Because
Peppino D'Agostino has such a soft and lyrical approach, Mesa chose to market
Venus over Venice as an NAC or smooth jazz effort. This CD is far from hardcore jazz, but it does combine jazz elements with folk and pop--and it employs some jazz musicians, including flutist
Steve Kujala, violinist
Charlie Bisharat and percussionist
Brad Dutz. Pieces like "Goodbye Robbie" (a melancholy ode to the late guitarist
Robbie Basho), "Holy Man's Smile" and "Echo of Delphi Valley" are light enough to appeal to NAC tastes, but for
D'Agostino, light doesn't mean lightweight. Although his music is gentle, it isn't muzak.
D'Agostino is heard as a vocalist on the Italian-language ballad "Ancora un Istante" and a remake of
the Four Tops' "Walk Away Renee," which
D'Agostino (who doesn't have a great voice but gets his points across) successfully changes from Motown soul to pop-folk. 1988's Sparks would be a better investment, but
Venus over Venice is satisfying and decent more often than not. ~ Alex Henderson