Steve Jansen
Encyclopedia
Steve Jansen is an English drummer, percussionist, singer and composer. He was educated at Catford Boys' School, Catford, South East London, where he failed academically, leaving at 16.
He is best known as a founding member of the group Japan
, along with his brother David Sylvian
(vocals, guitars and keyboards), Mick Karn
(bass guitar), Richard Barbieri
(keyboards), and Rob Dean
(guitar).
After Japan broke up in 1982, Jansen recorded
with bandmate Richard Barbieri
under the name The Dolphin Brothers
, with Jansen handling lead vocals as well as drums and percussion.
In 1991, Jansen, Barbieri, and Karn formed Medium Productions
as a venue for releasing their own music, as well as releases by other artists.
Jansen has worked extensively as a session musician
and in collaboration with a wide range of international artists, such as Yukihiro Takahashi
and Italian singer-songwriter Alice
. His most recent project is Nine Horses
with David Sylvian and Burnt Friedman
, which has given birth to one album and one extended play CD released through Sylvian's record label
Samadhisound.
Jansen played drums and percussion on tour with Sylvian through the latter half of 2007. Jansen's first solo album, entitled Slope
, was released on 15 January 2008.
Jansen has recently indicated that he is currently working on new compositions, which may result in either his second solo release or possibly a future Nine Horses
' product.
He is best known as a founding member of the group Japan
Japan (band)
Japan were a British New Wave group, formed in 1974 in Catford, South London. The band achieved success in the late 1970s and early 1980s, when they were often associated with the burgeoning New Romantic fashion movement .- History :The band began as a group of friends...
, along with his brother David Sylvian
David Sylvian
David Sylvian is an English singer-songwriter and musician who came to prominence in the late 1970s as the lead vocalist and main songwriter in the group Japan...
(vocals, guitars and keyboards), Mick Karn
Mick Karn
Andonis Michaelides , better known as Mick Karn, was an English multi-instrumentalist musician and songwriter, who came to fame as the bassist for the art rock band Japan, from 1974 to 1982....
(bass guitar), Richard Barbieri
Richard Barbieri
Richard Barbieri, is an English synthesiser player, keyboardist and composer. He was educated at Catford Boys' School, Catford, South East London...
(keyboards), and Rob Dean
Rob Dean
Rob Dean is a British musician, who rose to prominence playing guitar as a member of the British band Japan.-Biography:He is from Clapton, Hackney, London, England.-Japan:...
(guitar).
After Japan broke up in 1982, Jansen recorded
Sound recording and reproduction
Sound recording and reproduction is an electrical or mechanical inscription and re-creation of sound waves, such as spoken voice, singing, instrumental music, or sound effects. The two main classes of sound recording technology are analog recording and digital recording...
with bandmate Richard Barbieri
Richard Barbieri
Richard Barbieri, is an English synthesiser player, keyboardist and composer. He was educated at Catford Boys' School, Catford, South East London...
under the name The Dolphin Brothers
The Dolphin Brothers
The Dolphin Brothers was a new wave/alternative band featuring Steve Jansen, and Richard Barbieri, both previously of the band Japan. The band released one album Catch the Fall in 1987, featuring Steve Jansen on drums, percussion, keyboards and lead vocals, and Richard Barbieri on keyboards and...
, with Jansen handling lead vocals as well as drums and percussion.
In 1991, Jansen, Barbieri, and Karn formed Medium Productions
Medium Productions
Medium Productions was a record label created in 1993 primarily to publish the music of Steve Jansen, Richard Barbieri, and Mick Karn, ex-members of the band Japan and Rain Tree Crow. Medium was a means to release their own music with other collaborating artists, without 'big record label' compromise...
as a venue for releasing their own music, as well as releases by other artists.
Jansen has worked extensively as a session musician
Session musician
Session musicians are instrumental and vocal performers, musicians, who are available to work with others at live performances or recording sessions. Usually such musicians are not permanent members of a musical ensemble and often do not achieve fame in their own right as soloists or bandleaders...
and in collaboration with a wide range of international artists, such as Yukihiro Takahashi
Yukihiro Takahashi
Yukihiro Takahashi is a Japanese musician, who is best known as the drummer and lead vocalist of the Yellow Magic Orchestra, and as the former drummer of the Sadistic Mika Band.-Biography:...
and Italian singer-songwriter Alice
Alice (Italian singer)
Alice , also known as Alice Visconti is an Italian singer-songwriter and pianist, active since 1971...
. His most recent project is Nine Horses
Nine Horses
Nine Horses is a musical collaboration between singer/instrumentalist David Sylvian, his brother and frequent collaborator drummer Steve Jansen, and electronic composer/remixer Burnt Friedman....
with David Sylvian and Burnt Friedman
Bernd Friedmann
Bernd Friedmann is a German musician and producer who works under a variety of project names in the fields of Electronica, Dub und Jazz....
, which has given birth to one album and one extended play CD released through Sylvian's record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
Samadhisound.
Jansen played drums and percussion on tour with Sylvian through the latter half of 2007. Jansen's first solo album, entitled Slope
Slope (album)
Slope is the debut solo album by drummer Steve Jansen, released in 2007 by Samadhi Sound. The album includes guest musicians and was recorded all over the world....
, was released on 15 January 2008.
Jansen has recently indicated that he is currently working on new compositions, which may result in either his second solo release or possibly a future Nine Horses
Nine Horses
Nine Horses is a musical collaboration between singer/instrumentalist David Sylvian, his brother and frequent collaborator drummer Steve Jansen, and electronic composer/remixer Burnt Friedman....
' product.