Arnaldo Desouteiro, Jazz Station Keyboards: 9. Chris McCarthy (“Sonder” –RPR) Drums: 11. Anders Vestergard (“Inside Turnabout” – Drumvoice Records) 12. Victor Lewis (“Akua’s Dance” w/ Akua Dixon – Akua’s Music) 13. Ralph Peterson (“Common Ground” w/ B.J. Jansen – Ronin Jazz) Vibes/ Marimba: 4. Nikara Warren (“Mae Sun Vol.1: Inter-Be” – Calmit Productions) Miscellaneous: 1. … Read More
Nelson Brill, Boston Concert Reviews Trombone also plays glorious partner to sax in another blazing recording session brought to us by the young baritone saxophonist, B.J. Jansen, on his new recording, Common Ground. Jansen joins one of my favorite trombonists, the dapper and keenly creative Delfeayo Marsalis, in a collective that also includes trumpeter Duane Eubanks; … Read More
Raul da Gama, Jazz da Gama While many people – music aficionados and nice ordinary folk – were looking the other way, the baritone saxophonist B.J. Jansen was busy carving a niche for himself in world inhabited by the likes of Harry Carney, Cecil Payne, Pepper Adams, Ronnie Cuber, Gerry Mulligan and other baritone saxophonists … Read More
Matthew Acquiline, All About Jazz Cincinnati-born baritone saxophonist B.J. Jansen’s tenth album is titled Common Ground for good reason: his sextet consists of NEA Jazz Master trombonist Delfeayo Marsalis, drummer Ralph Peterson, trumpeter Duane Eubanks, pianist Zaccai Curtis, and bassist Dezron Douglas—all of whom revel in improvisation. His group’s shared affinity for jazz in the straight-ahead vein compelled Jansen to employ a … Read More
Gregory Applegate Edwards, Gapplegate Music For anyone who loves the baritone sax there is a recent album by the adept B.J. Jansen, his baritone and a most illustrious gathering of hard boppers. It is entitled Common Ground (RoninJazz 20170501). The program consists of originals by Jansen and others, a cornucopia of contemporary bop tunes that open things … Read More
Bill Kopp, The Blurt It’s a neat trick to make something new while conjuring the aesthetic of something old. But (a) that’s what is expected of jazz players of a certain stripe, and happily (b) that’s what baritone saxophonist B.J. Jansen has taken on as his mission. And with Common Ground, he succeeds. Joined by five … Read More
Mike Hobart, Jazzwise The lolloping swing that drives the opening modal blues signals baritone saxophonist BJ Jansen’s mainstream aesthetic, the floaty cover of Frank Stagnitta’s “Carol’s Dream” that follows confirms it. Jansen builds his set on traditional structures and solid well-worn grooves ranging from the sassy 6/8 of “Street Walk” to the cool school swing … Read More
Esteemed Baritone Saxophonist BJ Jansen Announces East Coast Mini-Tour To support the release of “Common Ground” August 17th, 2017 – Bethesda Blues and Jazz (Bethesda, MD) August 18th, 2017 – Scullers (Boston, MA) August 19th, 2017 – The Side Door Jazz Club (Old Lyme, CT) Following the release of his tenth project as a … Read More
Phil Freeman, Stereogum Baritone saxophonist B.J. Jansen has assembled a ferocious band on his tenth album. He’s got Duane Eubanks on trumpet, Delfeayo Marsalis on trombone, Zaccai Curtis on piano, Dezron Douglas on bass, and Ralph Peterson on drums. These are guys who are serious about pushing the hard bop language into the 21st century … Read More
