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Justin Janer

25 year old, Seattle born and Los Angeles raised alto saxophonist Justin Janer has performed and recorded with Wynton Marsalis, Hubert Laws, Pete Escovedo, Roy Hargrove, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Tim Reis, Kirk Whalum, George Garzone, Eric Marienthal, Bob Sheppard, Louie Cruz Beltran, Matt Marantz, and Linda Oh, and has performed throughout the United States; as well as in Germany, Austria, and France. Now based in L.A., he has headlined with his quartet at venues such as The Jazz Bakery, Catalina’s Bar and Grill, Charlie O’s, Cafe Metropol, The York, Club Good Hurt, and has also performed in New York City at Dizzy’s Club Coca Cola, Fat Cat, Smalls, Cleopatra’s Needle, and Lincoln Center.

Mr. Janer has won many awards including the Downbeat Magazine Outstanding Soloist Award, Best College Saxophonist at the Reno Jazz Festival; and was a North American Saxophonist Alliance Competition 2nd place winner. He is the recipient of the McNamara Creative Arts Grant, which awarded him with generous funding to record and produce a debut album. His recently released CD entitled Following Signs showcases Janer’s original compositions and features some of the best young musicians in New York including Ambrose Akinmusire, Fabian Almazan, and Ruben Samama among others.

Janer takes pride in his Puerto Rican heritage, and is passionate about Latin Jazz. In 2009, he received a Latin Grammy Nomination and was also selected as The Latin Jazz Corner - Latin Jazz Saxophone Player of The Year for his performance as lead alto saxophonist on Kenya Revisited Live!!! with the Manhattan School of Music Afro-Cuban Jazz Orchestra, directed by Bobby Sanabria and featuring conga player and NEA Jazz Master, Candido Camero. Janer is also a member of the Louie Cruz Beltran’s Latin Jazz Orchestra.

Justin Janer holds a bachelor’s degree from Cal State Northridge and a master’s degree from Manhattan School of Music in New York City, and has studied with Steve Wilson, David Liebman, Vincent Herring, Lee Konitz, and Rob Lockart.

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226
Album Review

Justin Janer: Following Signs

Read "Following Signs" reviewed by Bruce Lindsay


Following Signs, saxophonist Justin Janer's debut as leader, is an assured recording. Janer leads a tight and disciplined quintet through seven original tunes and a cover of Bob Hilliard and Sammy Fain's “Alice in Wonderland," displaying his craft and individuality as a player and composer. Musical high spots arise from the interplay between Janer's alto and trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire's exciting and often fierce playing. Both Janer and Akinmusire clearly enjoy working at the upper reaches of their ...

180
Album Review

Justin Janer: Following Signs

Read "Following Signs" reviewed by Dan Bilawsky


While people might want to pigeonhole alto saxophonist Justin Janer as a Latin jazz player, Following Signs paints him as a musician and composer with a broad outlook that goes past generic stylistic markers. Janer occupied the lead alto chair when percussionist Bobby Sanabria delivered the goods with the Manhattan School of Music's Afro-Cuban Jazz Orchestra on Kenya Revisited Live!!! (Jazzheads Records, 2009). Janer's work on that project--ranging from explosive soloing to a more measured approach--resulted in his being named ...

171
Album Review

Justin Janer: Following Signs

Read "Following Signs" reviewed by Mark Corroto


If jazz radio had a hit singles chart, then “Bright New Day" from alto saxophonist Justin Janer's debut album, Following Signs, would be climbing towards number one with a bullet. The infectious opening track, penned by Janer, is a honeyed melody that ladles mellowed bop over a gorgeous harmony. Janer's saxophone is braided with trumpet sensation Ambrose Akinmusire's horn to form music that is, indeed, infectiously easy on the ears.

This majestic session by the 25 year-old West ...

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135

Recording

Saxophonist/Composer Justin Janer Releases New CD Titled "Following Signs" from Janer Music.

Saxophonist/Composer Justin Janer Releases New CD Titled "Following Signs" from Janer Music.

Source: Two for the Show Media

The brand new debut release from saxophonist/composer Justin Janer is titled Following Signs. Janer who has received significant praise in the jazz field was the winner of the Hispanic Scholarship Fund - McNamara Creative Arts Project Grant, which made this recording possible. Janer posses a distinctive compositional approach that draws from numerous influences he has as a student of the genre and the instrument. He was nominated in 2009 as Latin Jazz Saxophonist of the Year from the much-admired Latin ...

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