Josh Krushel is a young force with a passion for experimentation and musical story telling.

Connected to the deep roots of Black American Music while looking forward into the future of experimental theoretical techniques - Krushel’s music is just as thought provoking as it is pleasurable. Operating in many musical worlds as a jazz pianist, modern classical composer, and non-idiomatic improviser.

Josh’s musical voice attempts above all to create and sustain an emotional impact in his listeners.

Josh’s love for music started at an early age. Being the son of two musicians, music was something that he could not escape throughout his childhood. His first relationship with the piano started at age 5, studying classically under Jory Debenham in Calgary, Alberta. During his early development, Josh was awarded an ARMTA outstanding student composer award at nine for a short solo piano work he had composed. Josh discovered his love for jazz in 2015  as he came under the tutelage of pianist-composer Mark Limacher who sparked the love of both improvisation and experimental new music. During this time, Josh began performing in many ensembles across Calgary, including the Jazz YYC Youth Lab band, French Horn in the Calgary Youth Orchestra and Trumpet in the Calgary Stampede Showband.  He followed his love of jazz to pursue a jazz performance degree at MacEwan University in Edmonton. As he entered this program, Josh earned the Performance Entrance Scholarship, awarded to one pianist per year.  During his time at MacEwan, he played with the MacEwan University Big Band and University Jazz Combo, as well as performing both solo and with his trio at many venues across both Calgary and Edmonton. Some of these venues include the Yardbird Suite, Blues on Whyte, Cafe Koi, and Gravity Espresso Bar. While attending MacEwan he also had the opportunity to undertake a directed project outside of his program of study with Composition Head and Toronto Symphony Orchestra Composer In Residence Emilie Lebel PhD. This project allowed Josh to study his love of contemporary classical music formerly. This project resulted in a set of seven classical solo piano pieces written and recorded by Josh in May of 2021.

Josh also completed a set of original arrangements of the music of The Great American Songbook composer Richard Rodgers. These arrangements were for five different ensemble configurations, from solo piano to jazz quintet. These arrangements were presented at the Betty Andrews Recital Hall at MacEwan University in March of 2021 to a virtual audience. Josh has studied arranging and orchestration under film composer John McMillian (Now You see me, Iron man 3, Hawaii 5-0) and Edmonton saxophonist Kent Sangster.

Josh spends his time teaching and freelancing across both Edmonton and Calgary, and when he is not playing music he can be found spending time in the mountains, or cycling around the Edmonton river valley.