Nees and Vos

Nees and Vos is one of those bands you listen to and wonder why they're not the biggest thing around. Complete with Andrew Neesley's trumpets, groove-shaking drums and even a backing gospel choir, this band swoops in and takes care of all your soul food needs.

Songs like 'Burn Me Down' and 'Remember Me' take care of business just fine, but the relentless cowbell in 'Build A Fortress' is all I thought I needed to hear.

And then I heard their epic cover of Gnarls Barkley's 'Who's Gonna Save My Soul,' and got a better idea of just how much this band is capable of. It's not an easy chore to fill in for Cee-Lo's vocals, but singer Chris Vos's buttery vocals, coupled with the souful barnburner of the backing band, produces a combination more than up to the task. Here's a group you ought to be paying attention to. - The Deli NYC

Nothing makes for a great summer jam like some blazing horns behind soulful vocals. Add some organ and chances are I’m hooked. Case in point is “Pretty Girl” by Nees and Vos, who tick all the boxes on their disc “Extended Play”. Nees and Vos are the duo of Chris Vos, who provides vocals and guitar, and Andrew Neesley who gives us the the trumpets, keyboards and production. They combine jazz and soul with subtle but effective electronic flourishes. All six songs are strong, with the aformentioned “Pretty Girl” being my favourite on the disc. Another standout is their take on the classic Bill Withers tune “Ain’t No Sunshine” - they do justice to the standard version with the extremely soulful vocals, but add electronic beats and a killer trumpet solo making it their own.

This ep would be a great soundtrack for summer nights. I recommend that for the upcoming long weekend you find a porch, open a cold beverage, put on this album and you will be all set. - http://bootlog.wordpress.com/

Just in time for summer, UW-Eau Claire alumnus and Monday Night jazz at the Stone's Throw founder Andrew Neesley and Milwaukee-based guitarist/vocalist Chris Vos have released their latest project, Extended Play. Extended Play is a much anticipated first effort for the Nees and Vos team, both Milwaukee area natives, who have jammed together a number of times over the past decade.

The album features six groovalicious, pop-oriented arrangements including four Neesley originals. All tracks demonstrate a great deal of diversity for fans familiar with Neesley's hard-driving jazz style. Neesley's keyboard sequencing and well-executed horn arrangements, featuring musicians from Minneapolis, New York, Milwaukee and Eau Claire, provide a stellar foundation for the soulful vocals of Chris Vos. A highlight of the album is a funky trombone solo by special guest Wycliffe Gordon on "Hey DJ." Check out www.neesandvos.com or myspace.com/neesandvos to get your hands on a copy of the CD. - Volume One Magazine

nly a few days ago I got the latest self-released EP from Nees and Vos and it has already made its way into our rotation and the t-shirt which accompanied it has already made it through the wash at least once. On the EP, the duo of Andrew Neesley (keys/trumpet/production) and Chris Vos (vocals/guitar) lay down a handful of catchy and soulful tunes that come across as a fusion of 60's/70's soul, rootsy rock, and hip-hop inspired beats. Like RJD2 backing the Black Crowes or even Lenny Kravitz playing the blues (if he actually had some soul) with a killer horn section, Nees and Vos make music that is perfect for chillin' out and having a good time. Every song on the EP is good and I guarantee that you'll be tapping your toes or nodding your head before its all over. - http://www.canyouseethesunset.com

Here’s a note to all musicians randomly submitting CDs to bloggers: follow Nees and Vos lead. After politely requesting to submit the hill a CD, Nees (Andrew Neesley) and Vos (Chris Vos) not only shipped us a record, but included a t-shirt, stickers, posters, info about the record and I think I found a kitchen sink trapped inside the manila.

I think for a band like Nees and Vos, the personal touch really helps. If I looked at the cover of this record, I’m not sure if I’d be overly hyped up on listening. The cover picture of Nees is a perfect hybrid of Common and Everlast – complete with the shamrock tattoo - and the back cover has a black and white of Vos singing into a mic under the shadows of a pulled down ball cap. My first impression was, “jebus, this is going to be some rip-rock, rap metal crap I’ll have to pretend to listen to.”

I couldn’t have been more wrong, or more pleasantly surprised. Nees and Vos combine a rootsy vibe with an affection for soul and melody. The six-song EP hits pretty hard, relying on an honest take on classic 60’s/70’s soul with a collection of modern tools. The record opens with (I Ain’t) Going Back to Georgia and the horns at the beginning remind me of the classic riffs Pete Rock and C.L. Smooth sampled back in the day. Vos has a smooth vocal style and the programmed beat really moves. You just start settling into the vibe when the keyboards and sing-along summery chorus drops. Matt Turner’s bass line moves along nicely and the guitar flourishes really fit in nicely. The song really set the tone for the EP.

Angel is a more of a straight ahead soul track. The organ matches the tone and energy of the vocals nicely. When Neesley’s handclap beat comes in, you can't help but nod along in agreement. The group understands and appreciates the power of soul, but doesn’t try to steal from the greats. Instead, they tip their cap and try to find their own niche in the genre. Pretty Girl has that same smoothed out vibe, but the kick of the beat is a real hand clapper. I can’t help but picture this song being played in some dark bar with Neesley sitting at piano, backed by a full band of horns while Vos plays the guitar and belts out the track with his eyes closed while the audience claps along in unison.

It’s easy to see I enjoy this little gem. It sounds great, and it’s unique and when the dubbed out beat comes in on Ain’t No Sunshine, I was hooked. The Bill Withers track is awesome to begin with, but the programming the band uses on this is tight. It sounds like an orchestra of stabbing strings off in the distance mixed nicely with horns. Chris’ vocals really sound good on this track. The emotion just pours out.

This review is already longer than the EP, but for a band trying hard to get their music heard, I think it’s well warranted. If you are into soul music, just give a listen to Johnny Boy and you’ll be sold. - http://www.herohill.com/