Webster alum Ian Buschmann knew he wanted to be a professional musician when he was a junior in high school.
Now, he’s made his dreams a reality by playing baritone saxophone for four St. Louis bands and even leading one of them.
Buschmann graduated from Webster in 2020 and received his Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies/Performance. He said studying jazz performance at Webster influenced his appreciation for arranging music and music composition.
The biggest gift his Webster education gave him was his new approach to music. Buschmann learned to not push out a product that hasn’t been fine-tuned and perfected.
The graduate also now believes in the importance of being surrounded by people who inspire and motivate each other, both in and outside of work.
He utilizes what he learned in his time at Webster in his own musical career. He said his real-world experience combined with his college education allows him to play in any musical environment in a way that truly serves music.
Now, the musician is a music department assistant at Webster.
“I go to work and I am inspired by the people who are creating at work, and then I come home, and then I get to play music and use that inspiration in my free time,” Buschmann said. “I love that I get to talk with people and collaborate with musicians who are here…It’s just inspiring.”
He’s made a difference in the people within the Webster community, too.
Graduate student CJ Schrieber recalled Buschmann helping bridge gaps in scheduling and room allocation processes in the Community Music School.
But what struck Schrieber was when the two bonded over their shared love of music.
Schrieber thinks the music Buschmann creates is fresh and exciting, with a different feel than other jazz music in St. Louis.
Schrieber cited his positivity as what makes him a unique musician.
“He’s a beam of light of a person,” Schrieber said.
Buschmann began The Iann Buschmann Project in 2022, a five-piece band that combines elements of jazz, blues and funk with a classic sound of modern overtones to compose pieces of music. He said listeners can expect to hear upbeat grooves, sentimental ballads and dirty blues from the group.
The namesake group is a rewarding way for Buschmann to blend the styles of music that he loves in a way that both musicians and audiences can connect with. For Buschmann, the group’s music is everything he’s comfortable with and challenged by all at the same time.
“The music speaks to me and it’s mainly music that I’ve wanted to perform,” Buschmann said. “It’s music that has influenced me, music that I think is interesting.”
Blake Mickens, bassist of the Ian Buschmann Project, said he is able to explore the music more than he typically would in a band.
“He’s (Buschmann) got this really developed sense of style that he exudes through playing saxophone, and it’s something that I’ve wanted to emulate,” Mickens said. “He’s always trying to give love to you whenever you’re playing and it’s really cool.”
Buschmann is also the saxophonist of Sweetie and the Toothaches, All Roostered Up and The Lucky Old Sons.
After attending trumpet auditions with a saxophone held by Sweetie and the Toothaches, he began playing with the 1960s R&B and blues ballad band in 2018. Buschmann wrote lyrics, arranged music, sang backup vocals and played the baritone saxophone for the group’s sophomore album “Fired Up!”.
Sweetie and the Toothaches lead vocalist and co-founder Emilie “Sweetie” Richard recognizes the impact Buschmann has had on the band.
“When Ian Buschmann joined our group, it inspired us to write more complex original songs and experiment with pushing the limits on well-known standards,” Richard wrote on the group’s Facebook page.
Music allows the alum to diversify his musical range and make connections with musicians who perform and specialize in different types of musical styles. It enables him to establish connections and relationships with people from all walks of life.
Mickens credits Buschmann’s ability to assemble a group of trustworthy musicians as a factor for the band’s success. Mickens also said Buschmann’s genuine support for the people around him amplifies the group’s energy and brings the group together.
“He’s always ready to be there for you and give you a bunch of advice,” Mickens said.
Buschmann said that the musical groups he’s part of are an integral part of his life, both professionally and personally. He found incomparable friendships that would not exist without music. The groups are a means to refine who he is as a musician.
Music encompasses all aspects of the saxophonist’s daily living. The art of creating music is the one of the biggest forces that drives him to do better every day.
“Music thus far has truly shaped my entire life,” Buschmann said. “It has taught me diligence, patience and that big changes cannot happen overnight.”
Buschmann hopes to continue creating music long-term and strives to pursue a master’s degree at Webster.
“I just want to create what I want to create,” he said. “My ultimate goal is to play the music that inspires me and, hopefully, people dig listening to it.”
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