Jazz Articles about Brian Landrus

About Brian Landrus

Album Review

L'undicesimo disco di Brian Landrus è un progetto a difesa di tredici specie animali minacciate di estinzione. Vegetariano dell'età di 12 anni e poi vegano, il sassofonista di Reno (Nevada) ha sempre operato a sostegno del mondo animale. Per sua stessa ammissione è questa la passione della sua vita, assieme al jazz. L'anno scorso, dopo aver aperto una sottoscrizione su Gofundme.com, Brian ha raccolto un settetto base più ospiti, per registrare quindici nuove composizioni dedicate alle specie minacciate, ...

Radio & Podcasts

Bill Evans, Brian Landrus & Joel A. Martin

by Joe Dimino
July 3, 2022

We begin the 758th Episode of Neon Jazz with an innovator combining elements of jazz and classical into his new album Jazzical--Komitas Pass of Fire by pianist Joel A. Martin. New music from vocalist Michele Thomas, percussionist Ches Smith and bassist Chris Mondak are explored further. Minneapolis-based Larry McDonough pays tribut to pianist Bill Evans. Finally, we hear new music from reed player Brian Landrus on an album where proceeds help “save the elephants." Dig the jazz, my friends.

Album Review

Brian Landrus, Fred Hersch, Drew Gress, Billy Hart: For Now

Read "For Now" reviewed by Angelo Leonardi

by Angelo Leonardi
March 17, 2021

Due anni dopo il sontuoso progetto orchestrale pubblicato nell'album Generations (Blueland 2018) il compositore e multistrumentista allievo di Bob Brookmeyer, è tornato a incidere con un piccolo organico, aperto a suggestioni cameristiche (con l'aggiunta di un quartetto d'archi) o di taglio neo-bop (con il trombettista Michael Rodriguez). Quand'era adolescente Brian Landrus era una testa calda, il peggiore della scuola, sempre pronto a picchiarsi coi coetanei. Poi il jazz l'ha molto cambiato e risulta difficile crederlo oggi, di ...

Year in Review

Doug Hall's Best Releases Of 2020

by Doug Hall
January 3, 2021

An extraordinary time for musicians facing an unprecedented scale of impact on their lives and profession as artists. Nevertheless, for the listener, a range of incredible compositions were released in 2020 under these circumstances. I have highlighted just some of my favorites. However, truly, my support goes out to the whole jazz community, and may there be “light at the end of the tunnel" for all of us in 2021. Brian Landrus For Now BlueLand ...

Multiple Reviews

One Lineup, Two Approaches

by Jerome Wilson
September 23, 2020

These two releases have the same instrumental lineup, a jazz quintet fronted by saxophone and trumpet plus a string quartet. They even use the same trumpet player, Michael Rodriguez. However the two CDs take this formation down different paths. Brian Landrus For Now Blueland 2020 Baritone saxophonist Brian Landrus goes in an openly romantic direction here, leading a set of thirteen relatively compact original compositions and jazz standards. He and ...

Album Review

Brian Landrus: For Now

by Doug Hall
May 30, 2020

Low-register reed specialist and multi-instrumentalist and composer Brian Landrus confronted a difficult period in his life and used adversity to inspire a passionate declaration in song on his 2020 release For Now (BlueLand Records). He took advice from the late valve-trombonist, composer and educator Bob Brookmeyer, “book a recording session before you have the music composed—then you have a goal." Alternating between the baritone saxophone and the bass clarinet, Landrus creates wonderful lower-range tones and compositions with instruments ...

Album Review

Brian Landrus: For Now

by Jack Bowers
May 20, 2020

On For Now, his tenth album as leader, multi-reed specialist Brian Landrus gives voice to the many faces of romance, using as his means of expression a talented core quintet, amplified on several themes by a four-member string section, with arrangements by the notable opera composer Robert Aldridge. While Landrus plays four instruments including flute and alto flute, he sticks for the most part to baritone sax and bass clarinet, soloing on one or the other on almost every one ...