JULIAN SIEGEL is an in-demand saxophonist on the 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 band’s CD ‘Urban Theme Park’ received widespread critical acclaim winning the
2011 London Jazz Award. Since 1996 Julian has co-led the influential band Partisans
with the award-winning guitarist Phil Robson, the band played major Jazz Festivals in
USA and Canada in the Summer of 2014, releasing their fifth album ‘Swamp’ on
Whirlwind Records. 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’ on Basho Records.
Julian has played in large ensembles led by Andrew Hill Anglo American Big Band,
Kenny Wheeler, Mike Gibbs 70th Birthday tour (alongside Bill Frisell, Steve Swallow
and Adam Nussbaum) the Hermeto Pascoal UK Big Band, Steve Gray, Django Bates’
‘Delightful Precipice’, John Taylor Big Band, Jazz Jamaica, Stan Sulzmann, John
Dankworth, Colin Towns with the NDR Big Band, 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 (concert review here)
In recent years Julian has featured as guest soloist with bands including Matt Roberts
Big Band at the London Jazz Festival 2012 (featuring arrangements of the music of
Wayne Shorter) with The Pendulum Jazz Orchestra featuring the music of Kenny
Wheeler, the Royal Academy of Music Junior Jazz Big Band at Ronnie Scotts
Club and as artist in residence and guest soloist with big bands at the Darlington Jazz
Festival 2013 and Limerick Jazz Festival 2014
He has played with Gary Husband’s ‘Drive’, Django Bates’ Human Chain,
Tindersticks, 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. He is a member of Oren Marshall’s ‘Charming
Transport Band’ featuring musicians from Ghana and Nigeria.
Julian can be heard playing in Trio with Diana Torto and John Taylor, most
recently performing at the Bologna Jazz Festival 2014. He has also performed with
vocalists Cleo Laine, Diane Schuur, Beverley Knight, Lauren Kinsella, Joe Lee
Wilson, Liane Carroll, Eddi Reader, Charlene Spiteri, Jacqueline Dankworth, Juliet
Roberts, Keziah Jones, Terri Walker, Christine Tobin and punk rock legend Steve
Ignorant (formerly of Crass).
Julian has recently begun writing music for Big Band, playing this music in the
opening concert of the Guildhall Jazz festival 2014 as featured soloist with the
Guildhall Jazz Band directed by Scott Stroman. His big band music has also been
played by the Voice of the North Jazz Orchestra directed by John Warren, and by
NYJO, who featured one of his pieces in the bands 2013 Gateshead International Jazz
Festival concert at the Sage, Gateshead.
“A world class saxophonist” – Jazz UK.
“Great imagination” Billy Hart
”Interfacing between the worlds of straight-ahead, free improv and dance grooves,
Siegel posits his sonic world with a coherence and strength of character that reflects
the lucidity of a man who knows exactly who he is. No matter what he plays.’ Kevin
Le Gendre, Echoes
“Fast becoming a national treasure of the reeds” Jez Nelson Jazz on 3, QEH London
Jazz Festival
“Kept an awestruck audience on tenterhooks” JazzUK on the Julian Siegel Trio,
Vortex
“Approaches the depth and sensitivity of a Wayne Shorter or Stan Getz.” Straight No
Chaser 1997
“That lissom, free -wheeling saxophonist” John Fordham, The Guardian
“Siegel’s wailing, swerving lines burst with character” John Fordham, The Guardian
“spontaneous sparkle” John Fordham, The Guardian
“the frequently lyrical and reflective saxophonist Julian Siegel ripped into a series of
up-tempo harangues reminiscent of Kenny Garrett with the later Miles Davis bands”
John Fordham, The Guardian
Julian Siegel Quartet
