Julian Douglas is a world percussionist, composer, and educator with over 25 years of experience recording and performing rhythmically ambitious structured and improvisational music. Raised in a musical household by a jazz pianist, Julian’s rhythmic foundation is deeply rooted. He has performed, recorded, and taught extensively throughout the Eastern United States, drawing inspiration from diverse traditions, including those of the African diaspora, the Middle East, Eastern Europe, and India. His performance experience spans a wide range of genres, including world music, jazz, pop, and orchestral settings.

Julian is a founding member of the progressive world percussion ensemble Rhythm Quest, the world jazz quartet Pangaea Sky (with Tom Clark, Peter Kienle, and Ron Kadish), and the experimental improvisation trio Fractured (with Kyle Quass and Brenden Keller-Tuberg). Fractured released a self-titled album featuring Frank Glover in 2021. Julian also released a solo percussion album, Archetypes Volume I: Streams of Consciousness in 2022.

He is a passionate educator, teaching lessons, workshops, and classes in Bloomington, Indiana and regionally. His teaching focuses on instrumental technique, rhythm theory, and time embodiment, sharing his love of rhythm and music with students of all levels.

Julian also actively collaborates with dancers, providing accompaniment and performing. He has worked with dance theatre artist, teacher, and embodied theorist Utam Moses, the Sarasota Contemporary Dance Company, and other dancers and choreographers, providing live accompaniment for classes, workshops, and performances. His approach to dance accompaniment is rooted in his deep understanding of rhythm and movement, enabling him to create music that is both supportive and inspiring for dancers.

He is a Remo Health Rhythms trained facilitator and a recipient of the Indiana Arts Commission On-Ramp Fellowship.