Justin Kauflin

Justin Kauflin

Justin Kauflin on Quincy Jones' 2013 World Tour
Background information
Born (1986-03-10) March 10, 1986
Silver Spring, Maryland, U.S.
Genres Jazz
Occupation(s) Musician
Instruments Piano
Years active 2001–present
Labels Qwest, Harmonia Mundi/Jazz Village
Associated acts Clark Terry, Quincy Jones, Mulgrew Miller
Website 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. As a child he learned classical music on violin and piano. Starting at the age of six, he was performing in concerts, nursing homes, and weddings, eventually becoming concertmaster for several orchestras.

When Kauflin was eleven, he lost his eyesight due to 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 John Tommey, a professor of jazz at Old Dominion University. In jazz festivals throughout the U.S. he received top honors and began performing professionally at the age of fifteen with the Jae Sinnett Trio.

In 2004 Kauflin graduated 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 the university, his mentor was Clark Terry, and he played in the Clark Terry Ensemble. He was also influenced by Harold Mabern, Mulgrew Miller, and James Williams.

In 2008 he moved to New York City and at age 23 produced, led, composed, and performed on his first album, Introducing Justin Kauflin.[5]

Kauflin's relationship with Clark Terry was depicted in the documentary Keep On Keepin' On,[6] [7] which made its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival April 2014 and won both Heineken Audience and Best New Documentary Director Awards.[3] Kauflin is credited for the film score with Dave Grusin.[8]

Beginning in 2011, Kauflin performed with his own trio, as well as the Jae Sinnett Trio, in clubs in Virginia and 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 was hired by Quincy Jones.[9] From 2013–2014 he was part of Jones's world tour in Switzerland, France, Korea, and Japan. He worked with Jones on the album Dedication (2015).[10] Following the release, his trio performed in festivals, concerts, and clubs in Europe and America.

In 2015, Kauflin participated in the commemorative album Oscar, With Love, a collection of previously unrecorded songs written by jazz pianist Oscar Peterson.[11]

Discography

As leader


As sideman

References

  1. ↑ Naser, Paul and Reyes, Dan Michael (April 6, 2015). "6 Young Pianist You Should Know About". Revive Music.
  2. ↑ Ollison, Rashod (November 17, 2014). "Jazz Master, Virginia Beach Protege Inspire New Film". The Virginian-Pilot.
  3. 1 2 Shattuck, Kathryn (28 September 2014). "Something in Common With His Mentor". New York Times. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
  4. ↑ Stoll, Barbara (November 22, 2014). "Justin Kauflin: Bringing Joy through Jazz". William Paterson Magazine.
  5. ↑ Lang, Joe (May 2010). "Introducing Justin Kauflin Review, p 32" (PDF). Jersey Jazz.
  6. ↑ Friend, Tad (November 3, 2014). "Protege". The New Yorker.
  7. ↑ trandall517 (April 19, 2014). "Keep on Keepin' On (2014)". IMDb. Retrieved February 15, 2015.
  8. ↑ King, Susan (September 19, 2014). "Fate has a starring role in Keep On Keepin' On". LA Times.
  9. ↑ Barbour, Clayton (February 16, 2014). "Justin Kauflin: Finding His Voice". Distinction Magazine.
  10. ↑ Zimmerman, Brian (January 2015). "Editors' Picks". DownBeat Magazine.
  11. ↑ "Oscar, With Love". Oscar, With Love.
  12. ↑ Bilawsky, Dan (February 1, 2011). "Introducing Justin Kauflin". All About Jazz.
  13. ↑ Lake, Marvin (March 19, 2010). "Introducing Justin Kauflin". The Virginian-Pilot.
  14. ↑ "Downbeat Review of Dedication". www.downbeat.com.
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