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Julian Hartwell

Julian Hartwell is a sought-after jazz pianist, composer, bandleader, and educator based in Philadelphia, PA. Originally hailing from Birmingham, Alabama, for the past 18 years he has been performing throughout the Delaware Valley and beyond – making a name for himself and sharing his talents at jazz clubs to rock venues, high-class cocktail hours, local jam sessions and everything in between. In addition to an adjunct faculty role in the music department of his alma mater Temple University, some of Hartwell’s most recent career highlights include a solo performance at the Barnes Foundation presented through Philly Jazz Project, gracing the stage of the Media Theatre for the region’s inaugural TedX event, and performing as a sideman with Indian sitar and tabla virtuoso Ustad Shafaat Khan in his East Meets West fusion project. In 2018 Julian orchestrated his first tour overseas, performing original music as a bandleader with local musicians in both Berlin and Prague, to widespread positive reception from diverse audiences. He has shared the stage with jazz luminaries like Terell Stafford, Christian McBride, Jimmy Heath, and Jon Faddis, appearing with the latter two legends on Temple University Big Band’s own 2015 release “Dear Dizzy: A Tribute to Dizzy Gillespie” – which the group had the opportunity to perform at Jazz at Lincoln Center in NYC.

Since 2012 Julian has been leading his own group dubbed The Julian Hartwell Project, the primary vehicle for his ever-growing repertoire of 40+ original compositions and arrangements to date. His talents as a composer and arranger, not to mention pianist, are on full display on that group’s self-titled debut album, which garnered favorable reviews from many respected jazz outlets like All About Jazz and others upon its release in 2015. (see Press)

In addition to honing his unique voice via The JHP, Hartwell finds himself an in-demand sideman with other projects in the area and in diverse genres. His vast musical sensibilities find him equally at-home interpreting time-worn jazz standards to filling in studio work for pop, hip-hop, RnB artists and more.

Last but not least, Julian continues to explore a more nuanced and exploratory approach with a growing repertoire of neo-classical meets jazz compositions for solo piano. He is currently working towards his first full-length solo piano record slated for an anticipated 2020 release, which will surely unveil yet another dimension to the artistry of this up-and-coming young artist already making waves in the jazz world and beyond.

Take Five with Julian Hartwell

by Julian Hartwell
April 20, 2017

About Julian Hartwell Julian Hartwell is a sought-after pianist, composer, bandleader, and educator based in jny: Philadelphia, PA. He is inspired by many styles of music which all contribute to his distinctive sound, both solo and in a group setting. For the past 12 years he has performed throughout a wide swath of the Delaware Valley and Philly area--from jazz clubs to rock venues, music ministry to cocktail hours, weddings to jam sessions and everything in between, and ...

Album Review

Julian Hartwell: The Julian Hartwell Project

Read "The Julian Hartwell Project" reviewed by Edward Blanco

by Edward Blanco
March 18, 2016

A regular performer throughout the Philadelphia, PA area over the last ten years, pianist/bandleader and educator Julian Hartwell, has brought together a band of young up-and-coming musicians from the area's vibrant jazz scene for the production of The Julian Hartwell Project, the group's self-titled, all-original debut album. Featuring eight original compositions, the music highlights a light ensemble that has little problem sounding like a formidable big band and use their high-octane approach to blend elements of R&B, funk and bebop ...

Recording

'LYVELIFE' By The Julian Hartwell Project - Available Now!

Source: Julian Hartwell
March 16, 2021

The long-awaited follow-up to their 2015 debut, The Julian Hartwell Project returns with a bold, collaboration-heavy concept album with LYVELIFE, out March 12, 2021. Initially conceived as an EP and subsequently crowdfunded by a small but loyal fanbase, LYVELIFE has since morphed into the most ambitious undertaking yet from pianist, composer, & bandleader Julian Hartwell. With his working quintet as the underlying instrumental nexus, Hartwell features a finely-curated roster of special guests on LYVELIFE. Standout vocalists from the jny: Philadelphia ...
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“All the songs are originals and display a sophisticated sense of tradition and swing… Hartwell’s own touch on the piano is confident and clean..." -George Harris, JazzWeekly.com

“Hartwell is one of the young lions of jazz in the making...."Well worth a sample and repeated spins, The Julian Hartwell Project offers a splendid slice of straight ahead jazz delivered with a fresh new sound…a gifted pianist leading a group of young talented players in their first recording together, this is one musical project that begs for an encore.” -CD review of 'The Julian Hartwell Project' by Ed Blanco @ All About Jazz

Primary Instrument

Keyboards

Location

Philadelphia

Willing to teach

Beginner to advanced

Credentials/Background

Private Piano Teacher in Philadelphia area from 2007 on - Currently adjunct jazz piano instructor at Temple University. Proficient teaching jazz, rock, pop, blues, funk, gospel, etc. Standard Rate - $50 per hr/more depending on travel needs Focus on Fun, Improvisation, & Individual Needs...what does the student want out of Music, "Capital M" ? Technique serves as a gateway to Authentic Expression, not an end in itself. Bringing out the Potential in my Students...creating pathways to arrive at Mastery through Discipline AND Fun!