Julian Bliss “unfailingly musical” Fanfare Magazine Biography Julian Bliss is one of the world’s finest solo clarinettists excelling as concerto soloist, chamber musician, jazz artist, masterclass leader and tireless musical explorer. He has inspired a generation of young players, as guest lecturer and creator of the Leblanc Bliss range of affordable clarinets, and introduced a large new audience to his instrument. The breadth and depth of Julian’s artistry are reflected in the diversity and distinction of his work. He has appeared with many of the world’s leading orchestras, including the London Philharmonic Orchestra, BBC Symphony Orchestra, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and the Academy of St Martin in the Fields, and performed chamber music with Joshua Bell, Hélène Grimaud, Steven Isserlis, Steven Kovacevich and other great interpreters. Born in St Albans (UK), Julian began playing at the age of four. He moved to the United States in 2000 to study at Indiana University and subsequently received lessons from Sabine Meyer in Germany. Julian’s prodigious early career included performances at the prestigious Gstaad, Mecklenburg Vorpommern, Rheingau and Verbier festivals, and critically acclaimed debuts at London’s Wigmore Hall and New York’s Julian Bliss Lincoln Center. His first album for EMI Classics’ Debut series was greeted by five-star reviews and public praise following its release in 2003. Released on Signum Classics in September 2014, Julian’s live recording of the Mozart Clarinet Concerto with the Royal Northern Sinfonia was Classic FM disc of the week upon release. The release was accompanied by a performance at Classic FM Live at the Royal Albert Hall, London. Julian stands today among the finest musicians of his generation. He launched the Julian Bliss Septet in 2012 at Wigmore Hall and Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club in London and fronted their debut disc, Benny Goodman –The King of Swing. This programme has gone on to be performed across the world, including a sell-out performance at the Concertgebouw. Julian’s 2015 engagements see him travel across the world, including performances with the Chamber Orchestra of Paris, the São Paulo Symphony Orchestra and the Auckland Symphony Orchestra as well as returning to The Sage Gateshead with the Royal Northern Sinfonia. Claire Long, Manager Music Productions Ltd [email protected] Pinewood Studios, Pinewood Road, Meg Davies Iver Heath. Bucks. SL0 0NH. UK [email protected] Tel: +44 (0) 1753 783739 Recent Releases Mozart & Nielsen Clarinet Concertos Royal Northern Sinfonia Mario Venzago Conductor Release Date: 15th September 2014 Including the Mozart Clarinet Concerto in A Major and the Nielsen Clarinet Concerto, recorded at The Sage, Gateshead. “...enormously accomplished. He has a supple, well-focused sound and an uncanny, crystalline technique. His playing in the Mozart Concerto is gorgeous, with an exquisite pianissimo at the reprise of the Adagio . His phrasing and articulations are unfailingly musical.” Fanfare Magazine “All the works collected here showcase the attractive qualities of Bliss’s playing, rich and fruity in the showier passages, effortless in the demanding runs made by Nielsen in particular and, at the sublime Julian Bliss moments, appropriately mellifluous and sonorous.” ClassicFM Julian Bliss & Bradley Moore Bradley Moore Piano Release Date: 2nd June 2014 Including works by Debussy, Francais, Glinka, Milhaud and Prokofiev. “One of the most talented young musicians of our time, and an enthusiastic and prolific chamber player, Julian Bliss’ list of professional honours and accomplishments is already lengthy despite his youth.” ClassicsOnline A Tribute to Benny Goodman Julian Bliss Septet Release Date: 4th June 2013 “We have a new shooter on the jazz clarinet front and his name is Julian Bliss…From classical to jazz to making music affordable for the next generation, Julian Bliss and his Septet certainly have earned their five stars!” Critical Jazz Claire Long, Manager Music Productions Ltd [email protected] Pinewood Studios, Pinewood Road, Meg Davies Iver Heath. Bucks. SL0 0NH. UK [email protected] Tel: +44 (0) 1753 783739 Discography The Ancient Question Hila Plitmann Soprano Release Date: 5th December 2011 Label: Signum Classics "Julian Bliss threatens to steal the show on clarinet” Norman Lebrecht, La Scena Musicale Psycho Tippett Quartet Release Date: 11th March 2011 Label: Signum Classics "...thrillingly, chillingly delivered … it is impossible to imagine more expert renditions than these." Gramophone Julian Bliss Krommer, Spohr. Clarinet Concerts Sabine Meyer Clarinet Release Date: 2nd July 2007 Label: EMI Classics “Their individual talents shine in the two Spohr solo concertos, taking one each - Bliss in the Second, Meyer in the Fourth - though, if truth be told, the "pupil" brings the more tonally alluring sound.” The Telegraph Music for Clarinet and Piano Julien QuentinPiano Release Date: 15th September 2003 Label: EMI Classics “Solo de concours […] shows the considerable agility this gifted artist has with his instrument.” AllMusic Prom at the Palace Various Artists Release Date: 1st July 2002 Label: EMI Classics Featuring Julian’s performance of Andre Messager’s “Solo de concours” live from Buckingham Palace. Claire Long, Manager Music Productions Ltd [email protected] Pinewood Studios, Pinewood Road, Meg Davies Iver Heath. Bucks. SL0 0NH. UK [email protected] Tel: +44 (0) 1753 783739 Julian Bliss Septet The Julian Bliss Septet have performed across Europe at leading venues and festivals including London’s Wigmore Hall, the legendary Ronnie Scott’s and the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam. Live and on record, the Julian Bliss Septet recreate the exciting sound of swing from the 30’s and 40’s in A Tribute to Benny Goodman. Julian Bliss leads his sextet through some of the great tunes of the swing era, staying true to the authentic feel but with a modern twist. Julian became enamoured with the performances of Benny Goodman at the age of seven, and in 2010 decided to form a group to perform Goodman’s music. The album “A Tribute to Benny Goodman” was recorded in 2011 and released on Signum Records in June 2012 to critical acclaim from both jazz and classical reviewers. For live performances, Julian Bliss and pianist Neal Thornton offer an unbiased point of view about the work of Benny Goodman, talking the audience through the music and sharing anecdotes and stories about Goodman’s life, all delivered with humour. Following the success of “Julian Bliss and the King of Swing”, Julian turns his attention to the rich world of Latin American music. Dominated by the influences of Cuba and Brazil, this musical heritage stretches back Julian Bliss over 200 years with popular styles ranging from the elegant Rumba to the wildly exciting Samba. This project explores the growth of Latin music from the early days of the Habanera to the complexity of modern Salsa rhythms, including Ravel’s Bolero, the 1940s classic Besame mucho and the famous Brazilian choro Tico tico, made famous in films by Walt Disney and Woody Allen. The Julian Bliss Septet will tour the US in November 2015 and early 2016 as well as performances at festivals in Europe and the UK. “Bliss is capable of swinging mightily and adapting his formidable technique to the task at hand.” The Jazz Times “The Julian Bliss Septet and A Tribute To Benny Goodman celebrates not only the virtuoso pioneer of American swing music but captures the vibrant joy of a simple unadorned melody played with feeling and conviction.” Critical Jazz "Benny Goodman would be proud." The Arbuturian Claire Long, Manager Music Productions Ltd [email protected] Pinewood Studios, Pinewood Road, Meg Davies Iver Heath. Bucks. SL0 0NH. UK [email protected] Tel: +44 (0) 1753 783739 Selected Concert Reviews “It isn’t just his technique, though that is astonishing enough. It’s the wit, poise and vivacity in his playing. In short, it is the pure intuition leading him straight to the heart of what he plays” The Times “Clear technical mastery of the concerto left plenty of scope to create a fairly personal and engaging reading for such a familiar work. His own dynamics and phrasing were obvious throughout, and his physicality on stage served to highlight these. In the outer movements his playing was fluid and agile, even in the lower register, where the darker colours of the basset were shown.” Bachtrack "Bliss is capable of swinging mightily and adapting his formidable technique to the task at hand." The Jazz Times “But the Queen did hear one top-class performance: Mozart’s clarinet concerto, played on the authentic Julian Bliss basset clarinet (with its vital extra bass notes) by the 17-year-old Julian Bliss. Sinuous, immaculate and unfussy, he reserved his subtlest powers for the end of the sublime adagio, delivered so quietly that 6,000 people held their breath.” The Times "Julian Bliss is a rara avis: a distinguished classical musician also enraptured with great jazz." AcousticMusic.com “energy, wit and compassion” Irish Times “A show-stopper saw Bliss wander through the hall, letting rip on his conveniently wireless-amped clarinet while drummer Matt Skelton thundered from the stage. “ The Scotsman “Bliss, on top of his game, rose to the occasion with great skill and versatility, especially in the passages of gnawing conflict between clarinet and snare drum, finely played by Graham Johns.” The Journal. Claire Long, Manager Music Productions Ltd [email protected] Pinewood Studios, Pinewood Road, Meg Davies Iver Heath. Bucks. SL0 0NH. UK [email protected] Tel: +44 (0) 1753 783739 Contact Julian Bliss General Management: Music Productions Ltd Claire Long: [email protected] Tel: +44 1753 783 739 Australia & New Zealand John Cristian Productions Cristian Pilditch: [email protected] +64 431 098 222 France Philippe Maillard Productions Philippe Maillard: [email protected] +33 1 48 24 16 29 Julian Bliss Septet General Management: Music Productions Ltd Claire Long: [email protected] Tel: +44 1753 783 739 IMG Artist (North America) Stephanie Reiss: [email protected] Tel: +1 212 994 3521 Live: Julian Bliss & Julien Quentin.