Julius Watkins - Julius At the Horn (2026) [Hi-Res]

American musician Julius Watkins became a pioneer who paved the way for the French horn in the jazz industry. Possessing a phenomenal range, pure tone, and fluid technique, he executed complex passages on par with saxophonists. His choice of jazz was driven by racial discrimination in the United States during the 1930s, which effectively barred African Americans from careers in classical symphony orchestras, as well as a scarcity of solo classical repertoire. Watkins' creative methodology, which included unique alternative fingering techniques, laid the groundwork for subsequent generations of jazz French horn players like Vincent Chancey and John Clark, proving the instrument's viability outside traditional academic boundaries.

Julius At the Horn is a 2026 compilation assembled by Smultron Records from two landmark Blue Note sessions: New Faces-New Sounds (BLP 5053, August 1954) and Julius Watkins Sextet Vol. 2 (BLP 5064, March 1955), both recorded at Rudy Van Gelder's studio in Hackensack, New Jersey. They stand among the rare instances in jazz history where the French horn holds undisputed front-line command of a small-group setting.



Tracklist:
1. Julius Watkins - Julie Ann
2. Julius Watkins - Garden Delights
3. Julius Watkins - B and B
4. Julius Watkins - Jor-Du
5. Julius Watkins - Perpetuation
6. Julius Watkins - Sparkling Burgundy
7. Julius Watkins - I Have Known
8. Julius Watkins - Linda Delia
9. Julius Watkins - Leete