Brian Landrus
After 10 albums as a leader, multi-instrumentalist and composer Dr. Brian Landrus has become one of the most in demand low woodwind musicians on the planet. Landrus consistently places in the top five baritone saxophonists in the world though Downbeat and JazzTimes Critics polls in the last few years. Landrus’ 25- piece orchestral album Generations (2017), was named one of the best recordings of the year by NPR, Downbeat Magazine, JazzTimes, All About Jazz, Jazziz, and many other international publications. The New York Times wrote “With Generations, Mr. Landrus takes the jazz big band tradition into the mesosphere.”
Landrus specializes on the low woodwind family, specifically: baritone saxophone, bass saxophone, bass clarinet, contra alto clarinet, alto flute, and bass flute. Although Landrus specializes on these low frequency beauties, he also plays all other saxophones, flutes, and clarinets. As a composer, Landrus has written for solo instrument, up to symphony orchestra.
Landrus’ 2020 release, For Now, was released on BlueLand Records on May 15, 2020. For Now features: Brian Landrus-bari sax, bass clarinet, alto and c flutes, Fred Hersch-piano, Drew Gress-bass, Billy Hart-drums, Mike Rodriguez-trumpet, Sara Caswell-violin, Joyce Hammann-violin, Lois Martin-viola, and Jody Redhage- Ferber-cello. It was produced by Dr. Bob Aldridge and Herschel Garfein. It was recorded and mixed in NYC by Chris Allen and John Kilgore. In its first week of release, For Now has already received over thirty glowing reviews from international press. Based in Brooklyn, Landrus founded his own label, BlueLand Records, in 2010. His first releases of all original music via BlueLand were Traverse (a quartet date with Lonnie Plaxico, Billy Hart and pianist Michael Cain) and Capsule (by the Brian Landrus Kaleidoscope, with Cain, guitarist Nir Felder, bassist Matthew Parish, drummer Rudy Royston). In 2013, Landrus released a second Kaleidoscope album, Mirage, featuring himself on baritone sax, bass sax, bass clarinet, contra alto clarinet and bass flute alongside Felder, Royston, Plaxico on acoustic and electric bass, Frank Carlberg on Rhodes/piano and a string quartet led by violinist Mark Feldman. The New York Times praised Landrus and Mirage at length, pointing out that “the tenderness in his playing feels as warm and accessible as his writing.” Landrus’ 2015 release, The Deep Below, features Landrus on baritone and bass saxophones, bass clarinet, and bass flute, with Lonnie Plaxico on bass, and Billy Hart on drums. Landrus was voted #1 Rising Star Baritonist in Downbeat Magazine’s 2015 Critics Poll and The Deep Below has been called “A star vehicle” by The New York Times.
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Album Review
- For Now by Angelo Leonardi
Year in Review
Multiple Reviews
Album Review
- For Now by Doug Hall
- For Now by Jack Bowers
- Generations by Angelo Leonardi
- Generations by Jerome Wilson
- Generations by Dan Bilawsky
- The Deep Below by Angelo Leonardi
- The Deep Below by Hrayr Attarian
August 01, 2017
All About Jazz Top 10 MP3 Downloads: July 2017
March 25, 2012
Rockwired.com's All New Jazzed and Blue Podcast Features Brian Landrus...
October 26, 2011
Brian Landrus/the Landrus Kaleidoscope - Capsule (2011)
October 16, 2011
Rockwired.Com's "Jazzed and Blue" Presents: Baritone Saxophonist and...
June 14, 2011
Brain Landrus Wields the Baritone with Dexterity on "Traverse"
March 16, 2011
Brian Landrus - Traverse (Blue Land Records, 2011)
March 11, 2011
Baritone Saxophonist Brian Landrus Releases Powerful New CD "Traverse"
March 16, 2010
Brian Landrus - Forward (Cadence Jazz Records)
February 25, 2010
"Forward," the Debut Release by Brian Landrus Now Available on Cadence...
“A baritone saxophonist of convincing authority” - New York Times
“With baritone saxophone in hand, Landrus surfs swinging currents through “The Signs,” waltzes in step and style across “The Miss,” and engages in a spellbinding after-hours duologue with Hersch on Thelonious Monk’s “Ruby, My Dear.” Wielding an alto flute on “The Night of Change,” he adopts an attractive glow-and- flow aesthetic.” - JazzTimes Magazine
“A composer of great strength and substance,” - All About Jazz “His bari flutters with utmost grace, his bass clarinet sobs for humanity and his alto flute floats cloud-like through moody skies
Photos
Albums
The Miss
From: For NowBy Brian Landrus
Jeru Concerto, Mvmt. 1
From: GenerationsBy Brian Landrus
Fly
From: The Deep BelowBy Brian Landrus