elder Conservatorium in 2006 and 2007. This honour has seen him in big demand on the Adelaide scene, playing gigs with The Brenton Foster Band, The Shaolin Afronauts, Soultana, The Mike Stewart Big Band, Marmalade Circus, Full Swing, Blackjack and performing as part of the Billy Hydes Raiders Drumline.



The signs of his talent were ominous early; Joel Prime got his first drum kit at 3 years, started lessons when he was 6, and was performing regularly while in primary school. Playing percussion and drum kit in the Marryatville High School Stage Band, Joel Prime travelled with the group for performances in London, New York and Los Angeles in 2004, won the Generations in Jazz national schools bands championship in 2005 and toured with James Morrison in Melbourne and Sydney.



In 2006 the Marryatville band performed at the International Association of Jazz Educators conference in New York, then at the Australia Week celebrations in Los Angeles.



Joel Prime's prowess on congas, bongos and timbales saw him chosen for the Generations in Jazz Superband in 2005, in the company of the best players from the 40+ bands at the national championships.



His big band experiences have enabled Joel to share the stage with such performers as Bob Mintzer, James Morrison, Ross Irwin, Bobby Shew, John Hoffman, Rhonda Burchmore, Jon Gordon, Ray Vega, Paul Bollenback, George Garzone and given him the chance to do workshops with Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band and the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra.



Recently, Joel Prime has led percussion workshops and performed at a number of festivals including WOMADelaide, The Adelaide Fringe Festival and The Adelaide Cabaret Festival. He also achieved a prestigious performance award from Downbeat magazine (USA) as a member of the 2008 Adelaide University Big Band 1.



In addition to this, Joel Prime was also invited to perform at The Ultimate Drummers Weekend in Melbourne along with some of the world’s best drummers and in 2011 was announced as Australia’s best up and coming drummer by a panel of judges including Stanton Moore, Jason Bittner, Gordon Rytmeister, Graham Morgan, Grant Collins and Scott Pelligrom.



Joel Prime is currently endorsed by Pearl Drums, Zildjian Cymbals, Vic Firth and Remo.