Music
The best kept secret in music
Press
"His voice is two parts whiskey, one part Waits, and a wondrous gift; going from whispered pain to venomous spew at the drop of an octave. And when it gets happy, you remember what made you listen to music in the first place. Surrounding himself with first-class musicians who can create the perfect environment for his emotional storytelling, it’s old, it’s new, it’s always a trip worth taking…" - Live at The Village Vanguard
"His compositions indicate clearly that he is a composer/orchestrator of eminent individuality. He is also an extraordinary vocalist and pianist. In fact I have
no doubt that Velard is the substance that geniuses are made of.."
- Grammy Winning Composer
"I am certain that Julian Velard one day will be a superstar. His songs are perfect and passionate with intelligent lyrics that paint vivid pictures of human nature and behavior… His talents lie in his booming vocals that captivate you from the start, his ability to change styles and forms and his musical ear, which grows and grows." - 2Walls.com
"Velard's carefully crafted music falls squarely in the pop category. His repertoire includes an unnerving interpretation of "The Way You Make Me Feel" that hints at what the song might have been if Michael Jackson were an unsung barroom musician in New Orleans" - The New Yorker
"Piano-man Velard has a deep, rich voice that seems to be seeking to bring classic pop genres back to the masses. Don’t think Connick, think early Joel..." - Andrew Aber
“Julian Velard has the voice, the songs, the imagination! The goods in other words. This guy could reach a lot of people!” - Greg Burk
Discography
Current Discography:
2003 Make Me Feel (Live)
2003 Nitetime
2001 Songs for My Sister
On the Radio:
Radio Promotion by The Planetary Group in Boston
Tracks from Nitetime currently being played on College and AAA stations including
New York: WFNP, WICB, WNYO, WCDB, WFSH, WCYF, WSBU, WRPW
Mass: WMLN, WCCS, WRBB, WBTY, WCCH, WCHC, WBRS
Conn: WECS, WRTC, WSAM, WVOF
Rhode Island: WDOM, WNYO
Vermont: WGOR, WIUV, WRMC, WWPV
New Jersey: WNTI, WBZC, WRLC
New Hampshire: WKNH, WDCR
...and more
Photos
Feeling a bit camera shy
Bio
Native New Yorker (and part-time pre-k phys ed. teacher) Julian Velard has been called a lot of names - singer, songwriter, crooner, piano man, jazzman, ladies man. The twenty-four year old artist has many personalities, yet it is the one of passionate storyteller that has won over the NYC music scene, attracting fans young and old alike, children of all ages. Velards career got its start at Hampshire College, where his songs captured the attention of Yusef Lateef, legendary musician and composer. Lateef took Velard under his wing and sent him to Paris to study with Jazz Pianist Kirk Lightsey (The Leaders, Dexter Gordon, Chet Baker). Lateef graduated his student with the opening slot of his retirement show at The University of Massachusetts. Upon returning to NYC in 2001, Velard rekindled his first love, Pop Music. He formed an unorthodox six-piece group of trumpet (Jeff Pierce), violin (Roland Satterwhite), bass (Daniel Arnow), drums (Mark Frankel) and percussion (Yoshi Takemasa) to give his music a unique flavor. They recorded his debut CD Nitetime in two short days, a Jazz aesthetic prevailing. Nitetime was released in early 2003 to critical acclaim. The Bands changing sound, and growing fan base, demanded a follow-up. Make Me Feel 3.27.03 is a live record, a courageous step for a second album. Released in late 2003, Make Me Feel finds Velard and his band in rare form - Bruce Buschels liner notes say it best: Jazz, pop, Beatles, blues, Broadway, alt rock, progressive this and conventional that. You can hear it all in this one set, like some musical master class, where Overdubbing and studio Razzmatazz have been jettisoned in favor of One Take Wonders.
Links
