Description:
Though it can reasonably be argued that rap grew almost directly out of funk and its particular beat, there are a lot of overlaps with jazz, particularly the bop and post-bop eras: the uninhibited expression, the depiction of urban life, just to name two. Jazz samples have also had a large role in hip-hop, but the idea of rapping over actual live jazz wasn't truly fully realized until Gang Starr MC Guru created and released the first in his Jazzmatazz series in 1993, with guest musicians who included saxophonist Branford Marsalis (who had previously collaborated with DJ Premier and Guru for the track "Jazz Thing" on the Mo' Better Blues soundtrack), trumpeter Donald Byrd, vibraphonist Roy Ayers, guitarist Ronny Jordan, and keyboardist Lonnie Liston Smith, as well as vocalist N'Dea Davenport (also of the acid jazz group the Brand New Heavies) and French rapper MC Solaar. While Guru's rhymes can occasionally be a little weak ("Think they won't harm you? Well they might/And that ain't right, but every day is like a fight" are the lines he chooses to describe kids on the subway in Brooklyn in "Transit Ride"), he delves into a variety of subject matter, from the problems of inner-city life to his own verbal prowess to self-improvement without ever sounding too repetitive, and his well-practiced flow fits well with the overall smooth, sultry, and intelligent feel of the album. From Jordan's solo on "No Time to Play" to Ayers' vibes expertise on "Take a Look (At Yourself)" to MC Solaar's quick and syllabic rhymes on "Le Bien, le Mal," Jazzmatazz, Vol. 1 (and what turned out to be the best of the series) is a rap album for jazz fans and a jazz album for rap fans, skillful and smart, clean when it needs to be and gritty when that's more effective, helping to legitimize hip-hop to those who doubted it, and making for an altogether important release. ~ Marisa Brown, AMG

Track Listing:

1.	Introduction [1:20]
2.	Loungin' [4:38]
3.	When You're Near [4:02]
4.	Transit Ride [3:58]
5.	No Time to Play [4:54]
6.	Down the Backstreets [4:47]
7.	Respectful Dedications [0:54]
8.	Take a Look (At Yourself) [3:59]
9.	Trust Me [4:27]
10.	Slicker Than Most [2:36]
11.	Bien, le Mal [3:21]
12.	Sights in the City [5:10]

Availability
This is an import product, and as such may take longer to source stock, we estimate that despatch will take 35-40 days after ordering, click here for more information regarding import products.

Customers who shopped for JAZZMATAZZ VOLUME 1 (EUROPEAN IMPORT) also shopped for

BAKER, CHET / MY FUNNY VALENTINE CD Album

HILLSONG CHURCH / FOR ALL YOU'VE DONE VHS (PAL)

HILLSONG CHURCH / SHOUT TO THE LORD - PLATINUM COLLECTION VOLUME 1 CD Album

DAVIS, MILES / COMPLETE BIRTH OF THE COOL CD Album

More music > jazz & blues > acid jazz

More music > import > jazz & blues

More GURU