Leo Janssen, a highly accomplished and imaginative instrumentalist has been with the Dutch Metropole Orchestra for more than 20 years. Leo comes from a musical family. His first instrument was clarinet, which he took up at the age of ten, and he got his initial playing experience with marching bands.

He studied as a classical saxophonist at Maastricht Conservatory under Norbert Nozy. Later he played in such regional band as Big Band 77 and the Rick Nolov Band

He studied with Ferdinand Povel at Hilversum Conservatory for three years and played in such ensembles as the Skymasters, the Dutch Jazz Orchestra and the Eef Albers Band before joining the Metropole Orchestra in 1986.

Says Janssen: "I became interested in jazz when I was about 14 and heard Michael Brecker on a Billy Cobham record. This was a kind of fusion jazz and I was very much into that at the time. After that I discovered Charlie Parker and Miles Davis and the other giants." He cites as his main influences John Coltrane, Wayne Shorter and Ferdinand Povel and, more recently, Jan Garbarek. (Mike Hennessey)

Live TROS Radio Broadcasting with "the High Light Jazz Orchestra" (in 1998 founded by René Laanen)

	EXCURSIONS composition & arr.: Rob Pronk | Leo Janssen (tenor sax)
	JUST LIKE THAT composition & arr.: Peter Herbolzheimer | Leo Janssen (tenor sax)
	I HEAR A RHAPSODY composition: George Fragos - arr.: Jan Wessels | Leo Janssen (tenor sax)
	BOUNCIN' WITH BUD composition: Bud Powell - arr.: Frans Elsen | Cees Slinger (piano) - Leo Janssen (tenor sax)
	CHEROKEE composition: Ray Noble - arr.: Peter Herbolzheimer | Bart van Lier (trombone) - Leo Janssen (tenor sax)

Discography

Bill Holman - Further Adventures
Bill Perkins - I Wished on the Moon
Bob Brookmeyer - Out of This World
Bud Shank - A Flower Is a Lovesome Thing
Clare Fischer - Latin Side
Ernestine Anderson - Isn't It Romantic
Lee Konitz Saxophone - Dreams
Lew Tabackin - Pyramid
Madeline Bell - Beat out That Rhythm on a Drum Saxophone
Nancy Marano - If You Could See Us Now
Nick Brignola - Spring Is Here
Ronnie Cuber - Love for Sale
The Metropole Orchestra - Kodachrome Saxophone
Leo Janssen - Shadow & Light - solo album Metripole Orchestra
The Highlight Jazz Orchestra - Tros Sesjun Live Radio Recording

Latest CD's:

Echoes of the mind
Leo Jansen Tenor and Soprano Saxophone, Clarinet, Samples, Djembe
Eef Albers (guitar), Marcel Schimscheimer (bass), Arno vd Nieuwenhuize (drums)
You can order this CD now! -

Email Leo Jansen at: janssenlejo@hetnet.nl

Leo Janssen/Egbert Derix: 'Angeli'
De eerste cd van het duo Leo Janssen (saxen en klarinet) en Egbert Derix (piano en keyboards) heet 'Angeli' en bevat composities van Janssen en Derix. Op 'Angeli' staan onder meer nieuwe versies van de Derix' composities 'She isn't like you' (prijswinnaar 'beste compositie' Dutch Jazz Competition 2002) en 'Exit Ego' ('Honor Award' van het American Songwriters Network). Leo Janssen is sinds 1986 als tenorsaxofonist verbonden aan het Metropole Orkest. Samen met dit orkest speelde hij met tal van groten uit de muziekwereld, zoals Herbie Hancock, Brecker Brothers, Pat Metheny, Elvis Costello, Joe Lovano, Dave Liebmann, Mike Stern, Gino Vanelli, Bob Mintzer, Yellowjackets, Bob Malach, Terry Bozzio, en vele anderen. Leo Janssen en Egbert Derix gaan 'Angeli' door middel van een aantal concerten presenteren. Op 4 juni speelt het duo in het Theater aan het Vrijthof in Maastricht. 'Angeli' is o.a. verkrijgbaar via: http://www.egbertderix.com

Leo Janssen
Phone: 033 - 4808286
E-mail: janssenlejo@hetnet.nl