When he first sat down behind a set of keys, Julian Davis Reid quickly learned the piano was his voice.
The Chicago-based pianist and theologian first found himself in a music class at age 2. He released his fourth album, “Vocation,” in 2025, with plans to bring his tour home to Constellation on Jan. 14.
In a recent conversation with Vocalo’s Nudia Hernandez, Reid explained the album’s concept stems from his deep familial relationships and identities.
“All these different roles that have aged in beautiful ways in my life flow through the music, and they’re really at the heart of why I write what I write,” Reid said. “They help me connect with the audience. I’m playing for you from the depths of my relationships, because I know you’ve got those two in your life.”
Reid grew up on the city’s Southwest Side, attending Whitney Young High School and the Merit School of Music. He later studied philosophy and music theory at Yale University, and went on to study theology and the arts at Emory University.
But Reid notes he discovered his artistic voice through his involvement in Chicago improvisational trio the JuJu Exchange — which he co-founded nearly a decade ago with his brother Nova Zaii and friend Nico Segal. The trio, which has been playing music together for 20 years, released a third album, “BEHOLD,” in September.
“That’s deeper than chords and plugging in a cable here — that’s also all this history,” Reid said. “That’s grilled cheese sandwiches that [Nico’s] mama would make. That’s his mama paying my brother for his very first gig, when we played for Nico’s sister’s birthday party; I think we had less than 10 minutes to set up. All those kinds of memories show up on the stage, and show up in the music. If you listen to the JuJu Exchange, we hope that you hear that.”
“Vocation” also holds memories; he includes songs dedicated to his wife, Carmen, as well as his parents and daughter, and even includes voice recordings of his mother. He’s currently on tour in support of the album. At his Constellation show on Jan. 14, his piano will be accompanied by bass, drums, spoken word and soprano vocalist Tramaine Parker.
Reid sat behind the piano at Chicago Public Media’s Studio 10 to give listeners a preview of his live performance, playing songs “Nerve to be Super (For Michael),” “Moan (For Hearts of Flesh)” and “Nevertheless Hope (For Mom and Dad).”