Born: May 13 Primary Instrument: Saxophone
JULIAN SIEGEL is an in-demand saxophonist on the European Jazz scene who has worked with many of the top figures in the music. He has just been awarded the BBC Jazz Award 2007 for Best Instrumentalist. His current bands are the Julian Siegel Trio with US Improvising stars Drummer Joey Baron and Bassist Greg Cohen, Partisans, co-led for the last 10 years with guitarist Phil Robson, and the Julian Siegel Quartet featuring pianist Liam Noble bassist Oli Hayhurst and drummer Gene Calderazzo. He played with the Anglo-American Big Band of the legendary US pianist and composer Andrew Hill. In October 2007 he toured with the Mike Gibbs 70th Birthday Big Band alongside Bill Frisell, Steve Swallow and Adam Nussbaum. In 2004 he toured the UK with Brazilian legend Hermeto Pascoal UK Big Band. He has performed with Django Bates Delightful Precipice, John Taylor, Kenny Wheeler, Norma Winstone and Robert Mitchell, Gwilym Simcock, Byron Wallen's Octet featuring Tony Kofi, Jason Yarde's 'Acoutastic Bombastic', Mark Lockheart's Big Idea, Colin Towns, the NDR Big Band, Stan Sulzmann's Big Band, Larry Bartley's Septet, and Hans Koller New Memories Band, which recorded in December 2003 with soprano saxophone legend Steve Lacy.
He regularily guests with Django Bates' Human Chain and Quiet Nights + the Smith Quartet, most recently at the Venice Biennale Festival 2003, Umea Festival in Sweden,and the Sarajevo and Belfast Jazz Festivals in 2004. He plays with Dexter Gordon's long time pianist Kirk Lightsey's Quartet, the Jazz Jamaica Big Band, Julian Arguelles Octet, Ingrid Laubrock Band and the Dave Green Trio.
At the Ruhr Trenniale festival 2006 he worked with NYC performance artist/violinist Laurie Anderson and pianist/singer-songwriter Steve Nieve. The band also featured Drummer Kenny Wollesen, cellist Vincent Segal and bassist Greg Cohen.
He has also performed with Beverley Knight, Joe Lee Wilson, Eddi Reader, Charlene Spiteri, Jacqueline Dankworth, Lizz Wright, Juliet Roberts, Keziah Jones, Liane Carroll, Cleo Laine, Terri Walker, Christine Tobin, Anita Wardell, Craig David and punk rock legend Steve Ignorant (formerly of Crass).
Julian performs his own compositions with Partisans, co-led and written for by guitarist Phil Robson, featuring Thaddeus Kelly and Gene Calderazzo”the highlight of the 2003 Cheltenham International Jazz Festival”(The Guardian).This gig featured special guest, U.S. guitarist Wayne Krantz.
Awards:
BBC Jazz Award for Best Instrumentalist 2007“Great imagination” Billy Hart
“Kept an awestruck audience on tenterhooks” JazzUK, Julian Siegel Trio, Vortex, Jan07
“Approaches the depth and sensitivity of a Wayne Shorter or Stan Getz.” Straight No Chaser
''Interfacing between the worlds of straightahead, free improv and dance grooves, Siegel posits his sonic world with a coherence and strength of character that reflects the lucidity of a man who knows exactly who he is. No matter what he plays.' Kevin Le Gendre, Echoes
“That lissom, free -wheeling saxophonist” John Fordham, The Guardian
“Siegel's wailing, swerving lines burst with character” John Fordham, The Guardian
“spontaneous sparkle” John Fordham, The Guardian
“the frequently lyrical and reflective saxophonist Julian Siegel ripped into a series of uptempo harangues reminiscent of Kenny Garrett with the later Miles Davis bands” John Fordham,The Guardian
“makes the tried and trusted instrumentation and tradition sing anew “(Birmingham Post). CD of the Week Nov 2002 *****
