My Music
Circle of Trust
With a focus on jazz, electronic music, and gospel, Julian’s approach to composition and playing has been described as introspective and hopeful. Hailing from Chicago, Julian’s newest project is Circle of Trust, which is his original music inspired by the sonic worlds of Herbie Hancock, Ahmad Jamal, McCoy Tyner, and Robert Glasper. The Circle is multi-modal, blending music with other art forms.
Releases:
Candid EP (2023) - The Candid EP is my coming of age story as a solo artist, narrated from the piano. I wrote the song Candid sometime between 2016 and 2019 while I lived in Atlanta, long before I had a vision of being a professional solo artist. At the time, I was a seminary student who just wanted to write a tune that pushed my composition abilities on the piano. But God had so much more in mind. read more here
Notes of Rest EPs
In keeping with the theme of Notes of Rest, my ministry around restfulness in Scripture and Black music includes various musical releases.
Beside Still Waters (2024) - Released on Election Day 2024, Beside Still Waters: A Notes of Rest Offering is a solo piano album that meditatively walks through Psalm 23. The record principally intended to help people process the uncertainty of the election day given the charged nature of the contest between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris. No matter who would end up winning, I wanted to remind us all that God remains our shepherd and host. This is now doubly my hope given Trump is in office for a second term. Read the devotional series for each track.
Rest Assured (2021) - Rest Assured is an album of faith-filled music that God has written on my heart. I have offered the album to help you the listener rest assured. Amidst all of the pain and strife of our world, we need moments of rest. This collection of Negro spirituals, Anglophone hymns, and Taizé reminds us that the realm of God that Jesus inaugurated is one filled with good rest, one that we can live now despite it all. These are songs that I also play during his contemplative-musical ministry Notes of Rest, which is a series of concerts, lectures and retreats that help communities locate their restlessness and move towards the restfulness that God intended. This album, centered on Matthew 6:26-27, is an extension of that ministry. Read the devotional series for each track.
The JuJu Exchange
The JuJu Exchange is a musical partnership of three childhood friends from Chicago: Nico Segal, Julian Davis Reid and Nova Zaii. They create exploratory and nuanced music that call us all to wonder and trust. Their music, mostly instrumental, blends acoustic and digital instruments to further meaningful exchange among seemingly disparate cultures. They hope their music inspires the listener to participate in the kinds of exchange the world desperately needs. Learn more at thejujuexchange.com.
Collaborations with Others
Isaiah Collier and the Chosen Few - Parallel Universe (2023), The Almighty (2024), The World is on Fire (2024)
Peter Cottontale - Shoes on “Catch” (2020)
Jamila Woods - Wreckage Room on “Water Made Us” (2023)