For the past twenty-five years with five albums as a leader, several studio projects as a side man, and countless worldwide performances, saxophonist, vocalist and composer Juli Wood has established herself as a solid, swinging, lyrical and entertaining performer on Chicago’s music scene. Juli has played many jazz clubs and festivals nationally and internationally; Chicago Jazz Fest, Hyde Park Jazz Fest, Milwaukee’s Summerfest, Chicago’s main jazz clubs – Jazz Showcase, Green Mill, Andy’s and Katerina’s. Skansen Jazz and Blues (Stockholm , Sweden), Pori Jazz Fest (Finland), Bent J’s club (Aarhus, Denmark), Storyville (Helsinki Finland), Arlandia Jazz Fest (Aaland Islands, Finland) and the ” Made in Chicago ” jazz festival in Poznan Poland to name a few. Juli is in the tradition of saxophonists who were also great vocalists; Cleanhead Vincent, Eddie Harris, and Louis Jordan.
Latest Videos
Big Bari Band – The Cooker
The Big Bari Band is big fun ! Where else do you get two bari saxes in one band ?
The group features arrangements of jazz classics by McCoy Tyner, Grant Green, Horace Silver, George Benson, Wayne Shorter and Sun Ra. The Big Bari Band has been featured twice at the Chicago Jazz Fest and played at Andy’s Jazz Club and the Jazz Showcase.
Big Bari Band – Enchantment
The Big Bari Band is big fun ! Where else do you get two bari saxes in one band ?
The group features arrangements of jazz classics by McCoy Tyner, Grant Green, Horace Silver, George Benson, Wayne Shorter and Sun Ra. The Big Bari Band has been featured twice at the Chicago Jazz Fest and played at Andy’s Jazz Club and the Jazz Showcase.
Reviews
Jan-Erik Holmberg, HUFVUDSTADSBLADET/HELSINKI
Innovative and Traditional (review of the 2007 Arlandia Jazz Festival ) A really positive surprise was Juli Wood, who showed she was a superb saxophonist with a taste for long blues-drenched solos and a sterling feeling for tradition and what great saxophonists from the past have done. She wove her own straight forward statements from the horn with a great deal of heart and a real heaping helping of soul. She sings with great heart and her voice sounds deep and African-American. – Jan-Erik Holmberg, HUFVUDSTADSBLADET/HELSINKI (Jul 30, 2007)
Neil Tesser, CHICAGO READER
Juli Wood didn’t invent the idea of the singing saxophonist but she works hard to uphold the tradition. – Neil Tesser, AUTHOR-PLAYBOY GUIDE TO JAZZ – CHICAGO READER