justin kauflin - Music Works International

JUSTIN
KAUFLIN
“His compositions radiate an honesty and passion that
are only shadowed by his spirit. Humble as he may
be, dude can play...” REVIVE MUSIC
“He’s a monster on the piano! And, one of the
greatest people I know.” CLARK TERRY
“Kauflin’s strengths are a concern for touch and dynamics, a willingness to explore
harmonic depth, swing, and a romantic’s experiential hunger toward repertory. Kauflin
can take a simple motif like the Beatles’ “A Day in the Life” and make a swinging
concerto out of it.” THE NEW YORK TIMES
Pianist Justin Kauflin musical life began with classical studies on violin and piano. From age six, he performed concerts,
eventually becoming concertmaster for several orchestras. Along the way, Justin also started to lose his vision, until he
was totally sightless. Not to be deterred, he developed a love for jazz, eventually receiving a scholarship to study at William
Paterson University, where he came under the guidance of Harold Mabern and Clark Terry. Kauflin’s style embodies without being derivative - the ‘’quiet fire’’ lyricism of Bill Evans (whom Kauflin credits as his ‘’biggest influence at age
14’’), the nimble and mercurial qualities of Bud Powell, the genial melodiousness of Herbie Hancock and a bit of Dave
Brubeck’s gregarious percussiveness.
MUSIC WORKS INTERNATIONAL
Katherine McVicker
[email protected] Tel: +01 781 300 7580 Fax: +01 781 942 8858 www.musicworksinternational.com
As Justin found himself going blind, he was undeterred and adjusted by learning 5 grades of Braille, cane mobility and,
after a decade of classical violin and piano, switched to jazz piano at the Governor’s School for Performing Arts. He
studied with Liz Barnes, Woody Beckner, Chris Brydge, Jeff Smith, Jae Sinnett and ODU jazz professor, John Toomey; he
attended the Vail Jazz Workshop, Betty Carter’s Jazz Ahead Residency, and received top honors in jazz festivals across
the U.S. He began performing jazz professionally at age 15, most notably with the Jae Sinnett Trio.
By 2011, the Justin Kauflin Trio was headlining regularly at Havana Nights Jazz Club in Virginia Beach, where he also
served as House Pianist. He performed around the country with his own trio or with the Jae Sinnett Trio, won the VSA
International Young Soloist Award; was voted “Jazz Artist of the Year” in VEER Magazine, and selected as semifinalist
in the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Piano Competition. Justin was also signed by legendary producer and music
icon, Quincy Jones, for management, and in 2013 and 2014, was part of Quincy Jones’ World Tours which traveled to
Montreux, Switzerland; Vienne, France; Seoul, Korea; Tokyo and HIroshima, Japan. His debut album for Jazz Village,
DEDICATION was released January 2015 and debuted at #6 on CMJ Jazz chart, #10 on Billboard’s Traditional Jazz
Chart, hit #1 on JazzWeek’s chart and remained in the top 10 spot for 9 straight weeks.
Kauflin is also the subject of the award-winning documentary “Keep On Keepin’ On”, which chronicles his mentorship
and friendship with the legendary musician and teacher Clark Terry. The film won Best New Documentary Director and
the Heineken Audience Award at New York’s prestigious Tribeca Film Festival and the Audience Award at the Boulder Film
Festival.
JUSTIN KAUFLIN on MWI  | JUSTINKAUFLIN.COM  | VIDEO PAGE 
MUSIC WORKS INTERNATIONAL
Katherine McVicker
[email protected] Tel: +01 781 300 7580 Fax: +01 781 942 8858 www.musicworksinternational.com