Already a past winner of the BBC Jazz award for Best Instrumentalist, Julian is again nominated for 2011. With the new CD "Urban Theme Park" and European tours with his own quartet and as a member of Partisans his reputation continues to grow internationally. "…lissom, free-wheeling saxophonist" John Fordham
He is an in-demand saxophonist on the UK and European Jazz scene who has worked with many of the top figures in the music. In 2007 he was awarded the BBC Jazz Award for Best Instrumentalist and he has just received the London Festival Fringe 2011 London Jazz Award.
He is currently touring a set of new music with the Julian Siegel Quartet featuring some of the most distinctive voices on the UK Scene, the pianist Liam Noble, bassist Oli Hayhurst and drummer Gene Calderazzo. The band released the album ‘Urban Theme Park’ in 2011 (Basho) to critical acclaim …… "there’s not a moment that doesn’t fizz with ingenuity and imagination" MOJO.
Julian has co-led the influential group Partisans with the in-demand guitarist Phil Robson for the last 15 years. The band have released three albums on Babel records, ‘Sourpuss’, ‘Max’ and ‘By Proxy’……"Intelligent, varied and often dazzling " London Evening Standard
He is a band member of:
Jason Yarde’s Acoustic Bombastic, Robert Mitchell’s Shorter Stories featuring Norma Winstone, Django Bates’ Delightful Precipice, the John Taylor Big Band, 
Stan Sulzmann’s Big Band, Byron Wallen’s Octet, Colin Towns’ Mask Orchestra, Larry Bartley’s Septet, and Hans Koller New Memories Big Band, which has just recorded in December 2003 with soprano saxophone legend Steve Lacy.
He continues to play regularly with:
Django Bates’ Human Chain and Quiet Nights, most recently at the Venice Biennale Festival 2003, Umea Festival in Sweden,and the Sarajevo Jazz Festival 2004.He plays in the quartet of Dexter Gordon’s long time pianist Kirk Lightsey, the Jazz Jamaica Big Band, Mike Gibbs Band, Julian Arguelles Octet, Ingrid Laubrock Band, Dave Green Trio, Andrew Hill Anglo-American Big Band and toured in 2004 with Brazilian legend Hermeto Pascoal UK Big Band.
Julian has worked with:
Vocalists Beverley Knight, Joe Lee Wilson, Eddi Reader, Jacqueline Dankworth, Liz Wright, Juliet Roberts, ex-Count Basie vocalist Dennis Rowland, Keziah Jones, Liane Carroll, Cleo Laine, Terri Walker, Christine Tobin, Anita Wardell and punk rock legend Steve Ignorant (formerly of Crass).
Over the last decade reedsman Julian Siegel has managed to balance his output between the electrified Partisans combo and his own acoustic quartet. He’s done this in terms of artistic quality, touring frequency and a general accumulation of reputation. Working out of London, Siegel has established himself as one of the key players on the UK jazz scene, hanging on the edge between tradition and experimentation. Mastering much of the saxophone and clarinet families, Siegel carries an assurance that his works will always feature a captivating tonal spread.
At Jazznights, Julian will be playing with the Roger Odell Trio and our resident songbird Larraine Odell at The Cherry Tree, Knowl Green, CO10 7BY. Reservations advised on 01787 237653 or email info@jazz-nights.com . Admission £8. Music 8pm-10.30pm. Sitting-in spot open to all. Food is available before or during the performance. Check www.jazz-nights.com for details including location & map.
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