Double bassist, composer, and arranger Joe Policastro earned his bachelor of music in jazz/studio music from the College Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati and his master of music in jazz studies from DePaul University.

He is an in-demand musical voice as both performer and arranger/composer in jazz, theater, and more. He has performed and recorded with a wide array of artists such as Sheila Jordan and Diane Schuur among others.

He leads the Joe Policastro Trio, who have released five albums. The band has been featured at jazz festivals and has performed for President Obama. He also leads and co-leads the Gerry Mulligan tribute ensembles, Jeru, and the Mulligan Mosaics Big Band, and Nonet. As composer/arranger, his work can be heard on recordings by artists including Ira Sullivan and the Rob Parton Big Band.

As an educator, he has been Ravinia Jazz Mentor, lecturer of jazz studies at DePaul University, bass instructor at Morton College and the Chicago Academy for the Arts, jazz director at the Midwest Young Artists Conservatory, and he joined the string faculty at North Park University in 2022.