Julian Davis Reid (M.Div., Candler School of Theology) is a child of God, the husband of Carmen and father of Lydia, a son, and brother, and a Black artist-theologian of Chicago who uses words and music to testify to God’s care for our restless world. A musician, speaker, and writer, Julian is the founder of the ministry Notes of Rest®, which invites the weary into the rest of God practiced in the Bible and Black music. Julian has released numerous records, including with his own ensemble, Circle of Trust, and the jazz-electronic fusion group The JuJu Exchange.

His most recent releases are When Souls Cry Out, released on Inauguration Day 2025, and Beside Still Waters, released on Election Day 2024. Julian has performed at the Montreal Jazz Fest, The Cleveland Orchestra’s Severance Hall, Lollapalooza, and the Berlin Jazz Fest. He has worked or performed with Jennifer Hudson, Chance the Rapper, Tank and the Bangas, Andrew Bird, Jamila Woods, Derrick Hodge, Isaiah Collier, and Abiodun Oyewole from The Last Poets.

An award-winning writer, Julian has contributed chapters on Notes of Rest to forthcoming books from Candler School of Theology at Emory University, Duke Divinity School, and Princeton Theological Seminary respectively. He writes about faith, music, Blackness, and rest on his Substack “Julian’s Note.” Julian also consults with the boutique consultancy Fearless Dialogues. His work has been covered in The New York Times, Forbes, Sojourners, Billboard, and Downbeat.