# Justin Kauflin was signed by legendary producer and music icon: Video

- Link: https://jazzblues.eu/2018/03/10/justin-kauflin/
- Published: 2018-03-10T00:04:40+01:00
- Author: https://JazzBlues.EU

**10.03. – Happy Birthday !!! Born in Silver Spring, MD, Justin Kauflin began music
at age 4 with Suzuki violin, adding piano a few years later. By age 6, he was performing
professionally. ​**

However, he also endured numerous trials, particularly losing total vision from 
exudative retinopathy by age 11. He adjusted by learning 5 grades of Braille, cane
mobility and, after a decade of classical violin and piano, switched to jazz piano
in high school at the Governor’s School for Performing Arts studying with Liz Barnes
and Old Dominion University’s 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. ​

In 2004, Justin graduated at the top of both classes alongside his sighted peers
at Salem High and the Governor’s School, receiving a Presidential scholarship to
attend William Paterson University in New Jersey. At WPU, he was taken under the
wings of legendary trumpeter, Clark Terry and was a member in the Clark Terry Ensemble.
He also had the tremendous privilege of learning from his hero, the late Mulgrew
Miller, as well as Harold Mabern and the late James Williams. He graduated summa
cum laude in 2008, moved to NYC and, at age 23 produced, led, composed and performed
on his first CD, Introducing Justin Kauflin. ​

In NYC, he was hit with the realization that “visionless independent mobility” is
painstakingly slow at best and life-threatening at worst, leading him to The Seeing
Eye in NJ & training 24/7 for a month with a black lab named Candy. ​

In 2011, he relocated to Virginia Beach where the Justin Kauflin Trio headlined 
regularly at Havana Nights Jazz Club, and where he also served as House Pianist.
He performed around the country; won the VSA International Young Soloist Award; 
was voted “Jazz Artist of the Year” in VEER Magazine; and selected as semifinalist
in the prestigious Thelonious Monk International Jazz Piano Competition. ​ ​

Simultaneously during this time, Justin’s relationship with mentor Clark Terry was
being chronicled by friend and fellow musician, Al Hicks. Five years in the making,
the resultant documentary, Keep On Keepin’ On, won numerous awards and made the 
Oscar’s Short List. Justin is also credited for its filmscore along with veteran
Dave Grusin. ​

Subsequently, Justin was signed by legendary producer and music icon, Quincy Jones
for management, and in 2013 and 2014, was part of Quincy Jones’ World Tours. ​

In addition to promoting Keep On Keepin’ On across the country, Justin worked with
Quincy Jones on his second full-length CD and debut album for Jazz Village. His 
personnel included once again Billy Williams and Etan Haziza, Chris Smith and Matt
Stevens. 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. The Justin Kauflin Trio followed up with
two European Tours and several stateside tours. ​

​Since May 2016, Justin relocated to NYC, worked on several independent projects
as well as tour Europe with either his trio or as solo artist. His Trio’s 2017 European
Tour included Norway, Sweden, Austria, Belgium, Great Britain, Germany, Czech Republic,
Poland, and the Netherlands; followed by performances in Jakarta, Indonesia.

2017 also found Justin recorded multiple CD projects, including his own which expects
release in 2018: Brian McCarthy’s “The Better Angels of our Nature” and “Codex”,
Katie Thiroux’s “Offbeat,” Thomas Fonnesbaek’s duo CD “Synesthesia” and a solo Christmas
project featuring Jacob Collier, “Silent Night.” He spent 3 months in Dubai as Artist-
in-Residence at Q’s Bar and Lounge in the Palazzo Versace Hotel; with The Katie 
Thiroux Trio and SEP-OCT with The Justin Kauflin Quartet. He capped the year off
with another European Tour and additional recording on Danish bassist Thomas Fonnesbaek’s
trio project due out 2018.

![Image result for Justin Kauflin](https://i2.wp.com/latinjazznet.com/wp-content/
uploads/2014/09/Clark-Terry-Justin-Kauflin.jpg?fit=750%2C450&ssl=1)

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