Jazz Articles about Brian Landrus

About Brian Landrus

Album Review

The Brian Landrus Quartet: Traverse

Read "Traverse" reviewed by AAJ Italy Staff

by AAJ Italy Staff
August 3, 2011

Bella band di professionisti quella che ruota intorno al sassofonista baritono Brain Landrus, allievo del noto pianista Michael Cain. Landrus colpisce subito per il suo tono colloquiale, per il fraseggio da tenorista, per la morbidezza del suono e pure, quando necessario, per la fluidità con cui padroneggia l'ingombrante strumento ("Lydian 4"). Ha poco a che fare con musicisti più ruvidi come Hamiet Bluiett, o anche con altri grandi del passato come Gerry Mulligan o Pepper Adams. Michael Cain si mette ...

Album Review

The Brian Landrus Quartet: Traverse

Read "Traverse" reviewed by Raul d'Gama Rose

by Raul d'Gama Rose
May 30, 2011

There is a gravitas in the musical intellect of baritone saxophonist/bass clarinetist Brian Landrus that can only come from a wellspring emanating from the depths of a very bluesy soul. His is a singular voice and, as he sings in sensuous, velvet tones, his long magical lines swing and swagger with rhythmic grace. Although his music is, at its heart, conceptually simple, he rarely stays in the linear path of the melody for long, preferring to be seduced by the ...

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Album Review

Brian Landrus: Traverse

Read "Traverse" reviewed by Hrayr Attarian

by Hrayr Attarian
March 17, 2011

Saxophonist/composer Brian Landrus' Traverse is a mature, cohesive and intensely personal musical opus that reflects his various influences. Although adept at playing multiple reed instruments. Landrus is best-known for being a baritone saxophonist, an instrument he mostly sticks, along with some bass clarinet, with on this, his third CD. His creative and personal approach to blending the past and the future is best reflected in the solo improvisation, “Soul and Body," which is in the spirit of ...

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Album Review

Brian Landrus Quartet: Traverse

Read "Traverse" reviewed by Bruce Lindsay

by Bruce Lindsay
March 10, 2011

The baritone saxophone: a low-down, honking, raw and randy piece of musical metal, isn't it? What about the baritone saxophone as a romantic, seductive and rather beautifully mellow instrument? Not so likely? Well, once it's placed in the hands of Brian Landrus, the romantic side of the instrument isn't just likely, it seems to be exactly how it was destined to sound. Landrus is a master of this rather unwieldy instrument, and leads a top-flight quartet on Traverse, a set ...

Album Review

Brian Landrus: Forward

Read "Forward" reviewed by AAJ Italy Staff

by AAJ Italy Staff
April 20, 2010

Non è da tutti una volta terminati gli studi riuscire ad incidere il disco d'esordio con i propri insegnanti, musicisti che rispondono al nome di John Lockwood, Bob Moses, George Garzone, Allan Chase, Michael Cain. Il multi strumentista Brian Landrus (suona una infinità di strumenti a fiato compresi oboe e fagotto) c'è riuscito, licenziando un album soddisfacente, non particolarmente innovativo, ma di buon gusto, ben suonato (non c'erano dubbi con cotanta compagnia), ben scritto e ben arrangiato. Brian Landrus si ...

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Album Review

Brian Landrus: Forward

Read "Forward" reviewed by Raul d'Gama Rose

by Raul d'Gama Rose
April 11, 2010

Forward is a magical sonic journey charted by reeds and woodwinds master, Brian Landrus and explores the tonal depths of the ocean of sound that fewer saxophonists seem to traverse these days. Landrus plays baritone saxophone and bass clarinet on this adventure in sound, as well as alto flute, all of which makes for a breathtaking palette of colors when he is done. Landrus is a poet who has a mastery of tone, something he explores with gravity and a ...

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Album Review

Brian Landrus: Forward

Read "Forward" reviewed by Bruce Lindsay

by Bruce Lindsay
March 31, 2010

Forward, multi-instrumentalist Brian Landrus' first album, begins by looking back--with a version of Thelonious Monk's “Ask Me Now." This is, perhaps, a nod of recognition to past masters but Landrus' arrangement adds a freshness made even more effective by his use of the baritone sax as the lead instrument. The rest of the album, which was recorded in 2007, features Landrus' original compositions, with equally inventive arrangements, and makes it clear that he's a player to watch. ...