Julien Kasper

Julien Kasper
Born
Julien Kasper

(1962-03-30) March 30, 1962
Toul, France
GenresJazz, rock, blues, funk, fusion
Occupationguitarist
Years active1976–present
Websitewww.julienkasper.com

Julien Kasper (born 1962) is an American jazz fusion and blues rock guitarist and professor at Berklee College of Music in Boston.[1] He is recognized for his instrumental recordings as a bandleader and his work as a sideman in the blues, rock, and jazz fusion genres.[2][3]

Education and influences

Kasper holds a Bachelor of Music in Jazz and Studio Performance from the University of Miami and a Master of Music in Jazz Studies from the University of North Texas.[4] His musical influences include Jimi Hendrix, Jeff Beck, John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Wes Montgomery, B. B. King, Eric Clapton, and Bill Evans.[2]

Career

Kasper began his professional music career in the late 1970s as a member of the blues-rock band Crosscut Saw in Tallahassee, Florida.[5] During his studies at the University of Miami, he was a member of the group IKO-IKO, the house band at Tobacco Road in Miami.[6][7] Before moving to Boston, he was active in the music scene in Austin, Texas.[8]

In an April 2010 review, Vintage Guitar described Kasper as ‘one of the most imaginative composers and players working with the guitar today.[9] His 2003 album Flipping Time received praise for its blend of funk and jazz.[10]

He is a professor in the guitar department at Berklee College of Music. He has performed at various international festivals, including Nattjazz in Bergen, and the Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival.[1] In 2023, he released his most recent studio album. The self-titled release features drummer Zac Casher and bassist Jesse Williams, with guest appearances by pianist Daniela Schächter and Hammond B3 organist Matt Jenson.[11] His style on the 2010 album Trance Groove has been described as a mix of jazz improvisation and 1970s rock influence.[12][13]

Discography

  • 1982: Mad Bad and Dangerous to Know – Crosscut Saw (Akarma) [14]
  • 1995: It's About Time – Pat Ramsey (Rampat) [15]
  • 1997: Mississippi Moan – Bruce Katz Band (AudioQuest Music) [16]
  • 1998: Journey – Mighty Sam McClain (AudioQuest Music) [17]
  • 1999: Soul Surviver – Mighty Sam McClain (Telarc) [18]
  • 2000: Three Feet Off The Ground – Bruce Katz Band (AudioQuest Music) [19]
  • 2003: Flipping Time – Julien Kasper (Toulcat Records) [10]
  • 2006: The New Imperial – Julien Kasper Band (Nugene Records) [20][21]
  • 2010: Trance Groove – Julien Kasper Band (Toulcat Records) [12]
  • 2013: Painting on Silence – Andrea Balestra (Spleen Records) [22]
  • 2023: Julien Kasper – Julien Kasper (Toulcat Records) [11]
  • 2024: Live at the Boston Harbor Distillery – Julien Kasper Band (Toulcat Records) [23]

References

  1. 1 2 "Julien Kasper". Berklee College of Music. Retrieved January 11, 2026.
  2. 1 2 "Julien Kasper Bio". Berklee Online. Retrieved January 11, 2026.
  3. ↑ "Julien Kasper Biography". Jazz Music Archives. Retrieved January 11, 2026.
  4. ↑ "The improvisation of Lennie Tristano (Thesis)". University of North Texas Libraries. 1993. Retrieved January 11, 2026.
  5. ↑ "Julien Kasper Interview". Vintage Guitar Magazine. Retrieved January 11, 2026.
  6. ↑ Drout, Graham Wood (May 15, 1991). "Program Notes". Miami New Times. Retrieved January 11, 2026.
  7. ↑ "Julien Kasper Biography". Apple Music. Retrieved January 11, 2026.
  8. ↑ Lozano, Albert (August 21, 2003). "Guitarist Julien Kasper performs in Natick". The Milford Daily News. Retrieved January 11, 2026.
  9. ↑ H, J (October 2003). "Opening Axe: Julien Kasper - Flipping Time". Vintage Guitar. p. 156.
  10. 1 2 Arora, Gaurav (October 22, 2003). "Kasper brings instrumental albums back in style". The Tufts Daily. Retrieved January 11, 2026.
  11. 1 2 Staff (December 13, 2023). "Julien Kasper: Julien Kasper (album review)". All About Jazz. Retrieved January 11, 2026.
  12. 1 2 Bowling, David (April 11, 2010). "Music Review: The Julien Kasper Band - Trance Groove". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Retrieved January 11, 2026.
  13. ↑ Bowling, David (April 11, 2010). "Music Review: The Julien Kasper Band - Trance Groove". Blogcritics Music. Retrieved January 11, 2026.
  14. ↑ "Crosscut Saw – Mad, Bad And Dangerous To Know". Discogs. Retrieved January 11, 2026.
  15. ↑ "It's About Time - Pat Ramsey". AllMusic. Retrieved January 11, 2026.
  16. ↑ "Bruce Katz Band - Mississippi Moan". AllMusic. Retrieved January 11, 2026.
  17. ↑ "Mighty Sam McClain - Journey". Discogs. Retrieved January 11, 2026.
  18. ↑ "Soul Surviver - Mighty Sam McClain". AllMusic. Retrieved January 11, 2026.
  19. ↑ "Three Feet Off The Ground - Bruce Katz Band". AllMusic. Retrieved January 11, 2026.
  20. ↑ Milano, Dominic (October 2006). "Julien Kasper Band: The New Imperial". Guitar Player.
  21. ↑ Messer, AJ (October 22, 2006). "The New Imperial – Julien Kasper Band". Guitar Noise. Retrieved January 11, 2026.
  22. ↑ "Painting on Silence - Andrea Balestra". Apple Music. Retrieved January 11, 2026.
  23. ↑ "Julien Kasper Band's Live Album Release". The Boston Calendar. Retrieved January 11, 2026.
This page is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.