Julian Smith (saxophonist)
Julian Smith | |
---|---|
Also known as | Joolz Gianni |
Born | Sony Music | 21 April 1969
Website | juliansmithsax |
Julian Smith (born 21 April 1969 from
Early life and education
Julian Smith is a native of Birmingham, England.[3] His father was a music teacher, which allowed Smith to learn a variety of instruments as a child, including the clarinet.[4] He attended the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire (then Birmingham School of Music / Birmingham Conservatoire) where he studied bassoon as his first study instrument with second study saxophone.[4] He graduated with distinction in 1991.[5] After graduating from the Conservatoire, Smith focused more on the saxophone.[4]
Career
Early career
Early in his career, Smith held teaching jobs with both Sandwell College and Cheltenham College.[6] He also made guest appearances on records for Tony Hadley, and Hamish Stuart and performed live on national television with acts like Chris Rea, M People, and Dina Carroll.[7][8] In 1993, Smith formed a band[9] and eventually began operating under the stage name Joolz Gianni. Some of his tracks were featured on Sony Music's Classic Chillout compilation series from between 2001 and 2003.[10][11][12][13] In 2003, he released a solo album as Joolz Gianni entitled Chilled 2 the Sax,[7] which featured Acker Bilk, Dina Carroll, and Ola Onabule.[14] After releasing his album Throughout This Time, he continued teaching music privately[3] and playing small gigs.[3][15]
Britain's Got Talent
In April 2009, Smith first appeared on an episode of the third series of Britain's Got Talent.[16][17] During the audition round, he performed a version of "Somewhere" from the musical, West Side Story, on soprano saxophone.[18][19] The audition received a standing ovation from the audience and praise from judges Simon Cowell,[20] Piers Morgan, and Amanda Holden.[18][20][21] Smith was subsequently chosen to be among the 40 semi-finalists who would perform live in May 2009.[15][22][23] During his semi-final performance, Smith played a rendition of "All by Myself" and advanced to the final round by winning the public vote.[24] For the final round on 30 May 2009,[25] he played another rendition of "Somewhere,"[3] receiving around 700,000 votes[6](16.4% of the total vote) and placing as the second runner-up behind singer Susan Boyle and winning dance troupe Diversity.[3][5][25] Smith later performed alongside the other 9 finalists on the nationwide Britain's Got Talent live tour in June 2009.[26][27]
Post-Britain's Got Talent
In the ensuing years, Smith released several albums through Big Bear Records,[28] including Somewhere[7] and Christmas Songs and Lullabies (both in 2010).[28] That year, he played a headlining gig at the Birmingham International Jazz and Blues Festival,[10] was featured on the charitable single "The Prayer" for Classical Relief for Haiti,[10][29] and toured with The Stylistics.[10][30] He also performed a duet with Kenny G at the Royal Albert Hall and played for Prince Charles at Clarence House.[28][31] In 2011, he went on a 48-date tour throughout the United Kingdom,[28] and in 2012, he toured with Diversity on their "Digitized" tour.[32] Smith continued touring throughout 2013,[33] including a show with the winner of the first series of The X Factor, Steve Brookstein.[34]
In 2015, he independently released a new album, Wonderful World.[5] In 2017, he toured the United States and Canada before returning to England where he performed a new concert series at St. Stephen's Church in Redditch.[35] On New Year's Eve in 2020, Smith started a Zoom-based concert series. The shows, which are virtual due to the COVID-19 pandemic, feature various young performers playing multiple genres of music. Proceeds from the events were donated to the National Health Service.[36]
Personal life
Smith has two children with his wife Iraz[3] and said that he entered Britain's Got Talent to "make life better for them".[37]
Discography
Studio album
Name | Year | Label |
---|---|---|
Chilled 2 the Sax (as Joolz Gianni) | 2003 (UK) | Sony |
Take a Breath[38] | 2009 (UK) | Big Bear Records |
Somewhere[39] | 2010 (UK) | Big Bear Records |
Ibiza Summer Sax[38] | 2010 (UK) | Big Bear Records |
Christmas Songs & Lullabies[40] | 2010 (UK) | Big Bear Records |
Wonderful World[39] | 2015 (UK) | Independent |
At The Movies[41] | 2017 (UK) | Independent |
Compilation appearances
Name | Year | Label |
---|---|---|
The Classic Chillout Album | 2001 | Sony Music Entertainment
|
The Classic Chillout Album 2 | 2001 | Columbia Records |
The New Classic Chillout Album | 2002 | Sony Music Entertainment |
Open Space - The Classic Chillout Album 2 | 2002 | Columbia Records |
References
- ^ "Joolz Gianni". Platinum Live. Archived from the original on 11 June 2009. Retrieved 1 June 2009.
- ^ "Birmingham sax player Julian Smith comes third in Britain's Got Talent". Birmingham Post. 31 May 2009. Archived from the original on 13 March 2012. Retrieved 31 May 2009.
- ^ a b c d e f "Britain's Got Talent finalist Julian returns to hometown Halesowen". Halesowen News. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
- ^ a b c "Julian Smith: Sax sensation". ITV. 23 May 2009. Archived from the original on 26 January 2010. Retrieved 31 May 2009.
- ^ a b "Halesowen Britain's Got Talent star performing in Bilston". Halesowen News. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
- ^ a b "Halesowen Britain's Got Talent star performing in Bilston". Halesowen News. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
- ^ a b c "Julian Smith on Britain's Got Talent: Where is he now 10 years later?". Smooth. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
- ^ "Britain's Got Talent star to play in Bromsgrove". Worcester News. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
- ^ "This sax man has got talent". Echo. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
- ^ a b c d Live, Birmingham (16 July 2010). "Music: Festival has sax appeal". BirminghamLive. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
- ^ The Classic Chillout Album (A Collection Of Classics For A Modern World) (2001, CD), retrieved 12 May 2021
- ^ Open Space - The Classic Chillout Album 3 (2003, CD), retrieved 12 May 2021
- ^ "Various - The Classic Chillout Album 2". Discogs. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
- ^ Joolz Gianni – Chilled 2 The Sax (2003, CD), retrieved 12 May 2021
- ^ a b Tyler, Jane (22 April 2009). "Britain's Got Talent saxophonist Julian Smith from Birmingham wows judges". BirminghamLive. Retrieved 19 May 2021.
- ^ Tyler, Jane (22 April 2009). "Britain's Got Talent saxophonist Julian Smith from Birmingham wows judges". BirminghamLive. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
- ^ Julian Smith (Saxophone Player) - Audition #1 - Britains Got Talent 2009 HIGH QUALITY, archived from the original on 20 December 2021, retrieved 22 May 2021
- ^ a b Fletcher, Alex (17 April 2009). "Saxophone player reduces Holden to tears". Digital Spy. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
- ^ "Boyle beat the odds, but can she beat oddities?". TODAY.com. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
- ^ a b "Julian Smith: Sax sensation - Britain's Got Talent - Story". 26 January 2010. Archived from the original on 26 January 2010. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
- ^ Joolz Gianni – Chilled 2 The Sax (2003, CD), retrieved 22 May 2021
- ^ "Julian's sax appeal on Britain's Got Talent tonight". www.expressandstar.com. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
- ^ Live, Birmingham (28 May 2009). "Britain's Got Talent: Birmingham saxophonist Julian Smith in semi final". BirminghamLive. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
- ^ French, Dan (28 May 2009). "Julian Smith, 2 Grand make 'BGT' final". Digital Spy. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
- ^ a b Collett-White, Mike (31 May 2009). "Diversity "gobsmacked" by UK TV talent show win". Reuters. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
- ^ "The 26 show dates of Britain's Got Talent – The Live Tour 2009". www.telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
- ISBN 978-0-230-28460-9, retrieved 22 May 2021
- ^ a b c d "See sax star Smith - Matlock Mercury". 1 May 2017. Archived from the original on 1 May 2017. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
- ^ "Classical Relief for Haiti". Classic FM. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
- ^ Live, North Wales (11 February 2011). "Former Britain's Got Talent star Julian Smith comes to Rhyl". North Wales Live. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
- ^ "BGT saxophonist comes to Blakedown for VE Day celebration". Kidderminster Shuttle. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
- ^ "All Street Dance Diversity Digitized DVD: Trapped In A Game Live Tour 2012 released 19 November [Trailer] - All Street Dance". 6 July 2018. Archived from the original on 6 July 2018. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
- ^ "This sax man has got talent". Echo. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
- ISSN 1556-5068.
- ^ "Top saxophonist launching concerts in Redditch". Redditch Standard. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
- ^ "Mixcloud". Mixcloud. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
- ^ "Britain's got sax appeal - Britain's Got Talent - Story". 2 February 2010. Archived from the original on 2 February 2010. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
- ^ a b "Take a Breath". music.apple.com. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
- ^ a b "Julian Smith on Britain's Got Talent: Where is he now 10 years later?". Smooth. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
- ^ Gibbons, Brett (11 December 2010). "Simon Cowell accused of almost killing the career of Britain's Got Talent star Julian Smith". BirminghamLive. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
- ^ "Shop | Julian Smith". Retrieved 13 May 2021.
External links
- Official website
- Joolz Gianni at AllMusic
- Joolz Gianni at Discogs