Julian Douglas has been a student of rhythm since he was 5 years old. As a child he was immersed in awareness of rhythm by his father who was also a musician. Influences from this age included artists like Chick Corea, Billy Cobham, Herbie Hancock, Earth Wind & Fire, Parliament, Bootsy Collins, Cameo, and The Brothers Johnson
Julian later took an interest in global percussion and world music traditions. Because of his early jazz fusion and western popular music background, this interest took the form of de – construction. The fundamental idea was that rhythm traditions share a common foundation. Through the study and analysis of the material commonly played in these traditions, a deeper understanding of the nuances of rhythm can be gained for synthesis and use in authentic creative music. While Julian’s work pays homage to the traditions, it does not seek to be traditional.
Professionally, Julian has been recording, performing, and teaching in a limited capacity since the early 90’s.
Quotes, Musings and thoughts
“I believe God reveals himself to musicians (and sometimes others if they listen) through music. I am inspired by the sound of one note and the sound of silence. I am inspired to be the transparent instrument of creation because that music is the very voice of God. Music is like a microcosm of creation itself. Our relationships, our psyche, our society can be understood with greater clarity through seeing ourselves as musical beings where listening is as important a skill as any other. Through music, we have a greater understanding of harmony, communication, sensuality, passion, compassion, honesty, sincerity, expression, and an experiential appreciation of the idea that we are never the true source of creation but are blessed beyond comprehension to be the vehicle through which creation manifests. That experience as much as any other is Love itself. That kind of Love is unencumbered by intellectual symbols, emotional infatuations, and petty human frailties. It is an immersive experience that can not be described or forgotten. It’s Love in as pure a form as I have ever known. That is what inspires me.”
” Over the last couple of years I have really been taken with the idea of trying to re-integrate spirituality with music. I heard a baptist shout choir (mostly brass, a little percussion) in North Carolina a couple of years ago and I was struck by the musical similarities (structural, intentional, and cultural) with certain African musical traditions as well as sufi traditions and others that never fully reduced music merely to the realm of entertainment. The thing about this music is that it’s that experiential, inspirational “voice of God” thing that I was talking about earlier. If music can give you goosebumps, if it can make you cry tears of joy, if it can bring you out of a place of smallness and misery and lift you up and truly INSPIRE, well I want to do more of that. Because the world hungers (as do I) for a depth of experience that reminds us that there is more… This experience is too rare. “