Brokenbeat
Definition
Brokenbeat is an electronic music genre first appearing at the beginning of the 21st Century. Appearing in the western parts of London, the genre is also referred to as West London.
Artists in this area mostly have a drum and bass, house, hip hop or techno background. As a result in a mixture from all of these, brokenbeat is more sophisticated than regular dance music, on the scale of jazz, soul or funk. Popular names are Bugz in the Attic, Seiji, Domu, Afronaught, Stephane and Alex Attias, 4 Hero and Jazzanova. --http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brokenbeat [Apr 2005]
Definition
Also called the West London sound, with names like IG Culture (aka New Sector Movements), Modaji, Phil Asher, Alex Attias, Dego, Domu, Modaji, Nubian Mindz, Seiji, Kaidi Thatam, Orin WaltersAs Drum&Bass has been ailing for a few years, a new genre has emerged from UK's West London merging afro-beat with "broken" breakbeats, Soul Jazz with electronic sounds...
"Broken Beat to me, it 's a term I have never really got to grips with. I don't do "broken beat", my beats are quite fixed thank you!" -- Excerpt from Colin Lindo interview featured at Hyperdub
"That's something I've always tried to fight against, the notion of West London and 'broken beats' and such. I think that when people give us those sorts of labels they tend to make us look a bit parochial. It just makes us look like we're a clique and we're not really about that." -- Excerpt from Modaji interview featured at Dotmusic
Breaks [...]
Nu Jazz
Nu-jazz (sometimes electro-jazz) was coined in the late 1990s to refer to styles which combine jazz textures and sometimes jazz instrumentation with electronic music. Like the term electronica, nu jazz is a loosely defined umbrella musical style. It ranges from the infusion of live instrumentation to house beats of jazz house exemplified by French St Germain and German Jazzanova; to more band-based improvised jazz with electronic elements such as that of the British Cinematic Orchestra, and the Norwegian future jazz style pioneered by Bugge Wesseltoft.
Nu-jazz typically ventures farther into the electronic territory than does its close cousin, acid jazz (or groove jazz), which is generally closer to earthier funk, soul and rhythm and blues, although releases from noted groove jazz artists such as the Groove Collective blur the distinction between the styles. --http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nu_jazz
Second Guess (2003) - Reel People
Second Guess (2003) - Reel People [Amazon.com] [FR] [DE] [UK]
1. Can’t Stop 2. Second Guess 3. Back 2 Base 4. Positive Over Negative 5. The Light 6. Runaway 7. Second Guess – The Journey 8. Washing Away 9. Steppin’ 10. Feel Free 11. Butterflies 12. Second Guess – The Destination
The quality of virtually every song is high even though there is a huge diversity of musical styles employed by the band. Mike Patto is surely one of the best writers of R&B/Jazz music around and Oli Lazarus' abilities as a top notch DJ in the London area only adds to the overall feel of the music. Add to this an array of excellent vocal talents and you have an album which has something for everyone. My favourite track Runaway employs a beautifully complex bass line and, unusually for this genre, a real drummer. This gives the track plenty of oomph; something missing from many dance tunes these days. The vocal overlay is bordering on pop; the combined effect is extremely pleasing to the ear. I believe that if this track is released as a single it will be a crossover hit. Back to base is another excellent song which could also lead to great things if released from the the album. Of the singles so far, Second Guess is reminiscent of Steely Dan in their heyday. Overall an excellent debut album and I look forward to their follow up. --anonymous, via amazon.co.uk
Reel People are officially comprised of Papa Records boss Oli Lazarus, engineer Tom Davidson and Restless Soulster Mike Patto. A sneaky peek at the liner notes of their debut LP reveals, however, that this is no three-man party.
Guest producers DJ Spinna, Phil Asher, Afronaught and Seiji leap immediately off the page, pretty much guaranteeing a dope selection of beats. Live musicians like Kiwi sax-man Nathan Haines and Neville Malcolm (Horace Andy, Marlena Shaw) are equally as promising. And the choice of featured vocalists - Vanessa Freeman, Krim, Peter Nelson and Dyanna Fearon amongst others seems considered to say the least. --http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/dance/reviews/reel_guess.shtml [Jul 2004]
The Remixes 1997-2000 (2000) - Jazzanova
The Remixes 1997-2000 (2000) - Jazzanova [Amazon.com] [FR] [DE] [UK]
Track Listings Disc: 1 1. We Who Are Not as Others [Jazzanova Mix] - 4hero 2. Soulpower [Jazzanova's Straight Dub Mix] - Marschmellows 3. Watch Them Come!!! [Jazzanova Mix] - Men From The Nile 4. Carajillo [Jazzanova's Chant for Leo Mix] - Trüby Trio 5. Get into My Groove [Jazzanova Re-Groove Mix] - Incognito 6. High Priestess [Jazzanova Mix] - Karma 7. Welcome to the Party [Jazzanova Mix] - The Har-You Percussion Group 8. Friends...We'll Be [Jazzanova Mix] - United Future Organization 9. Amazon Adventure [Jazzanova Mix] - Azymuth 10. Words of Love [Re-Loved by Jazzanova] - Soul Bossa Trio
Disc: 2 1. Fifths [Jazzanova 6 Sickth Mix] 2. Circe [Jazzanova Mix] - Ursula Rucker 3. Absolute Space [Jazzanova Mix] - Koop 4. Complete Life [Jazzanova Mix] - Liquid Lounge Vs. Jazzanova 5. What's Your Number [Jazzanova Renumber] - Ian Pooley 6. Metti Una Sera a Cena [Jazzanova Mix] - Balanco 7. Burnin' [Jazzanova Mix] - Tate's Place 8. Planet of Breaks [Jazzanova Mix] - Visit Venus 9. Toda Tersafeira [Jazzanova Rework] - Soul Quality Quartet 10. Sincere [Jazzanova Sincerely Yours Remix] - Nova Casper
CDs
- Jazzanova - The Remixes 1997-2000[1CD, Amazon US]
Track Listings Disc: 1 1. We Who Are Not as Others [Jazzanova Mix] - 4hero 2. Soulpower [Jazzanova's Straight Dub Mix] - Marschmellows 3. Watch Them Come!!! [Jazzanova Mix] - Men From The Nile 4. Carajillo [Jazzanova's Chant for Leo Mix] - Trüby Trio 5. Get into My Groove [Jazzanova Re-Groove Mix] - Incognito 6. High Priestess [Jazzanova Mix] - Karma 7. Welcome to the Party [Jazzanova Mix] - The Har-You Percussion Group 8. Friends...We'll Be [Jazzanova Mix] - United Future Organization 9. Amazon Adventure [Jazzanova Mix] - Azymuth 10. Words of Love [Re-Loved by Jazzanova] - Soul Bossa Trio Disc: 2 1. Fifths [Jazzanova 6 Sickth Mix] 2. Circe [Jazzanova Mix] - Ursula Rucker 3. Absolute Space [Jazzanova Mix] - Koop 4. Complete Life [Jazzanova Mix] - Liquid Lounge Vs. Jazzanova 5. What's Your Number [Jazzanova Renumber] - Ian Pooley 6. Metti Una Sera a Cena [Jazzanova Mix] - Balanco 7. Burnin' [Jazzanova Mix] - Tate's Place 8. Planet of Breaks [Jazzanova Mix] - Visit Venus 9. Toda Tersafeira [Jazzanova Rework] - Soul Quality Quartet 10. Sincere [Jazzanova Sincerely Yours Remix] - Nova Casper
Very cool Studio K7/Compost 2 CD down tempo collection featuring remixes they did for the likes of, 4-Hero, Incognito, United Future Organization, Soul Bossa Trio, Ian Pooley and many more. This 2000 Jazzanova / Compost release comes in a double tri-fold digipak. - Jazzanova - In Between [1CD, Amazon US]
Berlin's Jazzanova are world-champion programmers, turning extreme technical skills into astonishing electro funk Muzak. Why it takes six grown men to make this music is a mystery, but in classic German style, the results are sleek, efficient, and intelligent. With tripped-up funk beats as their base, Jazzanova adorn detailed, shifting arrangements on In Between with various vocalists (Ursula Rucker, Capitol A) to intimate styles as diverse as Sergio Mendes's Brazilian sophistication, nu-electro, breakbeat hip-hop, and retro jazz fusion. Jazzanova's attempt at smooth soul music falls flat, but by and large, their fertile songs and staggering studio skills make In Between a landmark of the nu-jazz genre (along with recent albums by Koop and Cinematic Orchestra). Highlights include the Daft Punk-meets-Earth, Wind & Fire collision of "Mwela, Mwela"; the simmering street funk of "Another New Day"; and the oozing synthesizer color-forms of "Soon." Sampling and spinning nu-jazz dreams for dancers and listeners alike, Jazzanova educate while they entertain. --Ken Micallef - 4Hero - Creating Patterns [Amazon US]
Fourth full length from the amazing London Acid Jazz / Nu-Soul / Down-tempo act. Includes the beautiful first single 'Les Fleur'on which Carina Anderson reworks Minnie Ripperton's vocal against a 16 piece string and brass section. It is truly an unbelievable and gorgeous version. All you Jazz heads must hear it to believe it. Stunning. Other highlights include Jill Scott lending her vocal talents on 'Another Day' which could have easily fit on her debut album. Ursula Rucker contributes vocals to 'Time'. - Nathan Haines - Sound Travels [1CD, Amazon US]
Self confessed "jazz punk", Nathan Haines has contributed to recordings of Francois K., Ron Trent and Little Louie Vega. This album is a mixture of jazz, dub, funk and latin.
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