The first thing you notice about Jans when you hear his voice, is the contrasting, pale complexion.  Voices like his were normally blessed upon singers of the darker persuasion, but with influences like Stevie Wonder,  Al Green, Curtis Mayfield, Marvin Gaye and D'angelo, Jans breaths soul just as well as our African brothers.  Or Maybe it is the fact that his style was influenced by his many travels around the globe, immersing himself in the many cultures that are the roots of most of the music we listen to today.   His passion to delve deep into the roots of his influences led him to Senegal, Mali, Guinee and Burkina Faso, where he travelled for six months studying with some of the most accomplished drummers and dancers of the region.  Percussionists Scott Messersmith and Jans with drummer Dave Watts, spent some time in Havana, Cuba where they studied the religious and social forms of Cuban music.

Here is what the 8-String guitar freak, Charlie Hunter had to say about Jans  : “Jans Ingber is a musical force to be reckoned with. His affinity for deep Soul Music, whether it be Donny Hathaway or Los Munequitos de Matanzas, is evident in everything he does. His long years of study and practice, in what some may think of as disparate aesthetics, have created a unique and soulful musical voice.”

Here is what Jans has to say about his journeys as a musician....

"I am a singer/multi-instrumentalist/producer.
I discovered that I was a singer right at the end of High school (somehow in direct correlation with discovering herb and my fathers record collection) I spent my days with the headphones on singing along to the greatest teachers one could have. Classic soul from late 60's to mid 70's. I then found another musical outlet and got completely involved in traditional West African drum and dance. That journey cemented in 1996 when I went to Senegal, Mali, Burkina Faso and Guinee for five months. Its Then that I started writing my own music. Fueled by a very strong community and supprotive parents I continued my studies and played for dance classes while saving money for my next journey.............Cuba. I fell in love with the song and drumming of the Afro-Cuban Folkloric pantheon.. I spent a total of five and a half months in Cuba, studying the song and Bata drums of the religion Santeria. All the while, still writing music, trying to speak the good words. In 2002 I made a similar trip to Brazil just soaking in all i could of the music. These experiences inevitably led to me a full time career in music. Since 1999 I have been living in Boulder, CO Playing music and enjoying myself immensly. I toured the country for 3 1/2 years with "The Motet" as a lead singer and percussionist. I was blessed to tour with Charilie Hunter as a guest vocalist in the fall of 2002 and sing with Norah Jones. I play in a handfull of groups here in Boulder while soaking in the beauty of my life with my wife and two young daughters. All of this has led me back to my own music. I recorded this album with the intention of creating something that I was truly proud of. I spent many months with my cohort and co-producer Steven Vidaic getting everything "right". I enlisted some of my favorite musicians (Garrett Sayers - Bass, Joe Russo - Drums, Erik Deutsch - Piano). I made it as a humble offering to you......i hope you enjoy it.
bless,
jan

Lets make sure Jans knows how much his soul is a part of Boulder, and come down and enjoy some of the best pints in town at the Mountain Sun. This show is free and starts at 10:00pm.

Garrett Sayers from the Motet on Bass
Joey Porter on Kyes
Dameion HInes on Drums
Jans Ingber on Vocals and percussion

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