BJ Simmons
Press Kit
Trapped In — Third Studio Album · Released July 26, 2025 · Jimmy Mac Entertainment
| Artist | BJ Simmons (BJONSAX) |
| Location | Washington, DC |
| Genre | Jazz · Hip-Hop · R&B · Gospel |
| Label | Jimmy Mac Entertainment |
| Album | Trapped In |
| Release Date | July 26, 2025 |
| Website | bjonsax.com |
| Press Contact |
Alisa Pignataro lisa@jimmymacent.com |
| Booking | booking@bjonsax.com |
ABOUT BJ SIMMONS
BJ Simmons is a saxophonist, composer, educator, and producer based in Washington, DC. With over 30 years of performance experience and a deep commitment to music education, he bridges jazz tradition with modern sonic exploration.
His work spans the intersection of jazz, hip-hop, R&B, and gospel — creating music that is both technically masterful and emotionally resonant. As an award-winning educator, he has spent two decades building transformative music programs and pathways for young musicians in the DC area and beyond.
Trapped In
IN BJ Simmons 2025
TRAPPED IN
Album Release — July 26, 2025
Trapped In is the third studio album by saxophonist BJ Simmons — a genre-bending sonic journey inspired by the modern Black experience, freedom, and finding voice. Rooted in Washington, DC's rich jazz tradition, the album blends intricate melodies with hip-hop rhythms, gospel undertones, and cinematic arrangements.
Each track unfolds like a score, with storytelling saxophone lines that carry the listener through joy, struggle, and transcendence. The project features 15 collaborators including spoken word artist Melani, and represents BJ's most ambitious creative work to date.
Long-Form Bio
In the world of music, where notes speak louder than words, BJ Simmons stands as an accomplished saxophonist, recording artist, educator, and producer whose journey unfolds like a melodic odyssey. His work is rooted in Washington, DC — a city whose musical heritage runs deep through jazz, go-go, gospel, and hip-hop.
BJ's latest release, Trapped In, represents his most ambitious creative endeavor yet. The album is a genre-bending sonic journey that explores the modern Black experience — blending intricate jazz melodies with hip-hop rhythms, gospel undertones, and cinematic arrangements. Each track is its own story, with saxophone lines that navigate the spectrum from joy to struggle, ultimately arriving at transcendence.
As an award-winning educator, BJ has dedicated over 20 years to building dynamic, student-centered music programs that nurture talent, discipline, and creativity. He has created pathways for young musicians in Washington, DC and beyond, founding initiatives like the Peabody-Eastern Pipeline to expand access to high-quality instruction and long-term opportunities.
Through mentorship, performance, and culturally rooted curriculum, BJ empowers students to see music not just as a skill, but as a vehicle for identity, expression, and future success. Whether on stage captivating audiences or in the classroom inspiring the next generation, BJ Simmons is a bridge between tradition and innovation — and a defining voice in contemporary jazz.
Press Quotes
BJ Simmons occupies that rare space where technical brilliance and raw emotion converge. Trapped In is a masterstroke — an album that demands to be felt as much as heard. Washington DC has produced a world-class voice in jazz.
Senior Editor · Jazz Times DC
Watching BJ perform at the Go-Go Museum was a spiritual experience. He commands the stage with an authority born from 30-plus years of disciplined artistry — and when he plays, the entire room stops breathing.
Arts Correspondent · The Washington Informer
The Trapped In release event was one of the finest performances I've witnessed in years. BJ Simmons doesn't just perform music — he creates entire worlds. His saxophone tells stories that words simply cannot.
Music Department Chair · Howard University
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