Justin Kauflin
| Justin Kauflin | |
|---|---|
| Born | March 10, 1986 |
| Origin | Silver Spring, Maryland, United States |
| Genres | Jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, record producer, composer, arranger |
| Instruments | Piano |
| Years active | 2003–present |
| Labels | Qwest Records, Harmonia Mundi/Jazz Village |
| Associated acts | Clark Terry, Quincy Jones, Mulgrew Miller |
| Website | http://www.justinkauflin.com |
Justin Kauflin (born March 10, 1986) is an American jazz pianist,[1] composer and record producer.
Career
Justin Kauflin[2] was born in Silver Spring, Maryland before moving to Virginia Beach, Virginia with his family. Middle of 5 children, his talent was nurtured with a decade of classical training in violin and piano. From age 6, he began performing in concerts, nursing homes and weddings, eventually becoming concertmaster for several orchestras. It was during this time that he also endured numerous trials, particularly losing total vision by age 11 because of proliferative exudative retinopathy.[3] He adjusted by learning Braille and cane mobility, and switching to jazz piano at the Governor’s School for Performing Arts. He studied with Liz Barnes and, Old Dominion University jazz professor, John Toomey; received top honors in jazz festivals across the U.S. and began performing jazz professionally by age 15, most notably with the Jae Sinnett Trio.
In 2004 Justin graduated, alongside his sighted peers, in the top 1% at Salem High School with an Advanced Academic diploma and Valedictorian at the Governor's School for the Arts, receiving a Presidential scholarship to attend William Paterson University[4] in New Jersey. At WPU, he was taken under the wings of the great Clark Terry , winner of 2010's Grammy Award for Lifetime Achievement in Jazz, and played in the Clark Terry Ensemble. He was highly influenced by Harold Mabern, Ornette Coleman, the late James Williams and by his hero, the late Mulgrew Miller.
In 2008, he graduated summa cum laude with an Honors degree in Music/Jazz Performance, moved to NYC, and at age 23 produced, led, composed and performed on his first CD, "Introducing Justin Kauflin".[5]
From 2009, Justin's relationship[6] with mentor Clark Terry was chronicled by Absolute Clay Productions’ Al Hicks and Adam Hart. The resultant documentary, "Keep On Keepin' On,"[7] made its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival April 2014, and won both Heineken Audience and Best New Documentary Director Awards.[3] Justin is credited for the film score along with Dave Grusin.[8] "Keep On Keepin' On" was released in theaters through RADiUS-TWC and is now streamable through Amazon, iTunes and Netflix.
From 2011, Justin Kauflin[9] and his trio headlined regularly at the singular, straight-ahead jazz club in Virginia, Havana Nights, where he also served as House Pianist. During this time, he performed with his trio or with the Jae Sinnett Trio across the country. He won the VSA International Young Soloist Award, was selected as semifinalist in the Thelonious Monk Competition in 2011, voted as “Jazz Artist of the Year” in VEER Magazine, and signed by legendary producer and music icon, Quincy Jones, for management.
In 2013 and 2014, Justin was part of Quincy Jones’ world tour, which toured to Montreux, Switzerland; Vienne, France; Seoul, Korea; Tokyo and Hiroshima, Japan. Throughout the past year, Justin worked with Quincy Jones on his second full- length album and debut album for Qwest/Jazz Village entitled "Dedication",[10] released on January 13, 2015.
In 2015, The Justin Kauflin Trio (with Billy Williams and Chris Smith) completed two European Tours, performing at Ronnie Scotts (London), Moments Musikclub, Bimhuis (Amsterdam), Porgy and Bess (Vienna), Bix (Stuttgart), the Montreux Jazz Festival, Copenhagen Jazz Festival, Jamboree Jazz (Spain), Blue Note Milan (Italy), Nefertiti, Malmo and Fasching Jazz Clubs (Sweden), Duc des Lombards (France), Unterfahrt (Germany) and the Montreux Jazz Club (Switzerland). Their U.S. Tour included Bohemian Caverns (DC), Scullers (MA), Side Door (CT), Jazz Standard (NYC), Roger Williams U (RI), JAM Inc (VA), Monterey Jazz Festival (CA), A-Frame (CA), and SOhO Music Club (CA).
Justin Kauflin, in 2015, was part of the commemorative Oscar, With Love album a collection of never recorded songs written by jazz pianist Oscar Peterson[11]
Past Performances
EUROPE
Nimes, FR | L'Agglo auRhyme du Jazz
Barcelona, SP | Jamboree Jazz
Milan, IT | Blue Note Milan
Goteborg, SWE | Nefertiti Jazz Club
Stockholm, SWE | Fasching Jazz Club
Paris, FR | Duc des Lombards
Berlin, DE | Jazzclub Unterfarht
Montreux, CH | Montreux Jazz Club
Copenhagen, DK | Copenhagen Jazz Festival
Stuttgart, DE | Bix Jazz Club
Vienna, Austria | Porgy and Bess
Amsterdam, Netherlands | Bimhuis Jazz Club
Bremen, DE | Moments Musikclub
London, GB | Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club
Copehagen, DK | Jazzhus Montmartre
Paris, FR | International Jazz Day
Bremen, DE | Jazz Ahead!
Vienne, FR | Jazz a Vienne
Tbilisi, Rep. of Georgia | Griboyedov Theatre
Telavi, Rep. of Georgia | Telavi Music School
Kutaisi, Rep. of Georgia | Balanchivadze Theatre
ASIA
Seoul, S. Korea | SK Gym
Tokyo, Japan | Blue Note Tokyo
Tokyo, Japan | International Forum
Hiroshima, Japan | Green Arena
Miyazaki, Japan | GS Arts
SOUTH AMERICA
Sao Paulo, Brazil | Teatro Coliseu
CANADA
Toronto | Royal Conservatory
Belleville | Belleville Film Festival
USA
NYC | The Jazz Standard
Washington, DC | Bohemian Caverns
Seattle, WA | D'mitrious Jazz Alley
Los Angeles, CA | EDYE Broad Stage
Los Angeles, CA | Jazz at the A-Frame
Santa Barbara, CA | SOhO Music Club
Los Angeles, CA | The Blue Whale
Bristol, RI | Roger Williams University
Boston, MA | Scullers Jazz Club
Monterey, CA | Monterey Jazz Festival
Vail, CO | Vail Jazz Festival
Denver, CO | Baur's Listening Room
Aspen, CO | Wheeler Opera House
Washington, DC | Library of Congress
Washington, DC | Westminster Pres. Jazz Nite
Richmond, VA | JAM Inc.
Seattle, WA | The Triple Door
Richmond, VA | Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
Virginia Beach, VA | Havana Nights Jazz Club
Houston, TX | N. Texas Jazz Festival
Washington, DC | Millennium Stage Kennedy Center
Chantilly, VA | Chantilly Jazz Festival
Washington, DC | Terrace Theater Kennedy Center
Discography
- Introducing Justin Kauflin (2010)[12][13]
- Dedication (Qwest/Harmonia Mundi, 2015)[14]
- Keep On Keepin' On Soundtrack (Varese Sarabande, 2015)
- Justin Kauflin Live at EDYE Broad Stage EP (Qwest, 2014)
- Subject to Change (JNett, 2014)
- When Trees Speak (Jimmy Masters, 2014)
- CT and WP: A Perfect Match (Clark Terry, 2014)
- See Dream Blues (Rob DuGuay, 2014)
- This Just In (Brian McCarthy, 2014)
- Still Standing (Jae Sinnett, 2012)
- Old School Loyalty (House and Sinnett, 2011)
- Theatre (Jae Sinnett, 2010)
- Roxy Coss (Roxy Coss, 2010)
- An Evening with the Jae Sinnett Trio DVD (JNett, 2009)
- Equilibrium (Etan Haziza, 2007)
References
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