BBC RADIO 4 MUSIC FEATURE

On Radio 4's Music Feature broadcast on Tuesday 4 December Julian explored the lives and careers of black classical musicians in Britain, from royal trumpeters in Henry VIII's court to the revered composer Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, who died in 1912 at the age of just 37. Click here to listen.

THE PIANISTS: Competition for Outstanding Amateurs, 2007

The Final: Jazz winner Will Michael's performance included his own composition ‘Four Bars for Bill’ between ‘On Green Dolphin Street’ (Kaper & Washington) and ‘Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams’ (Koehler, Barris & Moll).

BRIDGETOWER UK TOUR, OCTOBER-NOVEMBER 2007

"Julian Joseph - opera star? Certainly. Britain's most storming jazz pianist is also a skilled composer and orchestrator, and his artful score for the story of George Bridgetower, a black violin prodigy feted by 18th-century high society, deserved its standing ovation last night. A detailed jazz opera of many rhythmic variations and mood swings, it was also richly melodic and as comfortable for classically trained singers to perform as any such work since Porgy and Bess." Jack Massarik, London Evening Standard, October 2007.

"Joseph has done far more than write a jazzy opera. The score lets the nine-piece band breathe while tapping into orchestral colours, and seamlessly blends composition and improvisation. Joseph accurately references the compositional techniques of the period, merging the disciplines of classical opera and jazz. Supporting operatic vocals with walking bass worked a treat." Mike Hobart, Financial Times, October 2007.

Bridgetower is featured on the BBC London website. Click here for video.

Julian is featured in the July 2007 issue of Jazzwise. He talks about his his new opera, Bridgetower, his career as a musican and composer, and how he sees the future of jazz in Britain.

"I express myself as a jazz musician because I find that it’s the freest and most enabling artform to do what I envisage. I see jazz as the great absorber but I just thought one of the big things missing from jazz is dramatic works..."

"I love stories and I love the movies, I love books so I want to tell stories. And I just thought I wanna write an opera. Classical music doesn’t need me to write an opera because my palette is a jazz one and I put everything into that."

Click here to read more.

Julian has been commissioned to write a new opera for the 2007 City of London Festival, which this year will be commemorating the 200th anniversary of the first British parliamentary bill to abolish slavery. Bridgetower will be a jazz opera, with a libretto by Mike Phillips and directed by Helen Eastman in collaboration with English Touring Opera.

The story is based on the life of Polish-born violin prodigy, George Bridgetower, the son of an Abyssinian ex-slave, who came to London from Europe in 1789 to escape the French Revolution. He performed to George III and the Prince Regent, who in 1791 became his patron. He was also a great friend of Beethoven, with whom he gave the first performance of his Kreutzer Sonata, and which Beethoven subsequently dedicated to him.

London premiere performances of Bridgetower will take place in LSO St Luke's from 5-7 July. Click here for more info. Click here to read the Sunday Independent Magazine feature, 24 June 2007.