Julian Nicholas b. 13.1.1965 UCH, Camden, London

 

Clarinet study:

1976-1983 Nicholas Bucknall

1983 Alan Hacker

 

Saxophone study:

1979-83 Don Rendell

1980-84 Tony Coe

1983-2015 Bobby Wellins

 

Orchestras 1980 - 83

Goldsmiths’ Youth Orchestra

Meridian Chamber Orchestra - Stephen Dagg

London Schools Symphonic Band

Don Rendell Big Band

Howard Riley Jazz Workshop

London Jazz Composers’ Orchestra

 

 

Playing and learning:

 

1980 – 83: pick-up gigs incl. Dudu Pukwana, Dave Defries, London Jazz Composers Orchestra

1983 – 6: York University BA Hons - English Literature [with Music]

1983: Bobby Wellins - Composer in Residence: saxophone study, big band direction and arranging experience; clarinet study with Alan Hacker

1986: pick-up dates with Harry ‘Sweets’ Edison, Bobby Hirst on piano.

1987: daughter, Rosebud - born in Brighton

1987 onwards: regular freelance engagements at UK venues with Bob Wellins, Joe Lee Wilson et al incl. BBC Maida Vale, The Stables, regional Arts centres, Outside-In Festival

1988 – 1991: Touring and UK gigs with Loose Tubes [USA; EU; UK]

1989 & 1990: JNQ support Nina Simone: 2 x Brighton Festival Best Jazz Performance Zap Award

1989 onwards: ‘Brighton Jazz Co-op’ tutor

1990 onwards: sideman to many artists at Brighton Jazz Club, Bass Clef, Pizza Express

1990 – 2007: Glamorgan Jazz Summer School tutor

1990 & 1991: Support to Nina Simone at The Dome Brighton

1990 – 91: Programmer ‘Junction Club’, Brighton - 75 jazz promotions in a 7-month period

1990: ‘Brotherhood of Breath’ and Chris McGregor Quintet

1991 onwards: Eddie Parker Group: ‘Transformations of the Lamp’                - album release on FMR

1991: Julian Nicholas Quartet with Dave Wickins, Mick Hutton appear at ‘Outside In’ Festival

1992: ‘Mountain People’ album recording and touring                                      - album self-release

1993: B.A.F.T.A. nominated film score co-composed with Will Woolf: ‘Fools’ Gold - The Brinksmat Robbery’ LWT Jeff Pope

1993 – 5: tutor, ‘Access To Music’ UK-wide

1993 – 5: curriculum tutor - University of Chichester

1993 onwards: regular visits to Czech Republic to tutor and tour with Emil Viklicky

1994: ‘Mountain People’ perform at World Trade Centre – Paris

1994: Eddie Parker Group: ‘Everything You Do To Me’                                       - album release on FMR

1994 onwards: - ‘Carmina’ with Pete Jacobsen, Nick France, Dudley Philips

1995: ‘Food Of Love’ album and touring                                                            - album release Melantrich, CZ

1995: 1998 co-organiser - ‘Rockinghorse Appeal’ annual festival Powis Square, Brighton

1995: ‘Square Groove’ CD - Live from Powis Square                                         - album self-release

1997: onwards - ‘Heavy Plant Crossing’ recording and touring                        - album self-release

1998-2004: ‘Impro’ - jazz in schools with Eddie Parker, Bosco D’Olivera, Baluji Shrivastav

1998: ‘Food Of Love’ reprinted in CZ                                                                  - album re-release Lotos CZ

2000: second serious car accident (1st in 1995) - drift to other forms of employment

 

2000 – 2005: building-site worker, carpenter, tree-work, bespoke kitchen building!

(ongoing freelance music and teaching)

2002: ‘Food Of Love’ UK remastering                                                                - album first release in UK

2004: ‘Brotherhood of Breath’ with Ernest Mothle @ Ronnie Scott’s and Cadogan Hall, London 

2006-9: saxophone tutor - Middlesex University

2009: GTP full-time secondary music teacher - training Sussex University

2010 – Dec 2012: Varndean secondary school - full-time classroom music teacher

2010: ‘Loose Tubes’ – ‘Dancing On Frith Street’                                                 - album release on Lost Marble

2012: ‘Loose Tubes’ – ‘Sad Africa’                                                                       - album release on Lost Marble

2013 - 2020: course lead and design - Chichester College 2-yr Jazz Foundation [levels 4 & 5]

2014: ‘Loose Tubes’ re-form, tour[Brecon JF, Sage Gateshead JF, Herts JF] and record for BBC at Ronnie Scott’s

2015: Loose Tubes - ‘Arriving’                                                                             - album release on Lost Marble

2015: Mark Edwards’ The Cloggz - ‘Sawdust & Spangles’                                 - album self-release

2015 – 2018: co-curator, South Coast Jazz Festival with Claire Martin OBE

2016: Kendon/Ryall Project, ‘There Will Be Time’                                               - album release on Beeboss

2017: Anöna Trio [Mark Edwards & Imogen Ryall], ‘One January Morning’     - album release on Beeboss

2018 onwards: Tutor and co-lead, The Original UK Jazz Summer School, Royal Welsh College of Music & Dance

2018: ‘Brotherhood Of Breath’ re-formed – South Coast Jazz Festival & London Jazz Festival, 100 Club

2018: Julian Nicholas Quartet with Emil Viklicky and Dave Wickins 2012 live recording from Leipzig, ‘1 2 3 4’                                                                                                                                       - album release on Beeboss

2019: David Beebee Quartet w. Kuba Cywinski – ‘Quartet’                               - album release on Beeboss

2019: ‘Brotherhood Of Breath’  – Poole Lighthouse and London Jazz Festival, 100 Club

2019: Julian commissioned by Brighton Dome ‘Create Music’ to effect a culture-shift in the inclusion of improvisation in music learning, county-wide. Please see ‘Improvise First!’, Julian’s 140-page manual for teachers and students alike.

2020: Julian Nicholas Band ‘Rising’ – vinyl collection of 1993 recordings         - album release on Cordial

2021: Julian Nicholas Band ‘Cost Of’ – vinyl collection of 1995 recording         - album release on Cordial

2022: Julian Nicholas Band ‘Love’ – vinyl collection of 1997-2006 recordings - album release on Cordial

2022: Imogen Ryall’s ‘Charlie Mingus /’Joni Mitchell Songbook’                       - album release on Rubicon

2022: Brotherhood OF Breath - Arts Council-supported Project, Oct 8 – Dec 17, CLF Art Lounge, Peckham

2023: Emil Viklicky /Imogen Ryall – ‘Songs’, produced by Julian Nicholas       - album release on Rubicon

2024: Julian Nicholas & Emil Viklicky Quartet – ‘Food Of Love’                        - album re-release on Rubicon

2024: ‘Charlie Parker With Strings’ with Bernardi String Group - Shipley Arts; Trinity College

2024: Julian DYCP Arts Council grant to shift emphases to studio production and project ‘Skyhorse’.