Julius Rodriguez

Julius Rodriguez — an Established Jazz Rising Star

Julius Rodriguez is one of those musicians who seems to be everywhere at once: at the piano in a packed jazz club, switching instruments effortlessly on social media, or on the stage of a major festival, either solo or accompanying like-minded artists. Born in New York and based in Los Angeles, he is a multi-instrumentalist, composer, and producer, standing out for his boundless energy and creativity that defies any fixed label.

His music moves between jazz and R&B, incorporating soul, hip hop, and electronic elements, reflecting an open and contemporary vision of the jazz language. After thousands of hours of practice and hundreds of concerts, he has crafted a personal, fluid sound in which tradition coexists with a clearly modern sensibility.

Rodriguez has established himself as a highly sought-after collaborator, working with artists such as Wynton Marsalis, Kurt Elling, Nick Hakim, and Meshell Ndegeocello, whether on piano, drums, synthesizers, or bass. In 2024, he starred in a Tiny Desk Concert for NPR Music, a format that confirmed his ability to concentrate all his creative intensity into a close and intimate space.

Speaking to Everything Jazz, Julius Rodriguez cites Chick Corea as a decisive influence: “When I saw the last Return to Forever concert in 2008, my vision of jazz completely changed. The sound of electric guitar, bass, drums, keyboards, and synthesizers was striking. I’ve always loved jazz and rock, but I never thought they could go together. For jazz to remain what it is, we have to be open to other musics, cultures, and technologies.”

Why you shouldn’t miss him?
Because Julius Rodriguez embodies a new way of understanding jazz: open, hybrid, and constantly evolving, with the intensity and creative freedom of one of the most representative voices of his generation.