His most recent CD 'Circularity' features John Taylor (piano), Dave Holland (bass) and Martin France (drums) and was released on the Italian Label Camjazz in 2013. Julian has been shortlisted for a 2014 British Composer's Award for Contemporary Jazz Composition to be announced at a ceremony in London on 2nd December 2014.
Born near Birmingham, UK in 1966, Julian moved to London at the age of 18 where he gained recognition as a creative and original musician. At 20 he joined the much acclaimed band Loose Tubes. He has toured and recorded throughout the world with leading musicians such as Hermeto Pascoal, Dave Holland, Django Bates, John Scoffield, Kenny Wheeler, John Abercrombie, and Bill Frisell.
He is the leader of his own groups, the most recent being his quartet with Kit Downes (piano), Sam Lasserson (bass) and James Maddren (drums), and has recorded eleven CDs as a leader. These recordings, and his compositions, have won many prestigious awards. He is due to release 2 further CDs in 2015 and will tour with his current quartet.
In 2004 Julian moved to the Scottish countryside and in 2012 he won the Best Instrumentalist at the Scottish Jazz Awards. He has recently returned to London.
As a composer Julian's recent commissions include the NDR (North German Radio Big Band) HR (Frankfurt Radio Big Band), Apollo Saxophone Quartet, his octet (by Birmingham Jazz and BBC Radio 3), the National, Walsall and Berkshire Youth Jazz Orchestras, The Fenland Youth Symphony Orchestra and Royal Academy Of Music. In 1999 Julian was the recipient of the Jazz Composers Alliance Composition Award from the USA and in 2011-12 Julian was composer in Residence at the Luzern Jazz School, Switzerland.
Julian's Cds have won many awards and have become hugely influential to a new generation of British jazz musicians.
"One is left almost speechless with admiration" THE INDEPENDENT