Review Summary: Adding to the future of nu-jazz.
All though Jazzanova reigns from Berlin and have “jazz” within their name they neither take tendencies within their music at all. Sure 2002’s ‘In Between’ may have a jazzy smoothness throughout, but don’t let that fool you. Next to other contemporaries they are on the forefront of the nu-jazz frontier. They add electronic, soul, jazz, and chillout musical themes throughout their albums. Jazzanova could be compared to other nu-jazz bands such as Jaga Jazzist, but they add more musical themes within their music. The group of DJs and producers have been making music for some time contributing to the electronic and break beat scene. It isn’t until they formed Jazzanova that we truly get to enjoy their styles.
The entire album keeps its smooth jazz feeling with various instruments entering in the spotlight. Even the flute makes the cut with the relaxing “Hanazoono”, at points driving it. What makes Jazzanova’s ‘In Between’ so odd is the fact they don’t necessarily stick with one theme in the music or vocals. “L.O.V.E. And You & I” garners a soulful vocalist that turns into a chorus driven song to a 7 minute soul fest. The smooth cymbal rushes keep the pace with various samples entering in its vein.
As stated previously ‘In Between’ does genre-bend back and forth. Featured vocalist Capital A in the song “The One-Tet” adds his hip-hop intricacies without actually forcing the music to change pace. Pianos and jazzy breaks keep in pace with his lyrics throughout. Making it an excellent song, even if the Capital A isn’t the best hip-hop influence you could get, Jazzanova still manages to bend it towards jazzy and RnB infused with the lone individual.
Electronica enjoys its share of time as well. Small instances within many tracks on ‘In Between’ involve electronica; especially the background in “Mwela, Mwela”. Unnoticed at first, you’ll soon catch its fusion within the track. The chorus and blissful driven song loves to add small waves of electronic with various cymbal hits. It isn’t until Valérie Etienne & Rob Gallagher decide to push through the song you truly feel you’re listening to a jazzy record, electronic influence aside. Although the long-running tracks within the album seem to tread a bit too long, the jazzy fast-paced drumming uplifts it well.
If you haven’t noticed so far there are various artists that contribute in many tracks. “Keep Falling” truly is a grin inducing vocal driven song. Ursula Rucker preaches with little melody, but the lyrics are the best addition within the song. Not to offer shadow Hawkeye Phanatic, who delivers the best rhyming within the album thus far. The delivery works well with the beats that accompany it.
Ursula Rucker:
“time waits for no one
use it wisely not wastefully
live not dangerously or aimlessly
for if you do you'll disgrace your chi
living your life without distaster
in the guise of being carefree
in the name of being free
better call that god you believe
to free you from the clutches
of those that would have you perpetuate
millenniums of slavery
of those that would have you perpetuate
millenniums of slavery”
Hawkeye Phanatic:
“I realize sometimes violence is necessary
particularly when predatory enemies
seek to dictate your destiny
teach you watered down history
make you blindly leap into false faith
and to their cesspools for fools of governing ghouls
use your gift of choice
listen to your own voice”
Preach on, preach on. With Rucker’s “slow down” the music drifts out towards a jazzy skit like “Cyclic”. The biggest problem that ‘In Between’ endures is by far the length of the songs. “L.O.V.E. And You & I” seems to drift for a good minute; the tiny portion of tracks that only eclipse a minute aren’t necessarily needed either, since they only provide a tiny prologue for what is to come. Songs like “Fade Out”, “Cyclic”, and "E-Ovation" have no reason to be within the album. Also, some mediocre tracks drag it a bit, the main problem is definitely the track that is accompanied by Doug Hammond called “Dance The Dance”. The vocalist seems bored with himself and the odd instrumental decisions within the track seem to not blend at all. Others like "Takes You Back" are guided with an odd funky beat that really doesn't work for most of the track. The DJs that work within Jazzanova add various samples, electronic breaks, beats, and more vocalist styles to place them in that genre alone. To further my point the very RnB vocalist that contributes to the track “Soon” (the vocalist is Vikter Duplaix) feels much like a soulful RnB track, but has so many small breaks and cuts of electronic within the background you couldn’t really state it’s exactly that. Nonetheless, Jazzanova was a great experience; if you enjoy Jaga Jazzist I don’t see why you wouldn’t enjoy Jazzanova’s ‘In Between’. This album is an excellent nu-jazz addition.
Recommended Tracks:
“L.O.V.E. And You & I”
“Mwela, Mwela”
“Keep Falling”
