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Justin Janer
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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Justin Janer: Following Signs
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 ...
read moreJustin Janer: Following Signs
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 ...
read moreJustin Janer: Following Signs
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 ...
read moreSaxophonist/Composer Justin Janer Releases New CD Titled "Following Signs" from Janer Music.
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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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Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson