Born: November 27, 1953 Primary Instrument: Percussion
Julian specializes in the traditional styles of Cuba, Martinique, Ghana ... and experimental jazz. Since moving to Vermont in 2006, Julian has co-founded the jazz-Mideastern-Caribbean ensemble As Yet Quintet, founded the Caribbean jazz band Zabap, performed with the Windham Orchestra, Afrocuban folkloric dance troupe Grupo Palo Santo, and jazz vocalist Samirah Evans; sung with the River Singers chorus; and accompanied the choirs Emerald Stream, Brattleboro Community Chorus, and Brattleboro Women’s Chorus. In California from 1984-2006, Julian was a percussionist with the African bands Kotoja and Zulu Spear, experimental jazz artists Joel Harrison and Eddie Gale, Brazilian samba groups Batucada Nana and Batucada do Leste, Afro-Cuban dancer Judith Just-z, Ghanaian drummer C.K. Ladzekpo, world beat band Syncrosystem, and numerous others. He is equally proud of regular appearances in the famous Cuban rumba sessions at La Peña Café.
Julian began studying percussion with Milford Graves in the early 1970s, and his Cuban teachers include Sandy Pérez, John Santos, Lorenzo Peñavel, and Michael Spiro. In 1993-95 Julian lived in Martinique, in the French West Indies, learning traditional bèlè drumming and dance. He received a Ph.D. from University of California, Berkeley in 1996 and has published articles on Martinique in several scholarly journals.
As a day gig, Julian teaches world music, jazz, and rhythm studies as Adjunct Instructor of Music at Keene State College; co-directs (with Eugene Uman) the Latin Jazz Ensemble at the Vermont Jazz Center; and teaches Afrocuban percussion at The Loft. He has also taught world music and jazz history at Wesleyan University, Marlboro College, and San José State University.
Last Updated: March 10, 2010
As Yet Quintet
"Strange but True"
2009
Julian Gerstin percussion, Todd Roach percussion, Anna Patton clarinet,
Miamon Miller violin/viola, Eugene Uman piano
1 Joy in Mudville (Gerstin)
2 Isla Luna (Uman)
3 December Raga (Uman)
4 Middle-Aged Beauty (Gerstin)
5 Copa Kabanica (Miller)
6 Strange but True (Uman)
7 Therapy 3 (Miller)
8 Actual and Exact (Patton)
9 Sad as Honey (Uman)
10 Soukwé Soukwé (Gerstin)
11 As Yet (Gerstin)
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Primary Instrument:
Percussion
Location:
Putney, VT
Willing to teach:
Beginners
Credentials/Background:
Private and group percussion lessons, 1980-present (traditions of Cuba,
Brazil, Martinique, Ghana; popular styles of Cuba, Brazil, Martinique, other
Caribbean, Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa).
Latin Jazz Ensemble, 2006-present, Vermont Jazz Center.
Ph.D. 1996 University of California, Berkeley. Courses taught: Music of Africa,
African Diaspora, Latin America; World Music; Jazz History; American Music
History; Music and Social Movements; various graduate-level courses. Keene
State College (NH), Marlboro College (VT), Wesleyan University (CT), Clark
University (MA), and several colleges in California before moving East in
2006.
Clinic/Workshop Information:
Understanding Rhythm (all instruments)
Composition Through World Music (all instruments)
Afrocuban, Brazilian, West African Ensembles
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