Saxophonist Julian Argüelles has been internationally recognised for his work with a whole range of musicians, such as with the bands of Carla Bley, Mike Gibbs, Kenny Wheeler, EvanParker, Andy Sheppard and Django Bates and his own work with various line ups three of which were recorded for Babel in the 1990s.
Born in Birmingham in 1966, Julian moved to London in 1984 and later became a member of the big band Loose Tubes, where many of the new major talents of British jazz began to make their names, such as Django Bates, Iain Ballamy and, of course, Julian's brother, Steve. The links with these musicians continue today, with, for example, Julian being a member of his brother's band and of Django's big band, Delightful Precipice.
The first album by Julian Argüelles , 'Phaedrus' on the ah-um label, represented the first blossoming of Julian's precocious talent, alongside pianist John Taylor. The second CD 'Home Truths' on Babel, with a quartet using the leading bass player Steve Swallow.
He has been widely acclaimed, being chosen as Jazz CD of the Week in the Guardian newspaper, and a CD of the year by the Independent on Sunday. The BBC Music Magazine praised it as 'one of the most exciting UK jazz albums of recent years.'
In 1996, a BBC commission has premiered at the BathInternational Festival, for an extended band including Django Bates, and pianist Mario Laginha.
Now resident in Scotland and Germany (as a member of the HR Big Band) and with a vast international reputation, these Babel albums are still widely thought to be among his most creative explorations currently on CD.
'Superbly burbling saxophone. A true star.' (Phil Johnson, The Independent on Sunday)
'It's good to find a record that does justice to British saxophonist Julian Argüelles' extraordinary talents. Julian plays to his lyrical, passionate and highly individual best on soprano and tenor.' (Linton Chiswick, Time Out)
'Shaping up as the finest of all the current crop' (Dave Gelly, Observer)
'Julian Argüelles is not simply a saxophone improviser of distinctive lyricism and laid back power, he's a composer of tunes with such unexpected zigzags to their melodies they're becoming immediately recognizable as his.' (John Fordham, The Guardian)
'Argüelles has emerged as one of the most consistently absorbing of the players to come of the new British jazz surge.' (Kenny Mathieson, The List)
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