Julian Joseph

"The most significant jazz musician this country has produced for many years, perhaps ever." "a pianist who really does know how to shape a musical idea and make it more and more intense until you're practically jumping out of your seat with excitement." "Julian is arguably the finest pianist of his generation - a brilliant, dynamic presence." As well as recording and performing a mass of original material for small groups and solo piano, Julian has written a number of large-scale works for big band and symphony orchestra, including 'The Great Sage' for big band and strings premiered at the 2002 London Jazz Festival, 'Mountain of Hope', 'The Reverend: Back Home to Glory', 'A Ballade of Love', 'Guardian Angel', and an arrangement of Gershwin's 'Rhapsody in Blue' for big band, premiered at the 2003 City of London Festival. Two movements of a 5-movement suite for orchestra, 'Symphonic Story: The Great Exception', have been performed by the Halle and BBC Concert orchestras. In 2007 Julian premiered and toured his first jazz opera, 'Bridgetower: A Fable of 1807' - the story of young black violin prodigy George Bridgetower in London at the turn of the 19th century, and in 2010, "Shadowball", an opera for children about the US Negro Baseball Leagues. 'One of Ellington’s natural-born heirs… Charm pure and simple, coupled with absolute assurance.’