Nu jazz
Boulevard (1995) - St Germain [Amazon.com] [FR] [DE] [UK]
Definition
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, German Jazzanova and Fila Brazillia from the UK; 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, Jaga Jazzist, Nils Petter Molvær and others.
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.
See also: brokenbeat.
--http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nu_jazz [Apr 2005]
It is a testament to the genre's fortitude that Jazz has outlived the many faddish music trends emerging in the 103 years after its inception. Some bordering on the farcical (euro cheese, "world music"), most over-credited (grunge, smooth "jazz" and retro-swing) and none possessing the ingenuity of Jazz to update and reinvent itself. The soul of jazz is its uncanny ability to weave itself in and out of other genres while retaining its essence, whatever this may be at the time since it evolves even within itself (consider the myriad variants which have surfaced.
Yet, it is precisely this vision to redefine and reconceptualise jazz which has been its most vicious enemy in recent years; as various charlatans (especially the Buddha Bar series and later part of Café Del Mar) scrambled to "reinvent" jazz into a sham called "nu-jazz" - think passé chill-out beats, generic rapping, hammy vintage jazz samples and hackneyed funk guitars. In light of this, we scrutinize the efforts of 2 soothsayers of sound who are on the "nu-jazz" bandwagon, unwittingly or otherwise. Before we proceed we have to remember that the venerable old dame herself begs definition. One must be aware that Jazz is greater than the sum of its musicians (Jazz is not simply anything by Miles Davis and not everything by Miles Davis is jazz) and it is itself a conflation of diverse music genres from European Classical music to African Tribal Rhythms to Latin styles to even Indian influences. --Bernard Chung, http://www.funkygrad.com/estyle/displayarticle.php?artID=282&subcat=popcorn
Jazz electronica
Gary Giddins, a critic for The Village Voice who has written several books about jazz, says what is happening with jazz and electronica is no different from what Louis Armstrong did in the 1920s when he started playing Tin Pan Alley songs on his trumpet. ''Jazz has had a very involved relationship with popular music from the beginning,'' Giddins says. ''The idea that jazz could go off somewhere in a cocoon and pretend that it doesn't have anything to do with the world is always suicidal. I'm always glad to see jazz musicians going into other areas.'' Steve Greenlee, Boston Globe 2/17/2002 [April 2003] [...]Gilles Peterson
Gilles Peterson is a DJ and founder of the Talkin' Loud record label. He used to have a radio show on London's Kiss FM dance music station, but was recruited to the BBC's youth-oriented Radio 1 in 1998.
Peterson is known for his eclectic musical selections. Though not as "anything goes" as John Peel, he plays anything from dub and reggae through jazz, nu-jazz, drum and bass and hip-hop. --http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilles_Peterson [Apr 2005]
see also: Gilles Peterson - acid jazz
Boulevard (1995) - St Germain
Boulevard (1995) - St Germain [Amazon.com] [FR] [DE] [UK]
Initially released in 1995, Boulevard sold over 300,000 copies worldwide, was elected Record of the Year in England and served as a cornerstone for a legion of artists and producers interested in trying to capture its elusive and sexy grooves. Boulevard, new version the complete series includes two special extra songs, including the rare early hit "Alabama Blues," both taken from 1999’s From Detroit to St. Germain, a compilation of cuts recorded over seven years. This is a recent re-release with extra tracks. --via Amazon.com
Saint Germain is the stage name of Ludovic Navarre, a French electronica and nu jazz musican. His album Boulevard was released in July 1995 and has sold over 300,000 copies worldwide. His United States debut, Tourist, was released in 2000 and sold 200,000 copies. Bob Marley, Toots and the Maytals, Miles Davis and Kool and the Gang are among Ludovic's early influences. He composed his first work under the name of Sub System with friend Guy Rabiller. He has released EPs under a number of aliases, among them Deep Side, LN's, Modus Vivendi, Nuages and Soofle. --http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Germain_%28musician%29 [Mar 2005]
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
Jazzanova is a German Berlin-based DJ/producer collective consisting of Alexander Barck, Claas Brieler, Jürgen von Knoblauch, Roskow Kretschmann, Stefan Leisering, and Axel Reinemer. The group is one of the foremost proponents of the nu-jazz and jazz house styles of music associated with record labels such as Compost Records and Sonar Kollektiv.
They also have a side-project, "Extended Spirit". They also gained recognition as innovative remixers for a vast number of acts such as Marschmellows, Ian Pooley, Incognito, 4 Hero, M J Cole and Masters at Work to name but a few. --http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jazzanova [Mar 2005]
Motion (1999) - Cinematic Orchestra
Motion (1999) - Cinematic Orchestra [Amazon.com] [FR] [DE] [UK]
The Cinematic Orchestra is a British-based jazz and electronic outfit created in the late 1990s by Jason Swinscoe which records on the Ninja Tune record label. In both live and studio context, the Cinematic Orchestra employ a live band which improvises along with a turntabilist and electronic elements such as samples provided by Swinscoe. In their studio releases Swinscoe will often remix the live source material to produce a finished product that is seamless combination of live jazz improvisation with electronica, such that it is difficult to tell where the improvisation ends and the production begins. Cinematic Orchestra have been noted for their new soundtrack to the classic 1929 Dziga Vertov Russian film Man with the Movie Camera. --http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinematic_Orchestra [Oct 2004]
Fila Brazilia
. The Persuaders Theme - John Barry 2. Firefly - Homelife 3. Hero Theme - Infesticons 4. Bucket Bottom - Prince Alla 5. Get a Move On - Mr.Scruff 6. T Plays it Cool - Marvin Gaye 7. Regiment - Brian Eno 8. It's Not Too Beautiful - The Beta Band 9. Rodney Yates - David Holmes 10. Nature Boy - Fila Brazillia 11. Nuclear Symphony - Unforscene 12. Les Nuits - Nightmares on Wax 13. Blue Skies - Outside 14. Suspended - Kelis 15. Prelude & Fugue in C minor - The Swingle Sisters
1. Brazil - Xavier Cugat 2. Don't Mind If I Do - Bushy 3. Girl - Pepe Deluxe 4. Theme From 17 - Kings Of The Wild Frontier 5. Back By Dope Demand - Naab 6. Men Are Not Nice Guys - Grand Popo FC 7. Ligeirin - Heitor(Afro On Mix) 8. Talco Uno - Jolly Music (Tiefschwarz Mix) 9. Strict Machine - Goldfrapp (Ewan Pearson Remix) 10. I Love You - Yello 11. Bloodsport - Killing Joke 12. Gangsta Disco - 12" Superstars 13. LMF - Tutto Matto 14. Alles Ist Dada - Mense Reents (Electronicat Mix)
Moving () - Bugge Wesseltoft
Jens Christian Bugge Wesseltoft (born February 1, 1964) is a Norwegian jazz musician. He has his own label named Jazzland Records. In the 1990s, Bugge has made a transition from nordic jazz traditions exemplified by the ECM record label to a style sometimes referred to as "future jazz" or nu jazz. He has played with Jan Garbarek. --http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bugge_Wesseltoft [Apr 2005]
Top Secret is a mixed bag of downtempo jazz treats and sweet-sounding rhythmic forays into the dark of night. With this recording, Marc Moulin craftily blends the sound of processed sexy vocals and collages them against the sounds of muted trumpets, congas, guitars, and lively trap drumming. This work comes alive with a jazz flavor, one that seems to have been used by a variety of performers and producers, but one that is uniquely Marc Moulin. Top Secret is a journey through the kaleidoscopic sound world of 1960s bossa jazz with a taste of Wes Montgomery, George Benson, and George Duke.Marc Moulin's Top Secret seems to be half downtempo 1990s chill recording, and half contemporary jazz, which makes an interesting fusion. This is an interesting recording and one that certainly breathes new life into the genre of acid jazz, or downtempo music. All in all, a fantastic disc. --Matt Borghi for freeform.org
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.
Nathan Haines (born: 1972) is one of New Zealand’s foremost jazz musicians. His style is said to be a fusion of jazz, modern dance music, and hip-hop. --http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nathan_Haines [May 2006]
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