Jazzanova Kings of Jazz (with Gilles Peterson)

[Rapster/BBE; 2006]

Rating: 3.5/5

Styles: nu-jazz, r&b, hip-hop, eclectic
Others: Blue Note

Having previously shed light on the genres of disco, funk, hip-hop, and house, BBE's Kings Of series now turns its gaze upon "the only American art form," jazz. In this cause, they've enlisted two superb contemporaries and gave them each a disc's worth of room. Radio 1 tastemaker Gilles Peterson accepts the role of presenting us the history of jazz, pulling well-aged tracks from the '50s to the '80s, while highly noted nu-jazz remixers Jazzanova take care of the living legacy their namesake genre has since developed.

For someone relatively unfamiliar with the sordid past, Gilles' disc provides a stunning, aural definition of the path that brought us to where we are. Granted, there's no Miles Davis, but Mingus, Coltrane, and Art Blakey are represented, among many I've sadly never heard of. Incidentally, I'm almost positive Prodigy borrowed the bassline from Randy Weston's "In Memory Of." That's some mean jazz-funk right there.

Jazzanova's disc, I must admit, is slightly disappointing after hearing all the legends kill disc one. The current state of jazz is apparently a lot more synthetic. At least Bembe Segue's live rendition of "Mother Of The Future" captures an older spirit. Matthew Herbert is obviously a legend in his own time, as well. I'm now officially ashamed for not listening to more jazz. Thanks, guys... like I really needed more shame.

The History:
1. Roy Haynes - "Quiet Fire"
2. Randy Weston - "In Memory Of"
3. Rashaan Roland Kirk - "Spirits Up Above"
4. Charles Mingus - "Moves"
5. Art Blakey - "Anthenagin"
6. The Jazz Crusaders - "Young Rabbits"
7. Mark Murphy - "My Favorite Things"
8. John Coltrane - "Equinox"
9. Eric Dolphy - "Fire Waltz"
10. Bill Evans - "Peace Piece"
The Present:

1. Nikki O - "Butterflies"
2. 4 Hero - "Spirits In Transit"
3. Bembe Segue - "Mother Of The Future (Live)"
4. The Matthew Herbert Big Band - "Everything's Changed feat. Jamie Lidell"
5. Pavel Kostiuk - "Brand New Day (Chateau Flight Remix) feat. Vanessa Freeman"
6. Two Banks Of Four - "Two Miles Before Dawn"
7. Rima - "Modern Times feat. Ian O'Brien"
8. Innerzone Orchestra - "At Les"
9. Carlo Fashion - "Muster Fur Kammerorchester"
10. Hedvig Hanson - "Afro White"