Erik Janson

07.10.2008 -- Review by: Ev Hodge

The Santa Monica singer-songwriter previously performed the sound track for a film “The Man Who Came Back,” and extends his Americana style to also explore Soul and R’n’B territory for his first full album Morning In Paradise.”

Janson’s musical turf includes San Francisco, Los Angeles and Hollywood. The sophisticated arrangements and layering of sound on many tracks show a mature talent with plenty of range at work, soundly backed by committed and talented players.

Janson wrote all 12 songs on Morning In Paradise and has gathered a sympathetic crew: Craig Ferguson adds lap steel, dobro and guitar, 12-string electric guitar, banjo, and pedal steel, and assisted with string and horn arrangements, orchestration and production. David Sutton brings upright and electric bass to the recording, while Chris Joyner provided Wurlitzer, piano and organ touches. Two drummers filled out the strong rhythms – Butch Norton and Luke Adams. Miguel Artwood Ferguson added viola and violin and David Ralicke Trombone and Saxophones; Trumpet and Flugelhorn from Chris Bautiste, Jeff Young plays organ and piano; David Alexander adds clarinet and organ; and David Kalish plays dobro. With so many musical voices and colors to flesh out the songs, it’s no wonder that such a rich-sounding record resulted. Mastering was done by Joe Gastwirt and Engineering by Mike Masters. Kara Block’s contemplative photographs for the CD package are also used on Janson’s website.

Janson sang all lead lines, added harmonies, played Mellotron, Glockenspiel, Rhodes piano and other keyboards, worked out the string and horn arrangements and handled production. A complete musician, Janson shows the strength of his gifts across a wide range of songwriting styles. On his myspace site he cites some diverse influences – from Townes Van Zandt to Curtis Mayfield, from Hall and Oates to Lightnin’ Hopkins. But his music delivers all that and will definitely find a welcoming audience, probably appealing to a very wide demographic indeed.

This is an excellent debut from all angles - great musicianship with thorough heart-felt songwriting full of delicate harmonic and tempo changes, great hooks, crisp direct arrangements and obvious reverence for being part of the continuum of American music. Janson has dedicated his first album to his grandparents. Morning In Paradise is on sale through Itunes, CD Baby and in stores.