Originally from Ann Arbor, MI, Jazz Saxophonist Ben Jansson has been living in Japan for the past 7 years. He has played at Jazz Festivals in Japan  USA, and in Canada. Club dates and  concerts from Sapporo and Okinawa to Chicago and NYC. He is the leader of the Ben Jansson Quartet and Sextet. Both of Jansson's ensembles have recorded recent albums. A Few Things, 2020, BMJ Music, is an album of all original straight ahead Jazz featuring a fabulous trio from Michigan, USA, including Paul Keller on bass, Rick Roe on piano and Sean Dobbins on drums. Ben Jansson Sextet LIVE at Jamusica , Sapporo, Japan, 2017, BMJ Music, is the latest Ben Jansson Sextet album. It also is an album of all original compositions. Sapporo Scenes , 2018, BMJ Music, is a unique combination of String Quartet and Jazz Quartet.  Elements of American and Japanese Folk Music traditions are fused with Classical Music and Jazz improvisation. Jansson considers Sapporo Scenes, which contains a 4 Movement Jazz Suite he composed, to be an entirely new genre of playing. In addition to playing extensively, Jansson teaches music privately and directs the "Utsunomiya Jazz Workshop" an ensemble devoted to the study of Jazz improvisation.

In Michigan, Ben has played gigs with bassist Paul Keller's Ensemble, PKO Big band, Randy Napoleon Sextet, John Shea Trio, Pete Siers “Organic Roots” band, Sean Dobbins, Johnny Trudell and his Orchestra. As well, Jansson has played gigs backing up Aretha Franklin, Freddy Cole, Johnny Mathis, Red Holloway. He has appeared on 3 CD recordings with bassist Paul Keller (PKO records), 1 with drummer Pete Siers, 1 with Guitarist Randy Napoleon, and 2 with the “Masters of Music” big band, including one album featuring Peter Erskine and the music of Stan Kenton. Publications forthcoming are The Riff Method..An approach for Big Band Directors to teach Jazz improvisation through motivic ideas and counterpoint. Also..15 Rhythm Changes.  Both books will be available Fall 2020.

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