Statistiques
Biographie
Comprised of DJs Alexander Barck, Class Brieler, Roskow Kretschmann, Stefan Leisering, Axel Reinemer, and Jürgen von Knoblauch, Jazzanova’s members all met at the Berlin-based club, Delicious Doughnuts. Expressing an interest to create a sophisticated, jazz-infused sound that borrows influences from past decades of dance music, the collective formed Jazzanova in 1995. It was two years however before the group yielded any rewards for their efforts, when BBC DJ Giles Peterson premiered the group’s debut production, “Fedime’s Flight” on his radio show. This success led the group to produce remixes for the likes of 4hero, Men from the Nile, and Ian Pooley, which subsequently comprised the group’s early compilation, “The Remixes 1997-2000”.
By this point Jazzanova had gained real momentum in dance and house circles, which Barck, Brieler, and von Knoblauch built on by performing DJ sets the world over. Upon its official release on the newly-founded Jazzanova Compost Records, “Fedime’s Flight”, soon became a staple of DJs’ sets across Germany and Europe, and was subsequently succeeded by the production, “Caravelle”. In 2002 following five years of hard graft, Jazzanova issued their debut full-length “In Between”. Featuring remixes of their debut, the compilation “Remixed” followed in 2003, marked by guest contributions from Kyoto Jazz Massive, Ayro and King Britt.
Jazzanova continued their prodigious remix output well into the new millennium, with mixes of artists including Liquid Lounge, Ursula Rocker, Marshmellows, Calexico, Shaun Escoffery, and Status IV. In 2005, entrusted with the jazz label Blue Note’s entire back-catalogue, Jazzanova issued the compilation “Blue Note Trip: Lookin’ Back/Movin’ On”, turning old jazz numbers into dancing catalysts. A second remix album appeared in 2005, “The Remixes 2002-2005, showcasing the group’s most recent output, followed by “Glow and Glare” in 2005, and “Paz e Futebol” and “Broad Casting” in 2006.
The group’s sophomore full-length “All the the Things” was issued on Jazzanova Compost Recordings in 2008, marked by soulful vocals from the likes of Leon Ware, Dwele, and José Jones and rapper Phonte Coleman. A host of remixes followed, as did a second album of Blue Note mixes “Blue Note Trip: Scrambled/Mashed” in 2006, and the compilation “Belle et Fou” in 2007. The collective’s third full-length “Upside Down” was released in January 2012, following which Jazzanova hit the studio with a live band and Paul Randolph to create the well-received “The Funkhaus Studio Sessions” in 2012.
Avis
The DJ collective group of Jazzanova are an incredibly talented group, and some of the leading musicians in the nu-jazz movement. Their combination of live performance alongside their DJing and synthesises sounds create an original and eclectic sound, nothing quite like anything that’s yet been explored musically. Each individual in the band is extremely talented, and when they combine their distinct efforts, the downtempo funk that they create is some of the best of its kind.
Seeing them live with the addition of Paul Randolph on vocals was an incredible experience. The gig was in a club venue, and although they weren’t playing traditional dance music, they had everyone dancing to their fresh chilled out sound right away. Hearing a remixed mainstream pop track performed by the DJ on the dekcs working his kaoss pad and synth, then with a jazz band playing over the top was incredible, and the creative idea has materialised into its own genre of music.
They played mainly from their newest album Funkhaus Studio Sessions, which was some awesome tracks on it, as well as revisiting the older albums. Their energy and stage presence was absolutely captivating, and they got the audience envolved from start to finish, putting on an epic show.
The very fact that you can see Jazzanova live is a great thing. It took them more than a decade after they started making music to play London. But it was definitely worth the wait. The wait for a live show had much to do with the fact that Jazzanova is to all intents and purposes a collection of six DJs/producers but live there’s a fluid feel and they bring their sound to life with a live band. It means you get a nine-piece band (with two Jazzanova DJs, cool as funk frontman Paul Randolph and a number of musicians) who take the rich textures of the records and bring them into bright, vivid life on stage. How to describe their sound? Well, it’s pretty hard to define: an intense, dizzying mix of jazz dance and soul. Sometimes so chilled it’s like having a massage yet at other times the basslines shake you silly. The big tracks like ‘I Human’, ‘L.O.V.E and You & I’ and ‘Theme from Belle et Fou – Bows’ will have you grooving and dancing. If you’ve heard their ‘FUNKHAUS STUDIO SESSIONS‘ album, their first live one, then you’ll already have an idea of the treats that are in store. They’ve played at venues like KOKO and Village Underground before creating a festival like atmosphere. Just try standing still.
Do not miss the chance to see Jazzanova performing live! I saw them in Oktober 2018 at the Festsaal Kreuzberg in Berlin.
They will indulge all your musical wishes in just one big live show playing anything from heartrendingly ballads to bass shaking electronic songs mixed with iridescent Jazz harmonics.
Once again: Do not miss out on this one.