Julian Argüelles

Julian Argüelles (born 28 January 1966) is an English jazz saxophonist.

He is best known for his work during the 1980s and '90s with the ensemble Loose Tubes. Argüelles has also worked extensively as a solo performer and with American and European musicians. His music combines British contemporary jazz infused with Spanish rhythms, South African grooves, brass band and classical influences. He was awarded a fellowship from the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire for his services to jazz in 2017 and received a Parliamentary Jazz Award (2016) for his album Let It Be Told.

Life and career

Born in Lichfield, Staffordshire, Argüelles was raised in Birmingham. He is the younger brother of the jazz drummer Steve Argüelles. His first album, Phaedrus, included pianist John Taylor. The second, Home Truths, was a quartet which included Steve Swallow. As Above So Below was a large scale work for jazz and classical musicians with the 20 piece Trinity College of Music String Ensemble. The album evolved from a commission that was performed in Saint Wendreda's Church in March, Cambridgeshire in the Fens.

He was commissioned by BBC Radio 3 to write 60 minutes of music for an octet. It was performed and recorded at Bath International Music Festival in May 1996.

He has taught at the KUG Jazz Institute in Graz, Austria, York University, Royal Academy of Music, and Guildhall School of Music and Drama.

Discography As leader Phaedrus (Ah Um, 1990) Home Truths (Babel, 1995) Scapes (Babel, 1996) Skull View (Babel, 1997) Escapade (Provocateur, 1999) As Above So Below (Provocateur, 2003) Partita (Basho, 2006) Momenta (Basho, 2009) Inner Voices (Tone of a Pitch, 2009) Circularity (CAM Jazz, 2014) Let It Be Told (Basho, 2015) Tetra (Whirlwind, 2015) The Behemoth (Edition, 2017) Setembro (Edition, 2017) Tonadas (Edition, 2018)

As sideman With Django Bates Summer Fruits (and Unrest) (JMT, 1993) Winter Truce (and Homes Blaze) (JMT, 1995) With Mário Laginha

Hoje (Farol Música, 1994)

With Carla Bley Big Band Theory (1993) The Carla Bley Big Band Goes to Church (1996)

With Andy Sheppard Rhythm Method (Blue Note International, 1993)

With Loose Tubes Delightful Precipice (1986) Open Letter (1988)

With Kenny Wheeler

Music for Large and Small Ensembles (ECM, 1990)

The Long Waiting (2012) With Samo Salamon Nano (Goga, 2006) Unity (Samo Records, 2016) The Colours Suite (Clean Feed Records, 2017)