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Julian Joseph

Virtuoso pianist, bandleader, composer, arranger and broadcaster, Julian Joseph is the undisputed heir to the global house of jazz. Acclaimed by critics and audiences the world over, Julian never fails to inspire with his mastery of the keyboard, the versatility of his musicianship, and the seemingly limitless scope of his creative imagination. Always relaxed and self-assured, Julian is completely at home on any stage and in front of any band. His passion for the music is palpable, and his desire to communicate that passion compelling.

Over the past 35 years, Julian has made ground-breaking advances for jazz in the UK. He was the first Black British jazz musician to host a series at London’s Wigmore Hall, and the first to headline a late-night concert at the BBC Proms with his All Star Big Band. As a composer Julian has written original works for symphony orchestra, big band and chamber ensemble, and received major commissions from the BBC, the Hackney Music Development Trust, the City of London Festival and the London Jazz Festival. His operas and dance works – Bridgetower (2007), Shadowball (2010), The Brown Bomber (2012) – have not only brought key moments in Black British history into sharp focus, but given children a rare opportunity to perform in and discover both classical and jazz music. Trench Brothers (2014) – a fusion of music, theatre and puppetry dramatising Black British and Asian soldiers’ experiences of the First World War – has been touring in schools across the country. Meanwhile, a new operatic work based on the legend of Tristan and Isolde was premiered at London’s Southbank Centre in the October of 2018. 

A feature of a Julian Joseph concert is the wide-ranging repertoire of original compositions and arrangements upon which he draws. Challenging and innovative, they are deeply rooted in the jazz tradition and, as with all great jazz music, combine his own unique voice with those of his predecessors.

Julian's musical ideas reflect the eclectic influence of all forms of music in the history of jazz: from classical to rock and pop, everything is relevant. Jazz has always been an inclusive art form, and Julian is particularly concerned that it never become exclusive, either in its construction or its execution.

Julian has also established himself as a jazz pioneer in the classical world. He was the first jazz musician to be invited to give a series of all-acoustic concerts at London's most prestigious classical venue, the Wigmore Hall. He has recorded duets by Milhaud, Stravinsky and Poulenc with Brazilian pianist Marcelo Bratke, combining them with his own arrangements of music by Duke Ellington, Chick Corea and Bill Evans, and collaborated with concert violinist Viktoria Mullova on her fusion project, 'Through the Looking Glass'. As a soloist, he has given recitals of Bartók and Prokofiev sonatas and performed Gershwin's Piano Concerto in F and the Rhapsody in Blue with some of the most renowned symphony orchestras in Europe. At the same time, Julian's own classically-oriented work never ventures too far away from his jazz focus. This is particularly evident in his writing for big band and strings, full symphony orchestra and opera, in which he demonstrates an exceptional ability to orchestrate complex textures of rhythm and sound without losing the essential groove that is at the heart of jazz. In this way he is ever pushing the boundaries, whilst building on the legacy of the great jazz composers ~ Duke Ellington, Gil Evans, Herbie Hancock and Jaco Pastorius.

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Interview

Julian Joseph: Joining Jazz and Baseball

Read "Julian Joseph: Joining Jazz and Baseball" reviewed by Bruce Lindsay


Julian Joseph is something of a jazz master of all trades. Pianist, composer, bandleader, arranger, broadcaster and educator, Joseph is constantly busy, always working on new ideas and projects, spreading the word about music, encouraging young performers and generally promoting jazz around the world. With Shadowball Joseph has turned his attention to the relationship between jazz and baseball, bringing the two together in a major jazz opera. In 2007, Joseph composed Bridgetower, his first jazz opera. It ...

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Interview

Composer/Pianist Julian Joseph Interviewed at All About Jazz

Composer/Pianist Julian Joseph Interviewed at All About Jazz

Source: John Kelman

Julian Joseph is something of a jazz master of all trades. Pianist, composer, bandleader, arranger, broadcaster and educator, Joseph is constantly busy, always working on new ideas and projects, spreading the word about music, encouraging young performers and generally promoting jazz around the world. With Shadowball Joseph has turned his attention to the relationship between jazz and baseball, bringing the two together in a major jazz opera. In a professional career that started in the mid-'80s Joseph, who is also ...

"The most significant jazz musician this country has produced for many years, perhaps ever." Peter Hepple, The Stage

'Julian is arguably the finest pianist of his generation - a brilliant, dynamic presence'. Time Out.

'I regard Julian Joseph as one of the finest pianists since Thelonius Monk'. David Millward, Daily Telegraph.

With Billy Cobham's Art of Five, Dingwall's: 'Last night's fireworks between Billy Cobham and pianist Juilan Joseph were spectacular... Joseph is a tiger at the keyboard... Rarely has Cobham found so many of his sharpest accents bouncing back at him with interest.' Jack Massarik, London Evening Standard.

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Primary Instrument

Piano

Willing to teach

Intermediate to advanced

Credentials/Background

Julian Joseph FOUNDER AND ARTISTIC DIRECTOR, JJJA I want to create an Academy that gets to the heart and power of Jazz through its roots and history. The infectious rhythm, melody and invention inspires in an environment of cooperation and encouragement. The Academy’s mission is to be true to this great music. Under the guidance of Julian Joseph who regularly leads sessions, the JJJA artistic team includes: Trevor Watkis, Tony Kofi and Byron Wallen and a range of outstanding celebrity guests including Jean Touissant, Cleveland Watkiss, Steve Williamson, Peter King, Bobby Wellins, Mark Hodgson, Patrick Clahar, Mark Mondesir, Danilo Perez, Courtney Pine, Soweto Kinch, Branford and Wynton Marsalis. The Academy offers talented young instrumentalists and vocalists an amazing opportunity to work with some of the world’s top jazz musicians to develop their creative talents and performance skills, through exploring the American roots of Jazz. The Academy also operates a JJJA Essentials course for students who demonstrate during audition that they have the potential to succeed at JJJA, but need additional nurturing before they are ready for the full programme.

Clinic/Workshop Information

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