Justin Kauflin, a middle child among five siblings, never struggled to stand out due to his exceptional talent, which was evident from the age of two. He was nurtured in classical violin and piano, and by the age of six, he began performing in concerts, home visits, and weddings, eventually becoming the concertmaster for several orchestras.
However, his journey was not without its challenges. Justin lost his sight due to a rare degenerative eye disease, but music became his driving force for growth as a child. He found solace in the piano, and his passion for the instrument grew exponentially. "Learning a new song was like acquiring a new thing; like getting a new toy almost. That's really how I started loving what I was doing," he recalled.
Justin's interest in jazz piano began in high school, and by the age of 15, he was performing professionally with the Jae Sinnett Trio. He graduated in the top 1% of his class, alongside his sighted peers, and received several academic scholarships to attend William Paterson University in New Jersey.
At WPU, Justin was mentored by the legendary Clark Terry, winner of the 2010 Grammy Award for Lifetime Achievement in Jazz, and was influenced by jazz giants such as Mulgrew Miller, Harold Mabern, Wynton Marsalis, Ornette Coleman, Randy Brecker, and the late James Williams and Billy Taylor. "He hears something once and it's somehow impressed on his mind. He has extraordinary ability of aural recall... an exact touch and a singular style...." - David Demsey, saxophonist, author, and WPU Jazz Professor.
Justin graduated summa cum laude with a degree in Music/Jazz Performance and, at the age of 23, produced his first CD, Introducing Justin Kauflin. In 2011, he was one of twelve pianists selected worldwide to compete in the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz International Piano Competition, where he finished as an applauded semi-finalist (4th).
Justin's relationship with his mentor, Clark Terry, was chronicled by Academy Award-winning producer, Paula Dupre Pesman, in the documentary "Keep on Keepin' On," which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2014. The documentary features his preparation for the competition as well as his lessons with Clark and his meeting with Quincy Jones.
Legendary music icon Quincy Jones met Justin at Clark Terry's house when he was visiting his friend for his birthday in 2013. When Jones heard Kauflin play, he was astounded and later took Justin on the Quincy Jones Birthday Celebration World Tour that summer. Justin had the opportunity to play at huge sold-out venues in Switzerland, Seoul, Korea, Blue Note Tokyo, Tokyo International Forum, and the Green Arena in Hiroshima, Japan.
Justin is now signed with management deal at Quincy Jones Productions and is working on recording a new album for release at the end of the year.
