Julian Davis Reid is a pianist, producer, and composer with a focus on jazz, electronic music, and gospel. His style has been described as introspective, prayerful, and hopeful. Hailing from Chicago, Julian’s newest project is Circle of Trust, which is his original music drawing from the sonic worlds of Herbie Hancock, Ahmad Jamal, and Robert Glasper. His latest release is his debut solo artist release, Candid EP.

Julian is a founding member of the jazz-electronic fusion group The JuJu Exchange (in partnership with Grammy Award-trumpeter Nico Segal and drummer-inventor Nova Zaii). The band has released singles and records to critical acclaim on Spotify and Downbeat, and has performed around the country, including at Today at Apple, Microsoft, San Francisco Jazz Fest, Le Poisson Rouge, and Chicago Jazz Fest. Their newest release out is the sonic medicine project JazzRx.

Julian also collaborates with saxophonist Isaiah Collier. A member of Isaiah Collier & The Chosen Few, he has recorded at Brownswood Recordings in London (Gilles Peterson) and has played some of Europe’s and North America’s top jazz festivals and clubs, including Ronnie Scott’s, Porgy & Bess in Vienna, the Berlin Jazz Festival, the Frankfurt Jazz Festival, and Montreal Jazz Festival. Their newest record out is the blended soul-jazz project called Parallel Universe.

In the hip-hop world, Julian collaborates with Grammy Award winner Peter CottonTale on his gospel/hip-hop projects, including a performance at Lollapaolooza as his Musical Director. Julian has shared the stage with Chance the Rapper and Jennifer Hudson, and has worked in the studio with Tank and the Bangas and Derrick Hodge. Julian also has collaborated with the Uniting Voices Chicago (formerly Chicago Children’s Choir), Ayanna Woods, and Tramaine Parker. Julian has served as musical director at several churches, and has shared the stage with Tiff Joy.

In addition to performing, Julian hosts musical-contemplative workshops and retreats called Notes of Rest. This project interweaves his solo piano work with meditations on Scripture for the sake of helping communities rest. Julian hosts Notes of Rest at churches and universities around North America. 

As mentioned, his main musical influences include Herbie Hancock, McCoy Tyner, Wynton Kelly, Robert Glasper, Richard Smallwood, and Andraé Crouch, and his formal training happened at Whitney Young High School, Merit School of Music, and Yale University (B.A.). His master’s (M.Div.) degree in Scripture, Theology and the Arts is from Candler School of Theology at Emory University. Julian lives with his wife and daughter in Chicago.