Brian Landrus

Brian Landrus earned his PhD in composition at Rutgers University, two Master of Music degrees in jazz composition and jazz performance at the New England Conservatory, and a Bachelor’s degree at University of Nevada Reno.

After ten 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 through Downbeat and JazzTimes Critics polls in the last several years. Landrus’ 2020 release For Now, was chosen as Editor’s Pick in both Downbeat Magazine and JazzTimes Magazine. Landrus’ 25-piece orchestral album Generations, 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, flute, 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. For Now has already received over forty glowing reviews from international publications.

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.

Landrus has performed with some of the world’s great musicians including Fred Hersch, Robert Livingston Aldridge, Herschel Garfein, Maria Schneider Orchestra, Nicholas Payton, Esperanza Spalding, Feist, Ken Schaphorst Orchestra, Rakalam Bob Moses, Gil Evans Orchestra, George Garzone, The Temptations, Prince, The Drifters, Michael Cain, The Four Tops, Darcy James Argue, West Side Story-NYC Broadway, Guy & Dolls-NYC Broadway, Rufus Reid, The Coasters, Frank Carlberg, Ayn Inserto, Matt Wilson, The Beach Boys, Anat Cohen, David Ake, Jerry Bergonzi, Lonnie Plaxico, Billy Hart, Ralph Alessi, Jay Anderson, Uri Caine, Brad Shepik, Donny McCaslin, Harvey S, Scott Robinson, Bob Brookmeyer, Steve Wilson, Drew Gress, Peter Epstein, Roni Ben Hur, Victor Lewis, Jamie Baum, Justin Brown, Igmar Thomas, Ben Williams, Marcus Strickland, Marc Cary, Mark Feldman, Joyce Hammann, Jody Redhage-Ferber, Sara Caswell, Frank Kimborough, Brian Lynch, Michael Rodriguez, Roscoe Mitchell, Robert Dick, Groundation, Conrad Herwig, Ravi Coltrane, Danilo Perez, Ben Monder, Matthew Parish, Nir Felder, Chris Turner, Brandee Younger, Joe Locke, Darryl Harper, Alan Ferber, Mark Ferber, Lewis Nash, Greg Gisberg, Mark Whitfield, Martha Reeves, Chubby Checker, Bob Berg, Joey Defrancesco, Leo Genovese, Frank London, Gatemouth Brown, Jason Palmer, and many more.

Photo credit: Vince Segalla