Search - Jango :: Closer to Home

Closer to Home
Jango
Closer to Home
Genres: Jazz, Pop
 
  •  Track Listings (13) - Disc #1

Many young players think that it's hip to include retro-soul elements like Hammond B-3 organ, Wurlitzer keyboards, and wah-wah guitars into their smooth jazz mix. The five studio-musician members of Jango, however, came of...  more »

     
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CD Details

All Artists: Jango
Title: Closer to Home
Members Wishing: 0
Total Copies: 0
Label: Samson Music
Original Release Date: 7/11/2000
Release Date: 7/11/2000
Genres: Jazz, Pop
Style: Smooth Jazz
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPCs: 602582021024, 602582021321

Synopsis

Amazon.com
Many young players think that it's hip to include retro-soul elements like Hammond B-3 organ, Wurlitzer keyboards, and wah-wah guitars into their smooth jazz mix. The five studio-musician members of Jango, however, came of age as players in the 1970s and revel in living completely in the past, unabashedly centering whole tunes (both vocal and instrumental) on the styles of Ace, Tom Scott, and Steely Dan. Their 1999 debut, Dreamtown, was a bit too focused on copying the Becker-Fagen style, and while Steve Nieves's voice and the crafty lyrics of oddball tunes like "The Beard" and "Pink Flamingos" on Closer to Home are still in that vein, Jango interjects lots of L.A. Express-type instrumentals and gentle ballads that offer greater depth. A decent vocalist, Nieves shines brighter fronting on sax. Caressed by a rising brass section on "Soul Casserole," his jumpy alto leaps and dives around a crunching of wah-wah and rhythm guitars (care of Nick Kirgo) and a swirling Fender Rhodes harmony by Steve LeGassick. The swinging funk tune "Diamond Drive" finds multiple textures of Nieves's horn and LeGassick's Rhodes creating a powerful duality, while Kirgo snaps along underneath. The band's exciting synergy is best summarized by "The Score--Part 2," a jam that blends horn accents, a simmering sax line, and brooding organ textured with a Rhodes harmony. "Kool Down EZ" offers a peek into what Jango would sound like without the constant '70s mindset. But then, without that, a lot of the charm is lost. --Jonathan Widran

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CD Reviews

Another Excellent Release
Scott Boettcher | Ogden, UT USA | 07/13/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)

"I'd just gotten the first Jango release, Dreamtown, about four weeks ago and it hasn't really left my CD player since. Jango is an LA band of obviously highly talented musicians with heavy nods towards Steely Dan (both lyrically and stylistically) and Toto (check out "Message to Ramona" from the first CD). The new CD, Closer To Home, is (thankfully) more of the same. It includes two tracks, "Soul Casserole" and "Nightside Express" which display a funkier side of the band that wasn't that evident on the first release, very tasty. This is the type of music that can serve both as a "background" to a fine meal and Merlot, or turn the lights down and listen to directly. It's also beautifully recorded, and I predict it'll be a "demo" CD for high-end audio salons. Highly Recommended!"
One Of The Better Pop/smooth Jazz CD`s
don | N. Dartmouth, Ma. USA | 09/13/2000
(4 out of 5 stars)

"As a youth I don`t know if singer Steve Nieves listened to allot of Donald Fagen and Walter Becker of Steely Dan, but whether he did or not Jango could be mistaken for the same, especially tracks 2,4, 11 and 5. (although LeGassick and Price wrote most of the songs) But saying that is definitely a compliment for we must admit Fagen did and has put some fine music out over the airwaves over the years. The rest of the tracks are in the light jazz vein (sax upfront with stimulating rhythms) and are well written and produced. Track 8 could very well be Kenny G, while #12 could be mistaken on first hear for Steve Cole. All n` all a Cd that won`t end up with the " don`t play anymore" pile."