|
"Soul, groove,
melody, tone,
and the element
of surprise are
my
priorities as a
composer and an
improviser... as
a guitarist I am
coming equally
from the schools
of rock, jazz,
and blues."
(Guitar
World, October
2007) The
subject was
Julien Kasper’s
2006 CD “The New
Imperial” and
with the release
of his latest
effort “Trance
Groove,” Julien
has upped the
ante while
remaining true
to his vision.
As with “The New
Imperial” (Nugene
Records, 2006)
and “Flipping
Time” (Toulcat
Records, 2003),
on “Trance
Groove” Julien's
guitar is the
nuanced,
expressive
singing voice of
this all
instrumental
journey. Funky
grooves, catchy
melodies,psychedelic
soundscapes,
soulful gospel
blues, epic rock
guitar, and a
stunning
acoustic ballad
coexist with
rare, natural
continuity.
“Trance Groove”
features a guest
appearance by
Hammond B3
organist T
Lavitz of the
Dixie Dregs,
Widespread
Panic, and Jazz
is
Dead. Live and
on record
Julien’s choice
of rhythm
section reflects his
aesthetic of
groove and group
interaction.
Bassist Jesse
Williams
and drummer Zac
Casher
have,between
them, performed
and/or
recorded with a
who’s who of
American roots
and groove
masters:
Johnny Adams,
Duke Robillard,
Mighty Sam
McClain, Immani
Coppala,
D’Angelo, Jay
McShann, Henry
Butler, and
countless
others.
The
international
community of
blues and jazz
fans became
aware of Julien
through his work
with pianist and
Hammond B-3
organist Bruce
Katz on their
extensive tours
throughout the
US
and Europe. He
recorded two CDs
with the Bruce
Katz Band on
Audioquest:
“Mississippi
Moan” and “Three
Feet off the
Ground.” Julien
has also
recorded with
Mighty Sam
McClain:
“Journey” and
“Soul Survivor”
on Telarc.
Julien was born
in France in
1962 to American
parents and
spent
his youth as an
army child
moving around
the American
south.
Inspired by Bob
Dylan and the
Beatles, he took
up the guitar at
the age of
eight. In 1978
at sixteen,
while living in
Tallahassee,
Florida, Julien
began touring
with the
legendary
blues/rock band
Crosscut Saw
featuring
harmonica
virtuoso and
singer Pat
Ramsey. After
several years
and one album
(recently
reissued on
Akarma), Julien
decided to seek
more challenging
musical
terrain. He
moved to the
fertile music
town of Austin,
Texas
where he gigged
constantly,
honing his skill
among the city’s
heavy hitting
players for four
years. Despite
the great
musicians
in Austin,
Julien was
frustrated by
the lack of a
vibrant jazz
scene
so he accepted a
scholarship to
attend the jazz
program at the
University of
Miami. He put
himself through
school playing
with
IKO IKO, the
house band at
Tobacco Road,
Miami’s blues
and
roots mecca,
which allowed
him to share the
stage with a
who’s
who of blues
legends and
touring artists.
An
improvisational
blues/jam band,
IKO IKO gave
Julien the
opportunity to
develop
and organically
integrate the
advanced
concepts he was
learning
in school into
his virtuosic
blues/rock
sound. After
graduating
from UM Julien
received another
offer too good
to refuse - a
jazz
guitar
fellowship at
University of
North Texas -
which brought
him back to
Texas in 1992 to
complete his
Master’s degree.
While in the
Dallas/Ft. Worth
area Julien
expanded his
musical
boundaries by
gigging in
country, blues,
rock, and jazz
groups
and launching
the first
edition of the
Julien Kasper
Band with
drummer Keith
Carlock (Steely
Dan, Sting,
Wayne Krantz).
Julien is now
based in Boston,
Massachusetts
where, in
addition
to writing,
performing, and
recording his
original music,
he is a
professor on the
guitar faculty
at Berklee
College of Music
and
an avid
all-season
surfer. “The
Berklee gig is
ideal in that I
can
impart my values
and extensive
performance
experience to
younger
generations of
talented
musicians while
interacting with
a faculty of
renowned
international
artists. The
school
encourages me to
tour and record
as my
professional
profile
serves to
enhance the
reputation of
the college and
my own
artistry.
Surfing brings
me into
elemental
contact with
nature.
Riding a wave is
interaction with
pure energy and
the closest
thing I can find
to musical
improvisation in
that technique,
knowledge, and
experience all
are at play but,
ultimately,one
must improvise
and react to the
purity of each
passing moment.” |
