Julie Sassoon

British pianist/composer Julie Sassoon is classically trained on piano and violin. She graduated in music and visual arts from Lancaster University in 1988, winning the university prize for piano performance, and later completed postgraduate studies in jazz piano and Indian violin at Leeds College of Music.

She came to the attention of critics and audiences in 2000, when she formed the remarkable Azilut! trio with Bart van Helsdingen (twice nominated Best Jazz Drummer in the Netherlands), and Lothar Ohlmeier (tenor and soprano saxophone, bass clarinet). They released their album “To The Power Of Three” in 2001 on the Babel Label. Azilut! has performed at major venues and festivals throughout the UK and Europe, receiving outstanding reviews.

​She has been a key member of ensembles including Piano Circus, the international contemporary music ensemble for six pianos; Inside Colours, a dynamic duo with Lothar Ohlmeier; Martha Lewis’s world music group - Café Aman,; Duo with accordionist Karen Street & Freefall with BBC New Generation Artist -Tom Arthurs (trpt) & Milo Fell (dr).

In 2006 she released the critically acclaimed solo piano album ‘New Life’ - on Babel Records, which was voted among the top ten favourite international albums in Jazzwise Magazine. The solo gig she shared with Oregon at the Queen Elizabeth Concert Hall in the London International Jazz Festival was described as ‘one of the most inspired pairings of the festival’ and received a 4 star Evening Standard review as well as an invitation to appear on BBC Radio’s famous ‘Woman’s Hour’. The concert was broadcast on Radio 3. In 2008 Julie enjoyed a successful solo piano tour, sharing a double bill with BBC Artist - Tom Arthurs (trpt) and his AHR trio. In the 2008 London Jazz Festival they teamed up for a BBC live concert, broadcast for Radio 3 ‘Jazz line up’.

Since her move to Berlin, Julie has formed some exciting new musical collaborations, including; ‘The Art of Duo’ with Israeli singer – Efrat Alony. They performed for a live broadcast at the RBB Sendesaal in Berlin; an improvising chamber music duo with saxophonist - Frank Paul Schubert; Sassoon/Ohlmeier/Arthurs Trio; Sassoon/Thiele Duo with percussionist Nora Thiele; House of Mirrors - with Peter van Huffel, Sophie Tassignon, Miles Perkin, amongst others.

​In April 2013 Julie will be releasing a new live solo CD – entitled ‘Land of Shadows’ on the Berlin Jazzwerkstatt Label. This music explores her German-Jewish identity - a theme that has become a prominent part of her artistic work since her move from London to Berlin in 2009.

RBB Kulturradio recorded and broadcasted her concert at the Neue Synagoge, Berlin – (part of her Spring 2012 German Tour). Performances at the Bauhaus, Dessau and the Loft in Cologne are also included on the CD. The result is a highly emotive and unique album. Show less