B.J. Jansen

Artist Information

Biography

B.J. Jansen, born January 3rd 1981 in Cincinnati, has only begun to establish himself as a charismatic and dynamic jazz performer, composer and bandleader on and off the stage. Recent performance highlights as leader have included the 55 Bar, Fat Cat, Garage and Knitting Factory in NYC: NY, Blues Alley in Washington, DC, Philadelphia Museum of Art and Mann Center For The Performing Arts in Philadelphia. He has also toured internationally with performances in Brazil(2001) and Japan(TOKYO 2007).

Realizing the importance of giving back, B.J. founded the Jazz Development Group in February of 2005. The JDG is a non-profit corporation to provide supplemental jazz education clinics to school-age children at no cost. In the future B.J. hopes to continue his charitable work and form alliances with other organizations improving the lives of people through music.

B.J. Jansen also hosts his own weekly Jazz Podcast Show, "The Jazz Life."

Finally, as of 2009, B.J. Jansen is an Endorsing Artist for the Los Angeles based Saxophone Manufacturer, International Woodwind.

Instrumentation

B.J. Jansen - Baritone Saxophone

*TBA for each Performance*

CONJURA:
Baritone Sax
Trumpet
Piano
Bass
Drums

Discography

B.J. Jansen & Conjura - The Movement: Vol. 1
JansenMusic Records, LLC 2008
(Format: MP3/CD)

B.J. Jansen & CONJURA - The Movement: Vol. 2
JansenMusic Records, LLC 2008
(Format: MP3)
(TBR: CD 2009)

B.J. Jansen & Frank Stagnitta - Ballads:
Reflections of a New World
JansenMusic Records, LLC 2008
(MP3/CD Format)

Syracuse Connection
JansenMusic Records, LLC 2009

Audio

• Angela's Aggravation
  Listen   Download
• Requiem For Bob (Bodley)
  Listen   Download
• Brandon's Blues
  Listen   Download

Video

Photo Gallery

Press

• "Rising Jazz Star"
  

  "Rising Jazz Star" - Andy Hardy, Jazz Host on George Jazz FM, New Zealand

• "Up-And-Coming and Soon-To-Be, Jazz Legend" [+ Show ]
  

  "Up-And-Coming and Soon-To-Be, Jazz Legend" - Al Lubiejewski, JAZZ HOST of "Jazz, Ballads and the Bl..."Up-And-Coming and Soon-To-Be, Jazz Legend" - Al Lubiejewski, JAZZ HOST of "Jazz, Ballads and the Blues" on WQLN 91.3 FM

• Jazz Host Ty Bailey [+ Show ]
  

  "B. J. Jansen and his articulate baritone sax leads his group Conjura into some immaculate ensemble ..."B. J. Jansen and his articulate baritone sax leads his group Conjura into some immaculate ensemble and solo playing. On “Movement I”, there are all original cuts either written by B.J or Frank Stagnitta – Piano. There is no compromising here just straight ahead Jazz… B.J., originally from Cincinnati now living in the NY area is knowledgeable, bold, aggressive, and determined to make great jazz music and jazz happenings. What an outing for a not only 27-year-old talented musician… but a truly experienced soul." - Ty Bailey, Host of "Just Jazz' Radio Show on WVST FM

• Disk Union - TOKYO, JAPAN [+ Show ]
  

  "This CD is the essence of Hard Bop! This CD is so cool! Please check it out!" (Referring to "Moveme..."This CD is the essence of Hard Bop! This CD is so cool! Please check it out!" (Referring to "Movement Vol. 1")
  Disk Union - Tokyo, Japan
  

• Vento Azul Records - TOKYO, JAPAN [+ Show ]
  

  "B.J. Jansen, who is still in his twenties, is a young Baritone Saxophone Player. He moved to New Yo..."B.J. Jansen, who is still in his twenties, is a young Baritone Saxophone Player. He moved to New York City and he has already played at many famous Jazz clubs there... (55 Bar, Fat Cat, Knitting Factory) He is very talented! We have a good impression of his CD because his music is straight-ahead! Frank Stagnitta, who is also featured as a sideman on Piano, plays good!"
  Vento Azul Records - TOKYO, JAPAN

• LEO WEEKLY [+ Show ]
  

  "B.J. Jansen controls his baritone saxophone, summoning a flawless series of notes for each run in t..."B.J. Jansen controls his baritone saxophone, summoning a flawless series of notes for each run in the ensemble’s traditional jazz tunes." ... Stephen George, Music Editor, LEO Weekly
  
  

• Northwest Press Feature: B.J. Jansen Blows Into Town For Music Fest [+ Show ]
  

  BJ Jansen blows into town for music fest By Jennie Key Community Press Editor If you go The...BJ Jansen blows into town for music fest
  
  By Jennie Key Community Press Editor
  If you go
  
  The Midpoint Music Festival runs from Sept. 21-24 in various music venues in downtown Cincinnati. B.J. Jansen will perform at 10 p.m. Friday, Sept. 23, at the Blue Wisp Jazz Club, 318 E. Eighth St., MidPoint is expecting more than 50,000 people for three nights of concerts and its industry conference. For information, go to : www.mpmf.com.
  
  
  They say you can't go home again, but fortunately for jazz lovers, B.J. Jansen doesn't buy that old clich?.
  
  Jansen, a baritone-saxophone player is coming home, and he will be a featured artist at the Blue Wisp Jazz Club as part of the MidPoint Festival Sept. 23.
  
  The 1999 Colerain High School graduate says his obsession with music got a boost when he began playing the alto saxophone in fifth grade. About this time, he says his father bought him some cassette tapes of Charlie Parker and Gerry Mulligan.
  
  His love of music developed into a passion when he played in high school under then-band director Dan Wooten.
  
  "I think Dan expressed his passion for music and passed it on to us," he said. "There were a couple of us - me, Andy Distel, Mike "Maddog" Mavadoglue - who caught it."
  
  Jansen says high school was formative. In his junior year, the school formed a jazz ensemble, and he played in the show choir band. Wooten wasn't especially knowledgeable about Jansen's special passion, jazz, Jansen said.
  
  "He had enough to get you started," he said. "He identified people with talent and the desire to pursue music, and he encouraged it."
  
  Wooten brought in young jazz musicians who were affiliated with CCM's jazz program to help shape this newly formed ensemble. Under the guidance of young musicians such as Distel, Mavadoglue, and alto saxophonist Josh Quinlan, Jansen said he began to understand the art of improvisation.
  
  Jansen said it is more than the basic musical technique and knowledge, but almost a spiritual approach to playing that moves it to the expression of emotion. "That's where the passion comes from," he said. "How music makes you feel. Dan encouraged musicians to get in touch with that."
  
  Jansen was awarded the John Phillip Sousa Award and an honors diploma from Colerain and auditioned and was accepted at the University of Louisville's Jamey Aebersold Jazz Program.
  
  "I was fortunate enough to land in the right place at the right time," he said.
  
  A growing jazz scene in Louisville gave him the chance to gain experience performing and when he left U of L, he was ready for new challenges.
  
  He now lives in Philadelphia, known for its jazz scene, and is making inroads with his band, Conjura, a five-piece jazz ensemble. He also founded the Jazz Development Group, a charitable not-for-profit organization to bring jazz groups into schools at no cost to the schools.
  
  Modest recognition is calming the worries of his mom, Connie, who was concerned about his choice of vocation. Dad George was a musician and a band manager in the 1970s and 1980s, so he was a little easier to convince.
  
  "It was still a hard sell," Jansen said. "Dad had seen first-hand how hard it can be, but he eventually got into it. It's hard for parents. I wrote a song about it called 'Mom's Dilemma.' She doesn't really understand why I do what I do. Parents are more comfortable if you have a regular job, with benefits, health care ; this is a hand-to-mouth existence sometimes.
  
  "It's tough. You put yourself out there every time you play. You are always dealing with the public. A fickle public. You have to sell what you do, but also who you are, in the purest sense of that. There are a lot of people doing it, but not a lot of people who are successful."
  
  But he wouldn't trade it.
  
  "Artists, musicians are important," he said. "They remind us of our humanity and keep us in touch with the full range of emotions, what makes us human. And jazz reflects the spectrum. Highs, lows, and the middle. It's very inclusive. It has diverse roots and is truly American music."
  
  jkey@communitypress.com
  
  923-3111, extension 233

• Philadelphia Weekly 1/25/06 [+ Show ]
  

  "If you love the classic Blue Note/Prestige hard bop and post-bop albums of the late '50s and early ..."If you love the classic Blue Note/Prestige hard bop and post-bop albums of the late '50s and early '60s, BJ Jansen & Conjura are just the ticket for a smoking Friday night. Styling their front line of baritone saxophone and trumpet after hallowed outfits led by Pepper Adams and Donald Byrd, Conjura carry a torch of Philly jazz with universal appeal. The quintet's performance of Wayne Shorter's "Fe Fi Fo Fum," for example, pays respect without being overly slavish, while originals like "Street Walk" and "Mom's Dilemma" are harmonically adventurous within madly swinging post-bop arrangements."
  
  

• Washington Post Mini Write Up 4/28/06 [+ Show ]
  

  "What does Conjura conjure? Apparently, the sound of vintage Blue Note recordings, circa the '50s. B..."What does Conjura conjure? Apparently, the sound of vintage Blue Note recordings, circa the '50s. B.J. Jansen heads up this well-regarded Philly ensemble, which showcases his baritone sax and Frank Stagnitta's trumpet -- shades of Blue Note, indeed."
  

Setlist

TBA for each performance. Selections announced from the stage. Original arrangements and compositions.

Basic Requirements

Calendar