Laid-back, happy and amiable as a person, the Portland-via-Southern-California transplant Gwizski (nom de real life James Vance) is simple. His beats, however, are anything but. Producing music on a variety of equipment, Vance constructs elaborate neo-jazz hip-hop jams with or without rappers to grace them. Two full-length albums into his career Vance is moving up and making better and better music - but still keeping his breezy Cali style. After a 2-year break in recording, this year"s Virgo Vibes pushes Vance"s style further and into a more-polished place. The beats on the record feature a jazzy, upbeat sound and some complex drum tracks that display Vance"s prowess as an arranger and programmer. As one of Portland"s many transplant citizens, James Vance is not unique. As one of Portland"s best hip-hop producers, he is. With two solid, detailed records under his belt already one can only imagine what work Vance has planned for the future. Based on his recent work one can guess that anything that comes in the ears ahead from Vance will but bumping, funky and anything but simple.