Julian Nicholas

Julian learned clarinet with Nicholas Bucknall at John Roan School, Greenwich from 1976 to 1983, when he went to York University and continued with Alan Hacker. He studied saxophone with Tony Coe, Don Rendell, Bobby Wellins. Julian didn't fit into the critics and promoters templates, necessarily, stylistically gravitating towards African rhythms with Western harmonies in his compositions, as well as the influence of folk music through artists such as John Surman, but he managed to pop up as a mainstream-to-modern freelancer with some of the legendary names of jazz from a very young age, as well as with reggae bands and on garage recordings. Perhaps over-shadowed by such a burgeoning wave of saxophone talent in the 1980s, his relative obscurity can also be attributed to him moving to Brighton and in 1988 taking on single-parenting his daughter from her first year. Julian also ran a jazz club, The Junction in Brighton in 1990 - booking 150 gigs in its first year, and bringing the new wave of talent to Brighton, as well as South African, Brazilian and European bands who otherwise had no promotion on the South Coast. Julian is a member of the great 'Loose Tubes' as well as Eddie Parker's own group 'Mr Vertigo', Mark Edwards 'The Cloggz', 'The Brotherhood Of Breath', and many more. Julian has worked with Carleen Anderson Red Rodney Harry 'Sweets' Edison Jimmy Witherspoon Bobby Wellins Oleta Adams Will Gaines Joe Lee Wilson Mark Lockhart’s ‘Big Idea’ Martha Reeves Loose Tubes Chris McGregor's 'Brotherhood of Breath' Dudu Pukwana London Jazz Composers' Orchestra Ernest Mothle Stan Tracey Claire Martin Eddie Henderson Kirk Lightsey Arnie Lawrence Balugi Shrivastav Bosco D’Olivera Selena Jones Edwin Starr Osibisa Toyah Wilcox Liane Carroll Spike Wells Hazel O’Connor A Man Called Adam Belle And Sebastian 'Dedication Orchestra' Eddie Parker Pete Jacobsen Peter Saberton Don Weller Laurie Cottle and Emily Saunders, among many others. In 2009 Julian achieved his PGCE with a category 1, took a full-time teaching position in a secondary school and four years later took up the leadership (2013-2020) of the famous Chichester Jazz course of 35 years. Albums include Mountain People, Heavy plant Crossing (Arts Council supported 1997) Food Of Love, Square Groove, One January Morning (Anöna Trio), David Beebee Quartet, One Two Three Four, Sawdust & Spangles (The Cloggz), Dancing On Frith Street (Loose Tubes) among many others. Julian composes in many styles for his own and other ensembles.

He is a B.A.F.T.A.- nominated film score co-composer, has composed music for theatre/dance and is co-composer for 'The Cloggz'. Primarily a tenor and soprano player, he plays all the single-reed woodwind instruments and a penny whistle. Julian was made aware by his composer grandfather that music can be accessible and yet still retain integrity, originality and depth. With this in mind, he has worked in most genres as a session musician and sideman, sustaining a reputation for his own artistry and unique flavour within jazz. As an in- demand player he has appeared consistently at national venues such as Ronnie Scott’s, The 606, the Vortex, Dean St. Jazz Club at Pizza Express, The Spin in Oxford, Brecon, Cheltenham, Herts and Gateshead jazz festivals. His band supported Nina Simone two years running at The Dome for the Brighton Festival, winning the Brighton Festival/Zap Award. He co-curated and founded the South Coast Jazz Festival with Claire Martin OBE in 2015. He is a co-organiser and tutor on The Original UK Jazz Summer School. He has written a teaching /learning guide 'Improvise First!', commissioned by Brighton Dome /'Create Music' (2019). Recent albums include CD release 'Imogen Ryall's  Mingus/Mitchell Songbook' on Rubicon 'Jazz' 2023; 'Rising' LP vinyl Cordial Recordings 2021; with more in the near pipeline.

Awards

Brighton Festival/Zap Jazz Award winner 1989, 1990 Nominations: BAFTA for Film Score 1993 Best Concert APPJAG Jazz Awards2015 'Loose Tubes' Best Musical Event/Promotion APPJAG 'South Coast Jazz Festival' 2018