B.J. Jansen

“Baritone saxophonist, (B.J.) Jansen… hovers in a tasteful, straight-ahead swing…. works a range of masterfully rounded tones.” - DOWNBEAT

"Jansen's music is pure bred American modern jazz." - Seattle Pi

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

"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 - "Just Jazz" on WVST

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

"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
- Disk Union

"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 - Vento Azul Records

"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

- Stephen George, Music Editor, LEO WEEKLY

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 - Northwest Press

"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."

- Ken Micallef, Staff Jazz Contributor

"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."
- Washington Post