About

With a piano in one hand and an M16 in the other,  Josh DiStefano headed off for his second combat tour in Iraq. Under the oppressive heat, while dodging incoming rounds,  Josh refined his sound and performed numerous concerts for his fellow Soldiers. 

Like most kids growing up in LA in the 80’s, Josh wanted to be a rock star. The promise of teased hair and total debauchery lead him to the Berklee College of Music where he studied Film Scoring. Shortly after graduation, Josh began his real-world education when he enlisted in the U.S. Army Band.

Josh has learned the healing power of music when he rocked the walls off a dusty outpost in Iraq where Soldiers had lost comrades. He understood the universal love of a party as he dazzled 1,000+ Germans in a 200 year old beer fest. He realized that music is truly the international language while he served three years in the SHAPE International Band with musicians from all over NATO. Mr. DiStefano has shared the stage with a wide variety of artists, from jazz saxophonist Don Braden to the Washington RedSkins Cheerleaders, and has been called “a multi-faceted performer who can seemly adapt himself to any musical style.” – Mary Mott, The Ivy Leaf.  

Mr. DiStefano’s writing reflects his journey as well as that of his fellow Soldiers. Haunting melodies evoke lonely nights far from home, with deep grooves that keep things grounded. He has performed his compositions all over the world, including the Cork Jazz Festival in Ireland, the US Embassy in France, the shopping district in Sendai, Japan, KNKX Public Radio in Seattle and the Monterey Jazz Festival in Monterey, CA. 

After returning from the war, Josh DiStefano released “Baghdad Blues” an album of original music for jazz quartet recorded in Iraq.  It has been praised with “…a sense of adventurism that reflects ground breaking groups like The Flecktones, Return to Forever, and several other groups that contain excellent musicians who were not afraid to go where no band has gone before.” -JJ Rocks, the Spotlight Zone.

In 2019 Josh completed his Master’s of Music in Jazz Studies at Rowan University. He is a passionate teacher and enjoys sharing his knowledge with the next generation of musicians. He has worked with students of all ages from elementary to adults, in both individual and group settings, and has been a featured clinician in high schools and colleges throughout the US.

When he’s not composing , performing or teaching Josh also writes. He is a published author of over 70 blogs and articles. He has written on a variety of topics including: life as a military musician, raising kids overseas and traveling.  In his limited amount of spare time Josh enjoys sampling local beers, making pancakes with his  daughters, and exploring the Pacific Northwest with his family.