Award-winning saxophonist and composer Julian Argüelles plays a unique mix of exciting British contemporary jazz infused with Spanish rhythms, South African grooves, brass band and classical influences. An exceptionally gifted musician, he has been compared to sax legends Wayne Shorter and Charles Lloyd (Jazzwise), while his on-stage chemistry with the Julian Argüelles Quartet has been likened to Keith Jarett’s renowned 1970s line-up (UK Vibe).
Argüelles’ rapidly growing audience, built over the past 30 years, has an extraordinary reach for a jazz artist. His concerts attract a wide ranging age from early 20s upwards. Always keen to diversify, Argüelles has begun to reach out to jazz and classical music fans across Europe through his work with LAN Trio, with superstar Portuguese pianist Mário Laginha and the phenomenal Norwegian percussionist, Helge Andreas Norbakken. In 2019, he published “Etudes for the Modern Saxophonist” (available from Astute Music).
“Whatever the format, Arguelle’s music imbues depth, complexity, sonority and above all, a musical generosity of spirit which simply electrifies the bandstand.” Kenneth Killeen, Improvised Music Company Ireland, 2019
Julian is currently professor of jazz saxophone at the Institute of Jazz, Graz, Austria.
He was awarded a Fellowship from the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire for his services to jazz in 2017 and is a recipient of a Parliamentary Jazz Award (2016) for his CD “Let it be Told” (Basho).