Nano 3 - Sophisticated Funk for the Masses

Catching Nano 3 upstairs at Scruffy's Bar in the Bridesburg section in Philly on Saturday night, is a nice way to end the week. Nano 3' s songs are hum worthy They are melodic with plenty of hooks and hard charging chords. Since the original members have been playing together since their high school days, in the Lehigh Valley, they are tight. They sprinkle their original tunes with a few covers, like a jazzy version of James Taylor's Steamroller Blues.

The soloists in the band are Greg Snyder on guitar and Tyree Barron, on saxophone. What distinguishes the band is how the guitar and sax's jazzy solos stretch the melodies to their harmonic edges, never becoming trite or atonal, and always coming back around to the song's chorus and melody with some rock and roll chops.

Greg Snyder is a Philadelphia based jazz and classically trained guitarist who came out of Temple University's Jazz program. He teaches at several schools and colleges in the area, and his gigs include everything from orchestra pit musician in Man of La Mancha, to duets with Dena Underwood, and saxophonist Tyree Barron, in addition to playing blues with James Day and the Fish Fry. Nano 3 members Greg Snyder, Tyree Baron, and drummer Mike Ducassoux are veterans of Temple University's Jazz program.

Unlike a lot of jazz and classically trained guitarists, who can sound restrained and flat, Greg Snyder can let it rip like a Corvette in the passing lane. Some of his solos remind me of Jeff Beck, and some of the band's rhythms are reminiscent of funky, Average White Band grooves.

What makes the band unique is singer James Cargill. He's blessed with a pleasing set of pipes, a rarity in rock and roll. He croons in a smooth alto, the kind you might hear echoing from a Vegas show room, after midnight. He's done stints on Carnival Cruise, and in Vegas and LA. Naturally, he hails from the state whose soil produces the world's best crooners - New Jersey. That's in addition to New Jersey growing egg plants the size of gorilla heads and being a great burial ground for guys like Tony Soprano's Uncle Junior.

Nano 3 are perfect for any upscale club or restaurant, who require their musicians to add a little extra octane to complement the normal cocktail chatter. The guys are friendly and down to earth. They used to gig at Club 218 on South St. before the club recently closed. This is more evidence that Philly's music scene is on life support, and could benefit from:

1) Increased tourism

2) The long delayed Center City casinos

3) Even, a boat load of drunken sailors

4) Or, a carload of spoiled University Of Pennsylvania students partying on daddy's AIG bonus check

We're lucky to have these Lehigh Valley natives playing in the Philly area. Check them out at and hear some generous free, audio samples at their Myspace site. http://profile.myspace.com/nano3music

and Greg Snyder's Myspace site.

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewProfile&friendID=27696209