Julian Siegel is an in-demand saxophonist on the UK and European Jazz scene who has worked with many of the top figures in the music. He was awarded the 2007 BBC Jazz Award for Best Instrumentalist. His current bands are the Julian Siegel Quartet featuring pianist Liam Noble, bassist Oli Hayhurst and drummer Gene Calderazzo. The Quartet’s first CD Urban Theme Park was awarded the 2011 London Jazz Award.

In February 2018 the Quartet released their new album VISTA on Whirlwind Recordings. Following the albums release the band toured UK in 2018/19 supported by Arts Council England and have played at International Jazz festivals including INNtöne Jazz Festival, Austria (recorded and broadcast by WDR Köln), the ‘Made in the UK‘ Series at Rochester International Jazz Festival NY, two shows at the Jazz Standard NYC, the UK’s Love Supreme Festival and the Jazzfestival Göttingen in Germany.

Since 1996 Julian has co-led the influential band Partisans with the award-winning NYC based guitarist Phil Robson, the band played major Jazz Festivals in Europe USA and Canada, releasing their fifth album Swamp on Whirlwind Records in 2014. In May 2019 the band released their sixth (and first live) album Nit de Nit, out now on Whirlwind Recordings.

The Julian Siegel Trio with US Improvising stars, drummer Joey Baron and bassist Greg Cohen was formed as a result of a major commission from Cheltenham Jazz Festival in 2006. The Trio has toured the UK three times and released a double album Live at the Vortex (Basho Records) At the 2010 London Jazz Festival the Trio performed at the Queen Elizabeth Hall opposite Carla Bley‘s ‘Lost Chords‘.

In recent years Julian has begun writing music for Jazz Orchestra and in March 2017 Julian toured the newly formed Julian Siegel Jazz Orchestra on a six date UK tour supported by Arts Council England, the tour was produced by Derby Jazz and Right Tempo with the support of EMJazz.  J.S.J.O. played Julian’s compositions and arrangements including the new suite commissioned especially for the tour by Derby Jazz, Tales from the Jacquard.

In February 2018 Julian was invited to Germany to play two concerts guesting with the NDR BigBand, Hamburg directed by US Trumpeter / composer Tim Hagans playing some of Julian’s new compositions for Jazz Orchestra including Tales from the Jacquard. The concert from NDR Studio 1 in Hamburg was broadcast on NDR radio.

Julian has played in many large ensembles including Kenny Wheeler’s Big Band on the album The Long Waiting (CAM Jazz), Andrew Hill’s Anglo American Big Band, the Hermeto Pascoal UK Big Band, Michael Gibbs 70th Birthday tour (alongside Bill Frisell, Steve Swallow and Adam Nussbaum) (and in 2017 Mike’s 80th birthday tour!) Steve Gray, Django Bates’ ‘Delightful Precipice’, John Taylor Big Band, Jazz Jamaica, Stan Sulzmann’s Big Band, John Dankworth’s Generation Big Band, The NDR Big Band, Colin Towns Mask Orchestra, Allan Ganley, Hans Koller ‘New Memories’ Band with Steve Lacy, BBC Big Band with Maceo Parker, Jason Yarde’s ‘Acoutastic Bombastic’ and Hal Willner’s ‘Amarcord’ with Carla Bley and Rita Marcotulli.

Julian has been a member of Diane Schuur’s European Quartet since 2013 touring Europe with many festival apperances.

Julian has also played in small band situations with Django Bates’ ‘Human Chain‘, Gary Husband’s ‘Drive’, Mulatu Astatke, Simon Purcell’s ‘Red Circle’, NYC performance artist/violinist Laurie Anderson and pianist/singer-songwriter Steve Nieve, Kirk Lightsey, Norma Winstone, Robert Mitchell, Byron Wallen’s ‘Indigo’ and Jason Palmer’s Quartet featuring Jeff Ballard and Oren Marshall’s ‘Charming Transport Band’ featuring musicians from Ghana and Nigeria.

Julian was a member of a trio led by the sadly departed British Piano legend John Taylor alongside the Italian Vocalist Diana Torto playing concerts in Italy and UK from 2013 to 2015. In January 2016 Diana and Julian, alongside Bassist Anders Jormin and one of John’s ex-students pianist Pablo Held, performed a tribute concert to John in Treviso, Italy

Julian has performed with vocalists Dame Cleo Laine, Beverley Knight, Lauren Kinsella’s ‘Thoughtfox’, Joe Lee Wilson, Stuart Staples/Tindersticks (the Julian Siegel Quartet was featured on Stuart Staples film soundtrack for Claire Denis‘ Un Beau Soleil Intérieur), Liane Carroll, Eddi Reader, Charlene Spiteri, Amy Winehouse, Jacqueline Dankworth, Juliet Roberts, Keziah Jones Band, Terri Walker, Christine Tobin and punk rock legend Steve Ignorant (formerly of Crass).

Photo by Carl Hyde / Carl Hyde studios

PRESS QUOTES

“Spontaneous sparkle, Siegel’s wailing, swerving lines burst with character” – John Fordham, The Guardian

“With drive, a warm sound and an endless flow of ideas, Siegel’s lines seem somehow three dimensional, even at breakneck tempos.” – Hi-Fi News and Record Review ( ‘Vista’ Album Choice – March 2018)

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