"An
arresting reminder of Joseph's powers and deep awareness of the
jazz tradition." John Fordham, The
Guardian.
Julian's
solo set at the British Piano Festival, recorded live at The Vortex,
London in September 2008 is being released by ASC Records on 1 February
2012.
This
unique solo recording captures the essence of Julian Joseph's pianistic
talent; the percussive intricacy and tender harmony embellished
with a fearsome improvisatory technique. Recorded live at the Vortex
Jazz Club, in London, this is an intimate portrait of one of the
finest pianists of his generation.
VIKTORIA
MULLOVA & MATTHEW BARLEY ENSEMBLE LIVE BROADCAST
Watch
this concert broadcast live from the Louvre in Paris on Medici
TV at 7 pm, Friday 20 January.
MICHAEL
GARRICK TRIBUTE ON JAZZ LINE-UP, CHRISTMAS DAY
It
was planned to be a Christmas special broadcast where British
jazz legend Michael Garrick MBE would conduct his Big Band for
a performance of his "Peter Pan" Suite for Christmas
Day. The news of his tragic death in November was a blow and a
sad loss that one of our own powerhouses in composition had died.
In his honour, BBC Radio 3's Jazz
Line-Up pays tribute to Michael by completing the project
and recording his Jazz Suite "Peter Pan", in the same
studio where he made his early broadcast some 50 yaers ago, the
iconic BBC Maida Vale studios in west London.
His son Gabriel directs the band and the programme is presented
by Julian Joseph.
JOSEPH
COMMISSIONS FOR NYJO
Two
new pieces by Julian, commissioned by the National Youth Jazz Orchestra,
will be performed during their residency at Ronnie Scott's this
coming January. For more info, click here.
JAZZ
UK FEATURE
"Jazz
musicians are easy to take for granted. You can call us yesterday,
and we'll still do it. It isn't like that for classical music or
rock. So maybe we need to take ourselves more seriously, and keep
pressing for the people in charge to recognise how amazing this
music is."
Julian
is interviewed by jazz critic John Fordham in the December 2011-January
2012 issue of Jazz UK, following the 3 sell-out nights
at Ronnie Scott's with his All Star Big Band. Julian talks about
current projects, working with musicians from Peter King to Steve
Williamson, and reveals his latest plans for the future.
Click
here to read Julian's
interview or download the whole issue from the Jazz
UK page.
'THE
BROWN BOMBER' PREMIERE
Julian's
commission for the 2012 Cultural Olympiad will be performed at the
Lilian Baylis Studio, Sadler's Wells Theatre, London, on 20 &
21 June, at Bethnal Green's York Hall on 22 & 23 June and the
QEH on 14 & 15 July 2012.
'The
Brown Bomber' is a dance suite, telling the story of the historic
battle between US heavyweight boxer Joe Louis ('The Brown Bomber')
and the German champion Max Schmeling which took place in New York
City in 1938 following Louis's defeat at the 1936 Olympic Games.
JULIAN
SHORTLISTED FOR BASCA BRITISH COMPOSER AWARD
Julian
has been shortlisted in the Award's new Outreach category for his
children's opera, Shadowball.
The category is designed to champion works which bring contemporary
classical music and jazz to new audiences.
‘Shadowball’,
commissioned by the Hackney Music Development Trust, was premiered
in 2010. Julian’s swinging score, inspired by the era of Ellington
and Armstrong, tells the fast-paced story of the American Negro
Baseball Leagues and the players whose talents went unacknowledged
whilst their jazz compatriots reached heights of stardom by defining
a new art form. Together, these larger-than-life personalities helped
to change America forever. A ground-breaking project, ‘Shadowball’
motivates young people to play baseball, achieve their dreams and
create a lasting legacy for our time.
Winners
will be announced at Stationers’ Hall, London on Wednesday
30 November, and a special programme devoted to the awards will
be broadcast on BBC Radio 3 on Sunday December 4.
JULIAN
TALKS TO CHRIS CHALLIS OF THE BRIGHTON ARGUS
Ahead
of his Brighton Jazz Club trio gig, Julian talks to The Argus's
Chris Challis: "I think that creativity and the imagination
is the most important thing [in jazz]. You can only grow to a certain
height, but of course you can put on high heel shoes." Click
here
to read more.
JULIAN
TO WRITE NEW JAZZ SUITE FOR 2012 CULTURAL OLYMPIAD
The
drama behind one of the most historic fights in boxing history is
to be brought to life in jazz for the London
2012 Games.
"The
Brown Bomber" will explore the relationship between American
heavyweight Joe Louis - The Brown Bomber - and his German contender
Max Schmeling during the height of the Nazi propaganda campaign.
Although adversaries in sport, they became great friends despite
the ideological opposition that surrounded them.
Julian's
new jazz suite, produced in collaboration with the Hackney Music
Development Trust, will recreate the 1938 rematch in which hard-hitting
American legend Joe Louis defended his heavyweight title against
German champion Max Schmeling.
The
suite will be premiered in 2012 and broadcast on BBC Radio 3.
The
Peasant Girl, the new double-cd featuring Viktoria Mullova and
the Matthew Barley Ensemble (Julian Joseph, Paul Clarvis and Sam
Walton) is available now from ONYX CLASSICS.
Viktoria
Mullova’s rural origins in Ukraine are reflected in this eclectic
album, which combines elements of classical music and jazz and reflects
the phenomenal influence that the gypsies have had on swathes of
music in the 20th century. This is music that is blissfully free
from the misleading shackles of genre.
BBC
Music Magazine September 2011 5 stars:
'It was a brilliant idea to combine seven Bartok Duos with music
by Bratsch, the French Gypsy band, and jazz improvisations from
Joseph and the two percussionists: the various musical elements
are drawn into a creative symbiosis. The programme which looked
bitty, adds up to a coherent sequence, with two numbers by Weather
Report not that far away from from the world of Youssou N'Dour.
All
the performances have energy and imagination, and even though Kodaly's
Duo, passionately played by Mullova and Barley, might seem at a
tangent to the rest, it makes perfect sense as the culmination of
a beautifully crafted album." Martin Cotton
Julian
was awarded a prestigious Gold Badge by the British Academy for
Songwriters, Composers and Authors for his unique contribution to
music at London's Savoy Hotel on Wednesday 20 October. Click here
for more info.
JOOLS
HOLLAND'S RADIO 2 SHOW
Julian
will be guesting on Jools Holland's show on BBC Radio 2 on Monday
11 October (11 pm). Click here
for more details and listen again.
ALL
ABOUT JAZZ INTERVIEW
Julian
talks to Bruce Lindsay about baseball, opera and being a jazz musician.
Click here
to read.
JULIAN
& THE SIXTEEN
Julian's
collaboration with The Sixteen at this summer's Spitalfields Festival
will be broadcast on BBC Radio 3's Performance
on 3 at 7.00pm on Friday 2 July.
SHADOWBALL
Shadowball,
Julian's new opera, is to be premiered at London's Mermaid Conference
and Events Centre on Tuesday and Wednesday 29 and 30 June at 7.30
pm, with a childrens' matinee on 30 June at 1.30 pm. The opera
features Julian and his quintet, Cleveland Watkiss in the role
of Satchel Paige and a cast of over 100 children from Hackney
schools. See gigs page for booking.
Watch
Cleveland Watkiss perform a song from Shadowball on Front
Row. Click here
for BBC London feature.
"In
a time of segregation, when jazz and baseball flourished, a courageous
group of men struggled to achieve their dream despite the odds.
Shadowball - an opera in a league of its own."
JULIAN
WITH WYNTON MARSALIS'S LINCOLN CENTER ORCHESTRA
Sunday
20th June 7.30pm @ Hackney Empire. Julian joins Cleveland Watkiss,
Jean Toussaint and Jim Hart as guests of Wynton
Marsalis and the JALC Orchestra.
YAMAHA
JAZZ EXPERIENCE COMPETITION
Julian
will be judging the Yamaha Jazz Experience competition at the Cheltenham
Jazz Festival on Saturday 1 May. For more details, click here.
JULIAN
TALKS TO BRANFORD MARSALIS
Julian
will be talking to American saxophonist Branford Marsalis on BBC
Radio 3's Jazz
Line-Up on Sunday 17 January @ 11.30 pm. The interview was
recorded live at the 2009 London Jazz Festival.
Julian
is now a patron of the Firebird
Trust, a charity that offers positive experience through music
to vulnerable people in society, and supports musicians from all
genres. Their latest project, Komposit,
is the name of a new ensemble founded to give opportunities to composers
and musicians keen to play new music.
VOICE
OF BLACK OPERA & PAUL HAMLYN COMPOSERS AWARDS
Julian
will be judging in two major music competitions during October -
the Voice of Black Opera and the Paul Hamlyn Composers Award.
SHADOWBALL
Julian
has been commissioned by the Hackney Music Development Trust to
write a jazz opera about the US Negro Baseball Leagues which will
involve young people in performance activities and promote interest
in the game whilst addressing issues of racism and descrimination.
‘Shadow Ball’ refers to a common pre-game feature during
which Negro League players warmed up by staging mock games with
an imaginary ball. Though unintended, this pantomime was an apt
metaphor for the exclusion of Blacks from Major League play in America
for over 60 years. Using the stories of Black Baseball players in
the 1930s-40s, and their jazz compatriots who often suffered similar
racial prejudice, Shadowball is designed to inspire young people
to achieve despite the odds.
Julian
will be launching the project with a children's opera workshop on
7 October. Click here
for more info. Photos of the Shadowball launch event can be seen
here.
THE
NEVERENDINGSONG
Julian
and Paul Pacifico announced the launch of a new UK jazz initiative,
the NeverEndingSong,
on BBC Radio 4's Today
programme. The project plans to play a continuous jam on a blues
in G for 7 days in 7 towns across the UK - London, Brighton, Cardiff,
Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds and Edinburgh - starting on Monday
7 September.
JULIAN
JOSEPH & MATTHEW BARLEY - NEW CD RELEASE
Dance
of the Three Legged Elephants, Julian's new duet album with
cellist Matthew Barley, features originals and arrangements of jazz
and classical numbers, from Bach to Chick Corea, Ravel to Jaco Pastorius.
Dazzling
yet intimate, this set of 10 tracks is the work of two brilliant
and internationally renowned musicians who are also close friends,
and their friendship pours from the music with passion, intensity,
humour and inspiring energy.
Watch
the live
stream of Matthew and Julian performing at King's Place, London,
on 23 and 26 September.
BBC
Radio Scotland Young Jazz Musician of the Year 2009
Julian
is Chairman of Judges at this year's BBC Radio Scotland Young Jazz
Musician of the Year competition. The final will be held on Wednesday
24 June, 7.30 pm at the Old Fruitmarket, Glasgow. For more info
and tickets, click here.
PATRONAGE
Julian
has recently become a patron of Manchester's Band
on the Wall, which is reopening at the end of September, and
the Pembroke
Academy of Music, with Sir Colin Davis.
JULIAN
JOINS YAMAHA'S JAZZ EXPERIENCE
Yamaha
have launched a wide-ranging new jazz education initiative, The
Jazz Experience, involving teacher-training, school activities and
live events with major input from Julian Joseph, Gwilym Simcock,
Tim Garland and jazz educator Richard Michael.
A
series of regional one day improvisation work shops will be led
by Joseph, Simcock, Garland and Michael with contributions form
Peter Ind while additional name players will be announced for subsequent
training and master classes.
The
scheme is aimed at secondary school classroom and instrumental teachers
and is designed to give them the skills to encourage and teach pupils
to learn improvisation and help showcase the best of this emerging
talent at festivals and venues including the Cheltenham Jazz Festival,
Ronnie Scott’s and the 606 club.
BBC
Radio 3's Jazz
Line-Up has moved to a new slot on Sunday nights @ 11.30/11.45
pm.
JULIAN
JOSEPH ALBUMS NOW AVAILABLE TO DOWNLOAD
The
Language of Truth, Reality, Live
at the Wigmore Hall and Universal Traveller,
as well as the new duet album with Matthew Barley, Dance
of the Three Legged Elephants, are now available to download
on iTunes, Amazon, Napster and Rhapsody.