Julian Joseph - Soweto Kinch - Iain Ballamy - 50th Anniversary

About

A true iconoclast pianist Julian Joseph is a unique figure on the International jazz scene. As well as a highly regarded, fluent and creative jazz pianist leading a number of different ensembles, from his trio to his 20-piece big band, he is also a skilled composer in both the jazz and classical worlds. And if all that wasn’t enough he is also a highly knowledgeable and engaging broadcaster who has forged a reputation beyond his formidable skills as a performer and composer to become universally recognised as a musical ambassador and cultural advocate. The first Black British jazz musician to host a series of concerts at London’s Wigmore Hall he was the first to headline a late-night televised performance at the BBC Proms in the late 90’s with his All Star Big Band. In 2002 he was commissioned to open the London Jazz Festival with The Great Sage, performed by his Big Band and the strings of the BBC Concert Orchestra broadcast live on BBC Radio 3 and in 2003 he premiered his original arrangement of Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue for his All-Star Big Band at the City of London Festival. Movements from his orchestral suite "Symphonic Stories" have been performed by the BBC Concert Orchestra, the Hallé and the Liverpool Philharmonic and in 2007 he branched out into opera with "Bridgetower" and then "Shadowball". Apart from his symphonic and operatic writing Julian has also composed a number of highly regarded jazz influenced contemporary dance pieces and has remained at the forefront of initiatives to introduce jazz into mainstream music education, leading to the foundation of his own Jazz Academy in 2013. And if all that wasn’t enough, as well as performing, composing, recording, teaching and broadcasting, Julian has also turned to writing, with his book Music of Initiative sharing his unique insights into the philosophy and practice of jazz performance. A major contributor to Britain’s cultural landscape he received an OBE in 2018 and his Awards include the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors (BASCA) Gold Badge (2010), the Ivors Academy 21st Fellow (2020), honorary fellow of Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance (2023) and the University of Southampton’s honorary doctorate (2025). A remarkable man and a true friend and supporter of the Club it is with enormous pleasure that we welcome this iconic musician to the Club this evening.