As Many, as One Julien Knowles

• 1 Opening 01:11
• 2 The Boot 04:55
• 3 Desire Path 09:05
• 4 Adam's Street Banana 03:37
• 5 Moon Theater 09:18
• 6 Solo intro // etude j 01:18
• 7 etude j 06:23
• 8 s.m.s. 06:37
• 9 End of the Night 04:38
• 10 Kintsugi 09:03
• 11 Duende 07:36
• 12 Sunrise Movement 06:38
• Total Runtime 01:10:19

Info for As Many, as One

The album title “As Many, as One” isn’t present as a track title, but reveals itself across the album under broader concepts. I think it’s important to shed light on a few of these themes as they become clear with each track:

“As many as one.” Meaning that something singular (in this case, myself as an artist) can embody something much larger than one, the smallest natural number. It’s the idea that “one” has the power to carry significant weight on its own.

“As Many, as One.” This is where the comma plays a significant role, separating the statement in half to pay homage to the many people it took to create this recording, and the unity with which everyone embodied musically. The phrase “it takes a village…” immediately comes to mind, and this album is just one instance of this concept in life.

“Not two, and not one. Two and one.” This is the overarching concept the album revolves around, introduced to me in Shunryū Suzuki’s book on Zen Buddhism called Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind. An excerpt reads: “Our body and mind are not two and not one… Our body and mind are both two and one. We usually think that if something is not one, it is more than one; if it is not singular, it is plural. But in actual experience, our life is not only plural, but also singular. Each one of us is both dependent and independent.”

Julien Knowles, trumpet
Devin Daniels, alto saxophone (all but 1, 6, & 9)
Javier Santiago, piano (all but 1 & 6)
Dario Bizio, bass (all but 6)
Benjamin Ring, drums (all but 1 & 6)
Ela Kodžas, violin (1, 5, & 9)
Michelle Sheehy, violin (1, 5, & 9)
Damon Zavala, viola (1, 5, & 9)
Niall Ferguson, cello (1, 5, & 9)

Julien Knowles
Trumpeter of the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz Class of 2023, Julien Knowles was mentored by numerous legendary jazz artists including Billy Childs, Herbie Hancock, and Wayne Shorter. During his time in the full-fellowship graduate program Julien toured internationally with pianist and mentor Herbie Hancock, and currently leads master classes across the country on improvisation, composition, and pedagogy.

Since moving to Los Angeles in 2021, Julien has toured the United States with Louis Cole and performed as a sideman with Sasha Berliner, Gerald Clayton and Billy Mohler. Julien holds a weekly residency at The York, performing alongside David Binney, Justin Brown, and a revolving cast of L.A.’s most coveted jazz musicians. Julien appears on LesGo! by alto saxophonist Devin Daniels and Two Legs Bad— the latest release by ECM recording artist and alto-saxophonist Peter Epstein.

Julien’s debut album “As Many, as One” was released in April of 2024 on Biophilia Records, dubbed by critics “a masterful debut” (Greg Burk), “proof of the vitality of today’s jazz art” (Stereophile) and an “essential jazz discovery of 2024.” (NPR) NPR goes on to claim “The compositions [on As Many, as One] show Knowles to be a sophisticated thinker with a gift for unforced connection.”

Julien is commissioned by the Reno Jazz Orchestra, The University of Nevada, Reno, and various independent contractors for big band and chamber ensemble pieces. In 2023, Julien’s piece “Tempest Quake” for quartet and string quartet was selected as a winner of the Ravinia Steans Music Institute Bridges Composition Competition. Julien’s arrangement of trumpeter Ralph Alessi’s composition “Arim Issela” was debuted by the Swiss Jazz Orchestra, and the Reno Jazz Orchestra’s recent release Next: New Directions showcases 3 of Julien's new compositions and arrangements for large ensemble. Julien is credited as a producer on releases by fellow rising-star alto saxophonist Devin Daniels (Grandiose) and the Reno Jazz Orchestra (Next: New Directions).

This album contains no booklet.