Julian Apter

Biography

I am a guitarist, bassist, and audio engineer raised in Los Angeles and based in New York City. 

Within recorded music and live sound I have work experience at Akwaaba Music, Funkadelic Studios, Music Makers NY and freelancing; and mentored with engineers Josh Pleeter, Malik Abdul Rahmaan, Curtis MacDonald and Hank Shocklee. I offer tracking and mixing services out of my studio in Harlem as well my satellite office in Santa Monica. 

My musical approach and sensibilities are informed by Jazz, the African Diaspora, and the Black Atlantic. I have performance and grant-funded musical research experience in Africa and the Caribbean, including Ghana (with Dela Botri, Victor Dey Jr., Odikro Baako Pe), Senegal (Aliou Ndiaye, Ibaaku), Nigeria (Prince Eji Oyewole, Duro Ikujenyo, Seun Olota), Cape Verde (Zerui Depina), Egypt (Hiba Elgizouli), Cuba (Alberto Villarreal, Radamés Giró) Haiti (Foula), the Dominican Republic (Jose Duluc), and Colombia (Tribu Baharú, Champesoukous Collective).

I play in a plethora of professional bands and projects. 

Most of these include:

Afrobeats/Afropop with my band Shake Bodi supporting NY artists like HOOX, Auggy Luv, Osele, and Geechi;

Congolese music with 

Nkumu Katalay and the Lifelong Project Band; 

Loboko Music; 

(past: The Champesoukous Collective, Tribu Baharú, Ngouma Lokito, Huit Kilos, Wawali Bonane, Ricardo Lemvo and Makina Loca, and Samba Mapangala);

Haitian and Afro-Caribbean music with 

Paul Austerlitz and the Vodou Horn; 

Chico Boyer, Sanba Zao, Jean Raymond Giglio, and FOULA,

Progressive Rock with 

Bryant Jackson and The University in Exile. 

Past:

Afro-Cuban (Timba) music with 

Joaquin Pozo and La Clave Suena Jazz;

Zambian Kalindula with Muriel Mwamba;

Hip Hop and R&B with LA based artists like Natia the God, Andrés Orellana, Lux.Wav, JamesThe3rd, alecbe//, King Oliver Trumpet, Jordan Curls;

and Reggae and Spiritual Jazz with Jamaiel Shabaka.

Some venues I have performed at include The Apollo, The United Nations, Barclays Center, Webster Hall, SOB's, Drom, Nublu, Bronx Music Heritage Center, The Shrine, Amazura, Bar Lunático,the Triad Theatre, Charlie Parker Jazz Festival, Jazz in the Valley Festival, Afribembe Festival, Uptown Night Market Festival, Museum Mile Festival, Marcus Meets Malcolm Festival, the House of Blues, Barnum Hall. 

As a graduate from the New School with degrees in jazz performance and anthropology, I am well poised to offer services in a diverse range of musical settings. 

ApterHours is my DJ persona and Apt Sound is my production company.