Jazzmatazz, Vol. 1

Jazzmatazz, Vol. 1 is a jazz rap album by alternative hip hop artist Guru, released on May 18, 1993 (see 1993 in music) on Chrysalis Records. The album revolutionized jazz rap, and is usually considered the first full-fledged fusion of jazz and hip hop. Live backing is provided by a band that includes Lonnie Liston Smith[?], Branford Marsalis, Rodney Jordan[?], Donald Byrd and Roy Ayers[?]. The album also features collaborations with N'Dea Davenport[?] (of the Brand New Heavies) and French rapper MC Solaar.

Jazzmatazz, Vol. 1 peaked at #24 and #91 on Billboard's Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums and the Billboard 200 albums charts. The single "Trust Me" peaked at #50 on the Hot R&B/Hip Hop Singles & Tracks chart. In spite of the lagging American sales, Jazzmatazz, Vol. 1 was a commercial success in Europe, where jazz was much more popular in the 1990s.

Track listing

1. "Introduction" - 1:20
2. "Loungin'" (with Donald Byrd on trumpet and piano) - 4:38
3. "When You're Near" (with N'Dea Davenport[?] on vocals and Simon Law[?] on keyboards[?]) - 4:02
4. "Transit Ride" (with Branford Marsalis on alto and soprano saxophone and Zachary Breaux[?] on guitar) - 3:58
5. "No Time to Play" (with Ronny Jordan[?] on guitar and D. C. Lee[?] on vocals) - 4:54
6. "Down to the Backstreets" (with Lonnie Liston Smith[?] on acoustic and electric piano) - 4:47
7. "Respectful Dedications" - :54
8. "Take a Look (At Yourself)" (with [[Roy Ayers] on vibraphone) - 3:59
9. "Trust Me" (with N'Dea Davenport on vocals) - 4:27
10. "Slicker Than Most" (with Gary Barnacle[?] on saxophone and flute) - 2:36
11. "Le Bien, Le Mal" (with MC Solaar) - 3:21
12. "Sights in the City" (with Courtney Pine[?] on alto and soprano sax and flute, Carleen Anderson[?] on vocals and Simon Law on keyboards) - 5:10

Personnel

• Roy Ayers - Vibraslap, Vibraphone
• Courtney Pine - Flute, Saxophone, Sax (Alto), Sax (Soprano)
• Lonnie Liston Smith - Piano, Keyboards, Piano (Electric)
• Ronny Jordan - Guitar
• Jimmy Bell - Engineer
• Guru - Arranger, Vocals, Producer, Mixing
• MC Solaar - Vocals
• Carleen Anderson - Vocals
• Gary Barnacle - Flute, Saxophone
• Zachary Breaux - Guitar
• Donald Byrd - Piano, Trumpet
• Zdar Cerbonschi - Engineer
• N'Dea Davenport - Vocals
• Keith Elam - Executive Producer, Concept Development
• Simon "The Funky Ginger" Law - Keyboards
• D.C. Lee - Vocals
• James B. Mansfield - Engineer
• Branford Marsalis - Saxophone
• Joe Quinde - Engineer
• Kieran Walsh - Engineer
• Ray Burmiston - Photography
• James Bell - Engineer
• Henry Marquez - Art Direction
• Doug Boehm - Assistant Engineer
• Craig Marcus - Engineer
• Michael Benabib - Photography
• David Carpenter - Assistant Engineer
• Diane Cuddy - Design
• Bill Adler - Liner Notes
• Luke Allen - Assistant Engineer
• Marc Villalonga - Photography

External links

• a detailed review (http://www.seditionists.org/HFh/reviews/050.nj38)