Justin Kauflin


Justin Kauflin is an American jazz pianist, composer, educator and record producer.

Career

Justin Kauflin 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. 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 Toomey, 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. 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 and Mulgrew Miller.
In 2008 he moved to New York City and at age 23 produced, led, composed, and performed on his first album, Introducing Justin Kauflin.
Kauflin's relationship with Clark Terry was depicted in the documentary Keep On Keepin' On, which made its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival April 2014 and won both Heineken Audience and Best New Documentary Director Awards. Kauflin is credited for the film score with Dave Grusin. Keep On Keepin' On won the Tribeca Film Festival Audience Award.
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. From 2013 to 2014 he was part of Jones's world tour in Switzerland, France, Korea, and Japan. He worked with Jones on the album Dedication. Following the release, his trio performed in festivals, concerts, and clubs in Europe and America.
Since the release of Keep On Keepin' On Justin has gone on to record on 13 more albums, six of those as leader or co-leader - Silent Night, Coming Home, Synesthesia, Standards, and his first live recording Justin Kauflin Trio Live at Sam First and the single, Flow Freely.
In 2015, Kauflin participated in the commemorative album Oscar, With Love, a collection of previously unrecorded songs written by jazz pianist Oscar Peterson.
After completing an extensive CD release world tour for Coming Home, he recorded music for separate projects that have been put on hold. In 2021, Justin collaborated with Jacob Collier on the documentary Reflection - A Walk with Water as well as the theme song, Flow Freely. He also completed original film score for My Sister Liv, produced by Al Hicks and Paula DuPre Pesman.

Discography

As leader

  • Introducing Justin Kauflin
  • Justin Kauflin Live at The Edye Broad Stage EP
  • Dedication
  • Synesthesia
  • Silent Night
  • Coming Home
  • Christmas Candy EP
  • Flow Freely Jacob Collier/Justin Kauflin
  • Justin Kauflin Trio Live at Sam First
  • ''Danish Rain''

As sideman

  • Frank Hauch
  • Sinnett Hearings
  • Equilibrium
  • An Evening with the Jae Sinnett Trio DVD
  • Roxy Coss
  • Theatre
  • Old School Loyalty
  • Still Standing
  • This Just In
  • See Dream Blues
  • CT and WP: A Perfect Match
  • When Trees Speak
  • Subject to Change
  • Keep On Keepin' On Soundtrack
  • Safe in Sound
  • Oscar, with Love
  • The Better Angels of Our Nature
  • Offbeat
  • Codex
  • Americana Groove Project
  • Sharing
  • Crossing the Water
  • Sun Song
  • Acceptance
  • After | Life
  • ''BeeDubyah''

Original film scores

  • Keep On Keepin' On
  • Meet Kandice
  • Meaningful Connections
  • Caring for Families
  • Community of Care
  • Continuing the Care
  • Delivering Care During Covid
  • Care Makes a Difference
  • Continuing the Care
  • Meet Antonio and His Mom
  • Reflection - A Walk with Water
  • My Sister Liv
  • 12 Notes on Life and Creativity
  • ''Nespresso Unforgettable Taste''

Film music contributions

  • Blue's Big City Adventure
  • Full Circle
  • ''12 Notes on Life and Creativity''