Biography
Peter Janson is a Boston-based guitarist, composer, recording artist, and educator whose music reflects a lifelong exploration of the guitar as both a musical instrument and a means of connection. Drawing from jazz, classical, acoustic instrumental, contemporary, and world music traditions, he has developed a distinctive voice that is at once expressive, melodic, and deeply personal. Whether performing in concert, composing original works, recording in the studio, or teaching the next generation of musicians, Janson's work is guided by a belief in the power of music to inspire curiosity, reflection, and community.
Born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Janson's musical journey began at home. His father, an accomplished amateur guitarist, played solo guitar daily, filling the household with music and sparking a fascination that would shape the course of his life. Given his first guitar at the age of seven, Janson quickly developed a passion for the instrument and began composing and performing as a teenager. Even in those early years, his interests ranged widely. He was inspired by the artistry of guitarists such as Django Reinhardt, Andrés Segovia, Chet Atkins, Les Paul, Wes Montgomery, Joe Pass, Earl Klugh, Jim Hall, and Grant Green, while also drawing inspiration from composers and innovators including Chick Corea, Pat Metheny, Steve Reich, Arvo Pärt, Brian Eno, and Neil Peart. That openness to diverse musical influences remains central to his creative life today.
Janson pursued advanced studies at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, earning a Master of Music degree in Guitar Performance. During his time there, he immersed himself in a wide range of musical traditions, including early music for stringed instruments, jazz, Indian classical music, and contemporary composition. Under the guidance of distinguished teachers including David Leisner, Robert Sullivan, Thomas Oboe Lee, and Thomas McKinley, he deepened his understanding of both performance and composition while beginning to forge an artistic voice of his own. The result was a style that draws naturally from multiple traditions while remaining rooted in melody, storytelling, and the expressive possibilities of the guitar.
Since launching his independent recording career in 1999, Janson has released a substantial body of work that chronicles his artistic evolution over more than two decades. His recordings—including Across the Bridge, Sometimes From Here, Firelight Moonlight, A Clear Stillness, Beautiful Day, Compass Rose, A Long Road, Places in Time, and Getting To Here—have earned critical recognition and reached listeners around the world. His album Beautiful Day received a NAR Lifestyle Music Award for Best Contemporary Instrumental Album, while his contributions to Jamie Bonk's My World helped earn Album of the Year and Best Instrumental Album honors. His recordings have been featured on public, commercial, college, satellite, and syndicated radio, as well as streaming and broadcast platforms internationally, generating millions of verified broadcasts across more than one hundred countries.
As a performer, Janson has appeared throughout the United States and Canada, building a reputation as a compelling solo guitarist whose concerts balance virtuosity, warmth, and musical depth. His performance credits include appearances at Carnegie Hall, the Montreal International Jazz Festival, Freight & Salvage, Club Passim, and numerous concert series, festivals, and listening rooms across North America. Along the way, he has collaborated with and shared stages with a diverse array of artists, including Grammy Award-winning flutist Wouter Kellerman, Michael Manring, Alex DeGrassi, Ed Gerhard, Tim Lerch, Peppino D'Agostino, Beppe Gambetta, Brooks Williams, Preston Reed, Tony McManus, Sean McGowan, Adam Miller, and many others. These collaborations reflect the breadth of Janson's musical interests and his longstanding commitment to artistic exchange.
In addition to his work as a performer and recording artist, Janson's music has found audiences through film, television, video games, documentaries, and other media. His compositions and recordings have been featured in projects ranging from independent productions to national broadcasts, including CBS News' documentary Living in the Shadows: Religion's Response to Human Trafficking. As a session musician, he also performed on the Billboard-charting recording Dust Bowl: American Stories, which spent eleven weeks in the Top 10 and reached No. 2 on the Heatseekers chart.
A dedicated advocate for independent artistry, Janson founded Eastern Woods Music (Records & Publishing), through which he has produced and released much of his catalog. In 2022, his growing international reach led to worldwide sub-publishing agreements with STOMP Music in South Korea and SUPREME SONGS Limited in the United Kingdom, further expanding the global audience for his work.
Equally important to Janson's career is his commitment to education. For many years he has served as an artist-educator at the University of Massachusetts Boston, where he directs jazz ensembles, teaches private guitar instruction, and works closely with students pursuing their own musical paths. He considers teaching an essential extension of his artistic life and takes particular pride in serving the diverse student population of UMass Boston. His experiences as both performer and educator have reinforced his belief that music is not only an art form, but also a powerful means of communication, cultural understanding, and personal growth.
Today, Peter Janson continues to perform, compose, record, and teach while pursuing new creative projects and collaborations. Whether appearing on stage, in the classroom, or through his recordings, he remains dedicated to creating music that invites listeners into a space of connection, nuance, and discovery. His work stands as a reflection of a lifelong commitment to artistic exploration and to the enduring possibilities of the guitar.