Live At Jim's
After releasing his second full length album,
“Snapshots of the Universe” in May of 2007,
musician Michael
Jantz has already
followed up with a hard hitting six song EP,
“Live at
Jim’s”.
Jantz, a Cleveland favorite who moved to the
DC area in 2004, has garnered coverage from
XM Radio and internet radio stations for
“Snapshots”, as well as licensing agreements
with MTV for “The Hills” and “Road Rules”.
Snapshots" has also been nominated for
a 2007 WAMMIE for Rock Recording.
“Live at Jims” is sure to add to the positive buzz
from critics and fans alike.
The drive for “Live at Jim’s” was born out of
rehearsals between Jantz and his band members
in preparation of going on tour to support
“Snapshots”.
“I had all these new guys together, with all
these distinct skills and unique talents at my
disposal, and the creative juices just started
flowing,” Jantz said. “These songs were written to
play to strengths of these specific musicians.”
The Davenports are comprised of popular DC
local musicians, Jim Donohue on upright/electric
bass and
former Bicycle Thieves drummer
Dan
Perriello, rounded out by the impressive
talents
of local harmonica player Chris
Nammour in his debut recording.
The material also reflects a shift in influences
on Jantz’s song writing, blending indie rock
sensibilities drawn from modern acts like Black
Rebel
Motorcycle Club, Ryan Adams and M. Ward, with
more classic rhythm and blues based rock and
country rock. The sound on the new EP has been
compared to work by The Band, The Black Crowes,
CSNY, and as one fan put it, “Bob Dylan after he
plugged in.”
“Live at Jim’s” marks the first production
foray for Jantz. Bassist Jim Donohue also pulled
double duty as engineer for the EP, which was, as
its title suggests, recorded in his basement
studio.
“I really wanted to capture the vibe and energy
of the live performance,” Jantz said. “We went
in and recorded these songs as soon as we
\could play them through. Although we went
back and refined and crafted each track, what
you’re
hearing are those fresh first takes.“
The band plans on making “Live at Jim’s” a free
digital download, with CD’s and MP3’s available
through online outlets including CD Baby and
iTunes.
Snapshots Of The Universe....
UP
FROM THE STREET CORNERS — TWICE
Singer/songwriter
Michael Jantz earned his skills the hard way, working the open mics in his
hometown of Cleveland and wandering through Europe playing on street corners.
He built his reputation up song by song until it paid off: Jantz became a top
local name, toured with Paul Simon and Brian Wilson, and released a successful
self-titled album In 2004 he was voted “Best Male Singer/Songwriter” in the
Cleveland Free Times Reader Poll. The next week, he left town to follow a
girlfriend to Washington DC.
"It's
kind of like starting from square one," Jantz says. "You have to
prove yourself all over again; build relationships with bar owners, critics,
the people who come see you perform. I went from being a top draw in my
hometown to being a complete unknown.” He started playing open mics again and
even busking for change in subway stations.
But
the experience shows. Jantz has taken the high-energy atmosphere of his new
hometown, and the shock of being dropped into a bustling, unfamiliar city, and
channeled them into his songwriting. His songs have won him a large DC
following in a short time: Jantz appeared in Entertainment DC' magazine’s ‘Best
of Local Music’ in 2005, placed high in On
Tap magazine's ‘2006 Texas Roadtrip Competition’, and was named ‘Artist to
Watch in 2006’ by radio station Z104.
In
addition to performing at an array of local and regional gigs, Jantz has a
Sunday night residency playing at the Wonderland Ballroom. Having befriended a
wide swath of local musicians, each week he invites different acts to perform
as well.
Jantz
also maintains strong ties to his Ohio roots, making frequent trips to
Cleveland. He recorded his 2006 follow-up album, Snapshots of the Universe, with two of his childhood best friends.
"We've
been friends since we were kids," Jantz said of engineer Tom Schick (Ryan
Adams, Rufus Wainwright, Sean Lennon, Yoko Ono) and producer Jerry Becker, who
has produced for The Bittersweets and Rob Hotchkiss of Train among others.
Recording
in San Francisco at both the famous Hyde Street Studios as well as The Sunset,
a local studio and community center, Jantz also had help from several big name
musicians. Snapshots features drummer
Steve Bowman (the Bittersweets, Counting Crows, Third Eye Blind), Bittersweets
singer Hannah Prater, and guitar work from Scott Barkan of Barky and Hypnotic
Clambake. Fred Kevorkian (the White Stripes, Ryan Adams, Dave Matthews Band,
Iggy Pop) mastered the album.
Snapshots reveals an
older, wiser, and more polished musician than on his self-titled 2002 release. Snapshots ranges from rollicking
acoustic-based rock to mellow storyteller blues. “For the past year, I put
every single moment of joy, grief, anger, and love into this album,” says
Jantz. You can hear it.
The Lakewood Observer
By Martha Wood
I guess I'll always be grateful for my experience as a
street performer,” says singer/songwriter Michael Jantz.“It wasn't an
aspiration, but that's how I learned how to communicate as a musician. I've
been completely reborn and liberated from everything I thought I knew about
making music by playing on the street.”
Jantz earned his skills the hard way, working open mics in Cleveland and
wandering through Europe playing on street corners. “I went to Europe
completely frustrated with being in bands with people who didn't have a good
work ethic or didn't share the same vision,” he says of his artistic
development. “It was only then that I figured out how I could say what I wanted
through music - by myself. From there, I pretty much played wherever I could -
the subways of New York, the streets of Toronto, cafes and streets in Portugal,
Spain, Italy, France - anywhere anyone would listen.”
His tenacity and contentment with making music for music’s sake paid off. In
the space of just over a year, Jantz went from busking for pocket change on the
sidewalks of Europe to warming up audiences on the Paul Simon/Brian Wilson 2001
summer tour in giant amphitheaters on the east coast. He was voted “Best Male
Singer/Songwriter” in the 2004 Cleveland Free Times Reader’s Poll.
Almost immediately afterward, Michael left our city for Washington, D.C. to
follow his girlfriend.
Working his way up from playing in subways and city
parks for pocket change was hard enough the first time around but doing it a
second time taught him more than he can describe. “It’s kind of like starting
from square one,” Jantz says. “You have to prove yourself all over again; build
relationships with bar owners, critics, the people who come see you perform. I
went from being a top draw in my hometown to being a complete unknown.”
Michael Jantz returns to his hometown on Sunday, October 28 to perform for
Lakewood Public Library’s “Sunday with the Friends” series. He will talk about
his songwriting, his musical career and he will perform songs from his latest
CD, Snapshots of the Universe. The program begins at 2 p.m. and
is free and open to the public.
Snapshots of the Universe reveals an older, wiser, and more polished musician
than on his self-titled 2002 debut. The music ranges from rollicking
acoustic-based rock to mellow storyteller blues. “For the past year, I put
every single moment of joy, grief, anger, and love into this album,” says
Jantz. Since there is no single style of music, the album shifts directions
throughout the 11 tracks, which includes Michael’s version of the old Leadbelly
classic, Goodnight Irene. These are the songs that have won him a large
DC following in a short time. Michael earned the title of “Artist to Watch In
2006” from radio station Z104 in Washington, D.C. He has also appeared in
“Entertainment DC” magazine's ‘Best of Local Music’ in 2005.
District Creatives
By Kevin Koski
As we ease into the second or third day of fall, we can all feel that crisp
autumnal 89 degree breeze start to rip through our tank-tops and shorts… What
the heck is going on?! Well, the best thing to do when we’re blessed here in
thie Mid-Atlantic with a wonderful “Indian Summer” is to get outside and enjoy
it. And what better way to enjoy the weather, than to hit up the Arlington’s ‘Clarendon Day’
festival this coming Saturday, noon to 7pm. Events throughout the day
include restaurant
vendors, artists vendors, and a main performance stage that includes a set
from one of DC’s best singer/songwriters, Michael Jantz, and his talented band,
the Davenports. Originally from Ohio, Michael has cut his teeth here in the DC
area over the past few years, playing such venues as Rock & Roll Hotel,
and Wonderland,
released an album last year, and is planning a live EP release in the coming
months. So do yourself a favor, and get outside this weekend. You never know
when this weather is going to change. And get to Clarendon, see MJ & the Davenports, and check out
some of Arlingtons’ creatives. -kk
Melodic.Net
By Kaj Roth
Washington based singer/songwriter Michael Jantz second
album "Snapshots of the universe" will please fans of Neil Young,
Paul McCartney and even Eric Clapton because his voice reminds a lot of Neil
Young mixed with Paul McCartney.
The music is bluesy singer/songwriter rock with folk rock vibes, "Mama?s
coming home" is a bit different compared to the rest with it?s rootsy
country rock.
The folk rock-ish "Sierra" goes in the vein of Van Morrison while
"You" could?ve been a lost John Lennon tune.
I like the catchy opening track "Love is but an ocean" with a great
pop chorus, this is nothing but a good album for all fans of this genre.
On Tap Magazine
Michael Jantz
Snapshots of the Universe
With the attitude of Jason Mraz, wit of John Mayer and the penchant for
crafting infectious pop songs, Michael Jantz leads the pack of
singer-songwriters in the District. His choice of album title, “Snapshots of
the Universe,” is very telling: Jantz explores various styles of songwriting
from the breezy pop of “Love is but an Ocean” to the bouncy blues of “Mama’s
Comin’ Home,” leaving few musical territories neglected.
Stirring,
jazzy rock that will sweep you away. "Jantz's engaging voice is the
initial draw, great arrangements, solid, lush songwriting..." M.B.
Cincinatti City Beat
|
