julien labro

Takács Quartet, Clarice Assad, Julien Labro

Julien joins the Takács Quartet with Clarice Assad in a modern chamber program. the set spans Bryce Dessner, Kaija Saariaho, Milton Nascimento, and includes julien’s “meditation no. 1.” released on Yarlung Records, it’s intimate, lyrical, and sharply colored.

Julien Labro, Olli Soikkeli Quartet

Julien leads this project with guitarist Olli Soikkeli, centered on his own jazz writing and a tight, modern quartet sound. The set mixes originals with a few smart reworks (including classical/country material) without losing momentum. It’s direct, energetic, and built around clear melody and interplay.

Jason Vieaux, Julien Labro

A duo album with Jason Vieaux that sits under a concert-music umbrella while still feeling rhythmically alive and flexible. Julien’s arrangements bridge Latin color, contemporary classical detail, and modern song influences with natural flow. The writing makes guitar and accordion/bandoneon feel like equal partners, not “soloist + accompaniment.”

Spektral Quartet, Miguel Zenón, Julien Labro

A crossover chamber record with Spektral Quartet that refuses to stay inside one label (jazz, tango, contemporary classical). The program leans into rhythmic drive, modern textures, and risk-taking writing, especially in the South American repertoire it features. It plays like a curated set with a clear arc rather than a random collection.

Hot Club of Detroit

This Hot Club of Detroit release pushes past “traditional gypsy jazz,” keeping the acoustic core but expanding harmony, texture, and attitude. The lineup (reeds, two guitars, accordion, bass, no drums) forces inventive rhythm solutions and sharp ensemble roles. It’s vintage in spirit, but deliberately modern in reference and language.

A Far Cry, Jason Vieaux, Julien Labro

Jason Vieaux, Julien, and A Far Cry present new arrangements of Astor Piazzolla that keep the tango engine running while opening space for orchestral color. The solo parts are integrated into the ensemble, so it feels like chamber-orchestra storytelling rather than a “feature with backing.” It’s a strong calling card for presenters who want Piazzolla with polish and personality.

Hot Club of Detroit

A confident statement of the band’s range: bright, fast swing when it wants it, but with broader moods and a more contemporary jazz sense underneath. The writing and arrangements keep the tradition visible while making room for surprise and contrast. It’s built to feel like a live set — quick shifts, clear hooks, and strong momentum.

Hot Club of Detroit

A vivid chapter in the Hot Club of Detroit story, with saxophones adding a more urban, post-bop edge to the acoustic swing framework. The sound stays rooted in the Django lineage, but it’s less “reproduction” and more a band shaping its own voice. The result is warm, energetic, and color-rich without losing clarity.

Julien Labro, Jonathan Dixon, De’Sean Jones, Darrell “Red” Campbell, Nate Winn

A Detroit-based modern jazz project that treats the accordion as a full-band voice, not a specialty color. The rhythm section hits hard, while piano and tenor lines keep the language contemporary and forward. It’s direct, groove-driven, and built for a strong onstage impact. (out of print)

Hot Club of Detroit

The band’s early identity statement: tight acoustic swing, strong melodic drive, and a modern Detroit attitude applied to a classic format. Julien’s accordion/accordina sits naturally inside the ensemble, expanding the palette without changing the core feel. It’s traditional jazz energy presented with clean execution and personality.

The Detroit Swingtet (Julien Labro, Dave Bennett, Jeremy Kittel, Evan Perri, Neil Mattson, Greg Cook)

A “hot jazz” palette — accordion, clarinet, violin, bass, and guitar — built to evoke early swing while staying flexible and present. The repertoire ranges from American swing to European jazz, with blues and classical influence woven in. It’s charming, portable, and instantly communicative for a room. (out of print)

Maria Schneider Orchestra

Maria Schneider’s American Crow, commissioned by Emory University, feels ever more urgent today. An extension of her album Data Lords, the piece confronts the toxicity of modern discourse—an age of curated rage where we “crow” over one another, losing the ability, and desire, to truly listen.

Julien Labro (feat. Magos Herrera, Brandon Fitzgerald, Beau Koozer)

A John Finbury + Magos Herrera single featuring Julien on bandoneón with harp and cello. It’s a quiet, nostalgic miniature with warm chamber textures and a clear melodic line. Recorded at The Power Station (nyc), it stays intimate and direct.

Inbal Segev, Julien Labro

Commissioning project of new works responding to 2020, centered on Segev’s cello with Julien featured on accordion/bandoneón in select pieces. The set moves from solo reflections to chamber writing and electronics, like a musical diary of that year’s tensions. expansive, contemporary, and human-scaled.

Bryce Dessner, Julien Labro

Bryce Dessner’s score balances spare, minimal orchestral writing with argentina-leaning folk color for the film’s two inner worlds. Julien guests on bandoneón/accordion in the recording sessions, adding breath and grain to the intimate cues. understated, cinematic, and rhythmically subtle.

Latin Grammy – Best Jazz Album (2020) | Emilio Solla Tango Jazz Orchestra, Julien

Big-band tango-jazz suite tracing musical “ports” from Spain to Buenos Aires and New York, driven by Solla’s arrangements. Julien’s bandoneon/accordina threads through the orchestra, tying styles together and stepping forward in solo moments. lush, rhythmic, and story-like.

Lenka Lichtenberg, Fray, Julien Labro

World-music project led by Lenka Lichtenberg, blending Yiddish, Hebrew, and English songs with Middle Eastern, Brazilian, and North Indian colors. Julien appears as guest accordion, adding lyric lift and texture inside an adventurous, groove-forward band.

Frank Vignola, Vinny Raniolo, Julien Labro

Frank Vignola and Vinny Raniolo tour iconic themes from Bach to Sting with playful, gypsy-jazz energy. Julien’s accordion is featured on select cuts, adding sparkle and counter-melody to a bright, string-led set of inventive arrangements.

Cassandra Wilson, Fabrizio Sotti, Julien Labro

Cassandra Wilson shifts into a lean, guitar-centered sound shaped with producer/guitarist Fabrizio Sotti. Julien’s accordion threads through the minimalist band, deepening the album’s rootsy, world-jazz atmosphere with warm, earthy resonance.

Joseph LoDuca, Duffy, Julien Labro

Soundtrack led by composer Joseph LoDuca, pairing his original score with songs by Duffy, Bryn Terfel, and others. Julien contributes accordion, bandoneon, and accordina, helping paint the film’s wide landscapes with lyrical, windswept tone.

Frank Vignola, Vinny Raniolo, Gary Mazzaroppi, Julien Labro

A centennial tribute to Django Reinhardt by Frank Vignola’s gypsy-jazz ensemble. Julien features on accordion for select tracks, bringing drive and rhythmic snap to standards and originals chosen to honor Django’s melodic genius.

Musique Noire, Michelle May, Julien Labro

Musique Noire, led by violinist Michelle May, mixes jazz and world-fusion with Latin and funk edges. Julien appears on accordion, expanding the band’s harmonic range and rhythmic lift within a guest-rich ensemble and a set of originals plus covers.

The Bijou Orchestra, Julien Labro

The Bijou Orchestra recreates early-theater salon orchestrations of popular classics and 1920s favorites. Julien guests on accordion, including his own arrangement of Piazzolla’s “Oblivion,” bringing a vivid, period-inspired sparkle to the program.

Various Artists, Astor Piazzolla, Julien Labro

Electronic producers remix Piazzolla using original masters, reframing nuevo tango through downtempo, house, and experimental textures. Julien’s accordion anchors the set with organic phrasing, linking dance-floor reworks back to the source.