Julien Kasper


Julien Kasper is an American jazz fusion and blues rock guitarist and professor at Berklee College of Music in Boston. He is recognized for his instrumental recordings as a bandleader and his work as a sideman in the blues, rock, and jazz fusion genres.

Education and influences

Kasper holds a Bachelor of Music in Jazz and Studio Performance from the University of Miami and a Master of Music in Jazz Studies from the University of North Texas. His musical influences include Jimi Hendrix, Jeff Beck, John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Wes Montgomery, B. B. King, Eric Clapton, and Bill Evans.

Career

Kasper began his professional music career in the late 1970s as a member of the blues-rock band Crosscut Saw in Tallahassee, Florida. During his studies at the University of Miami, he was a member of the group IKO-IKO, the house band at Tobacco Road in Miami. Before moving to Boston, he was active in the music scene in Austin, Texas.
In an April 2010 review, Vintage Guitar described Kasper as ‘one of the most imaginative composers and players working with the guitar today. His 2003 album Flipping Time received praise for its blend of funk and jazz.
He is a professor in the guitar department at Berklee College of Music. He has performed at various international festivals, including Nattjazz in Bergen, and the Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival. In 2023, he released his most recent studio album. The self-titled release features drummer Zac Casher and bassist Jesse Williams, with guest appearances by pianist Daniela Schächter and Hammond B3 organist Matt Jenson. His style on the 2010 album Trance Groove has been described as a mix of jazz improvisation and 1970s rock influence.

Discography

  • 1982: Mad Bad and Dangerous to Know – Crosscut Saw
  • 1995: It's About Time – Pat Ramsey
  • 1997: Mississippi Moan – Bruce Katz Band
  • 1998: Journey – Mighty Sam McClain
  • 1999: Soul Surviver – Mighty Sam McClain
  • 2000: Three Feet Off The Ground – Bruce Katz Band
  • 2003: Flipping Time – Julien Kasper
  • 2006: The New Imperial – Julien Kasper Band
  • 2010: Trance Groove – Julien Kasper Band
  • 2013: Painting on Silence – Andrea Balestra
  • 2023: Julien Kasper – Julien Kasper
  • 2024: Live at the Boston Harbor Distillery – '''Julien Kasper Band'''