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.
New Release: BEHOLD
BEHOLD: The JuJu Exchange
I’m delighted to share very, very good news: my band The JuJu Exchange has released our first full-length album, BEHOLD, available exclusively on the platform Even. Having worked on this thang for over 6 years, I can confidently say that BEHOLD contains the most blood, sweat and tears of any project I’ve ever been a part of to date. I’m speechlessly thankful, alongside my brothas Nova Zaii and Nico Segal, that it is now out in the world.
True to form for our group, BEHOLD is an instrumental project that blends acoustic and electronic worlds, weaving between dense melodies and ethereal soundscapes. In The JuJu Exchange, you never quite know what’s coming next, and that’s part of the thrill of the ride - that is, staying tuned.
Upcoming Events
Notes of Rest Retreat May 30-31, 2025
The Notes of Rest Retreat will be a time of extended reflection on your sabbath practice as a means of spiritual transformation.
Led by artist-theologian Julian Davis Reid and in partnership with Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, we'll receive from God through classical spiritual disciplines such as sacred reading and extended silence, as well as through Black music and a live concert. Jesus has promised to give us rest for our souls amidst the work that is ours to do; let us therefore receive and give notes one to another.
