Biography of Julian Siegel

JULIAN SIEGEL is an in-demand saxophonist on the European Jazz scene working with many of the top figures in the music. He has just been awarded the BBC Jazz Award 2007 for Best Instrumentalist. His current bands are the Julian Siegel Trio with US Improvising stars Drummer Joey Baron and Bassist Greg Cohen, Partisans, co-led for the last 10 years with guitarist Phil Robson, and the Julian Siegel Quartet featuring pianist Liam Noble.He played with the Anglo-American Big Band of the legendary US pianist and composer Andrew Hill. In 2004 he toured the UK with Brazilian legend Hermeto Pascoal UK Big Band. He is featured in the new band led by Gary Husband, 'Drive'. He has also performed with Django Bates Delightful Precipice, John Taylor, Kenny Wheeler, Norma Winstone and Robert Mitchell, Gwilym Simcock, Byron Wallen's Octet featuring Tony Kofi, Jason Yarde's 'Acoutastic Bombastic', Mark Lockheart's Big Idea, Colin Towns, the NDR Big Band, Stan Sulzmann's Big Band, Larry Bartley's Septet, and Hans Koller New Memories Band, which recorded in December 2003 with soprano saxophone legend Steve Lacy.

He regularily guests with Django Bates' Human Chain and Quiet Nights + the Smith Quartet, most recently at the Venice Biennale Festival 2003, Umea Festival in Sweden,and the Sarajevo and Belfast Jazz Festivals in 2004. He plays with Dexter Gordon's long time pianist Kirk Lightsey's Quartet, Mike Gibbs Band, the Jazz Jamaica Big Band, Julian Arguelles Octet, Ingrid Laubrock Band and the Dave Green Trio.

At the Ruhr Trenniale festival 2006 he worked with NYC performance artist/violinist Laurie Anderson and pianist/singer-songwriter Steve Nieve. The band also featured Drummer Kenny Wollesen, cellist Vincent Segal and bassist Greg Cohen.
In October 2007 he will tour the UK with the Mike Gibbs Big Band alongside US stars Bill Frisell, Steve Swallow and Adam Nussbaum.

He has also performed with Beverley Knight, Joe Lee Wilson, Eddi Reader, Charlene Spiteri, Jacqueline Dankworth, Lizz Wright, Juliet Roberts, Keziah Jones, Liane Carroll, Cleo Laine, Terri Walker, Christine Tobin, Anita Wardell, Craig David and punk rock legend Steve Ignorant (formerly of Crass).

Julian performs his own compositions with Partisans, co-led and written for by guitarist Phil Robson, featuring Thaddeus Kelly and Gene Calderazzo "the highlight of the 2003 Cheltenham International Jazz Festival"(The Guardian).This gig featured special guest, U.S. guitarist Wayne Krantz.

He is currently touring a set of new music with the Julian Siegel Quartet, featuring Liam Noble, Jeremy Brown and Asaf Sirkis.

"makes the tried and trusted instrumentation and tradition sing anew "(Birmingham Post). CD of the Week Nov 2002 *****


"A world class saxophonist" - Jazz UK.

"Great imagination" Billy Hart

"Approaches the depth and sensitivity of a Wayne Shorter or Stan Getz." Straight No Chaser

''Interfacing between the worlds of straightahead, 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

"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 uptempo harangues reminiscent of Kenny Garrett with the later Miles Davis bands" John Fordham,The Guardian

"The outstanding collaboration of the weekend was the one involving multi-reedist Julian Siegel, irrepressible American drummer Joey Baron and in demand bassist Greg Cohen. The successful marriage of Siegel's highly charged, rhythmic compositions on tenor, clarinet and bass clarinet, was a joy to listen to, while the manically grinning Baron looked like all his Christmases had come at once... a genuine Cheltenham moment." Jazzwise