Saxophonist/Composer Justin Janer Releases New CD Titled "Following Signs" from Janer Music.

The brand new debut release from saxophonist/composer Justin Janer is titled Following Signs. Janer who has received significant praise in the jazz field was the winner of the Hispanic Scholarship Fund - McNamara Creative Arts Project Grant, which made this recording possible. Janer posses a distinctive compositional approach that draws from numerous influences he has as a student of the genre and the instrument. He was nominated in 2009 as Latin Jazz Saxophonist of the Year from the much-admired Latin Jazz Corner. His work with many young artists like himself and his alto chair on the “Kenya Revisited - Live" recording (conducted by Bobby Sanabria -Nominated for a Latin Grammy) has positioned him as one of the up and coming alto saxophonists in the world of jazz. Following Signs is a awe-inspiring date which has Janer joined by Ambrose Akinmusire on trumpet, Fabian Almazan on piano, Sebastian Cruz on guitar, Rueben Samama on bass and Michael W. Davis and Will Clark sharing the drum chair. Recorded at Systems Two Recording Studio in Brooklyn, NY and Engineered by Joseph Marciano, Following Signs is first-rate musicianship, innovative compositions, and a superb production.

2009 Latin Jazz Saxophonist of the Year! -The Latin Jazz Corner

About Justin Janer:

25 year old, Seattle born and Los Angeles raised, alto saxophonist Justin Janer has performed and recorded with Wynton Marsalis, Yo Yo Ma, Hubert Laws, Pete Escovedo, Roy Hargrove, Tim Reis, Kirk Whalum, George Garzone, Eric Marienthal, Bob Sheppard, Louie Cruz Beltran, Matt Marantz, and Linda Oh and has performed throughout the United States; as well as in Germany, Austria, and France. Now based in L.A., he has headlined with his quartet at venues such as The Jazz Bakery, Catalina's Bar and Grill, Cafe Metropol, The York, Club Good Hurt, and has also performed in New York City at Dizzy's Club Coca Cola, Fat Cat, Smalls, Cleopatra's Needle, and Lincoln Center. Mr. Janer has won many awards including the Downbeat Magazine Outstanding Soloist Award, Best College Saxophonist at the Reno Jazz Festival; and was a North American Saxophonist Alliance Competition 2nd place winner. He is the recipient of the McNamara Creative Arts Grant, which awarded him with generous funding to record and produce his debut album. His recently released CD entitled Following Signs showcases Janer's original compositions and features some of the best young musicians in New York including Ambrose Akinmusire and Fabian Almazan, among others. Janer takes pride in his Puerto Rican heritage, and is passionate about Latin Jazz. In 2009, he received a Latin Grammy Nomination and was also selected as The Latin Jazz Corner - Latin Jazz Saxophone Player of The Year for his performance as lead alto saxophonist on Kenya Revisited Live!!! with the Manhattan School of Music Afro-Cuban Jazz Orchestra, directed by Bobby Sanabria and featuring conga player and NEA Jazz Master, Candido Camero. “Kudos go to Justin Janer," says Downbeat Magazine and The Latin Jazz Corner referred to him as “a confident and focused artist" who “tears through the changes with a virtuosic display of impassioned improvisatory magic." Justin Janer holds a bachelor's degree from Cal State Northridge and a master's degree from Manhattan School of Music in New York City, where he studied with Steve Wilson, David Liebman, Vincent Herring; and privately with Lee Konitz.