Guru's Jazzmatazz, Vol. 1

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Jazzmatazz Volume 1 (An Experimental Fusion of Hip-Hop and Jazz)
GuRuJazzMatt1.jpg
Studio album by
Guru
ReleasedMay 18, 1993 (1993-05-18)
Recorded1992–93
StudioD&D Studios (New York, NY)
GenreJazz rap
Length44:06
LabelChrysalis
Producer
  • Duff Marlowe (exec.)
  • Patrick Moxey (exec.)
  • Guru (also exec.)
Guru chronology
Daily Operation
(1992) 		Jazzmatazz Volume 1 (An Experimental Fusion of Hip-Hop and Jazz)
(1993) 		Hard to Earn
(1994)
Singles from Jazzmatazz: An Experimental Fusion of Hip-Hop and Jazz (Volume 1)
  1. "Trust Me"
    Released: 1993
  2. "No Time To Play"
    Released: 1993
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic4/5 stars[1]
Chicago Tribune2/4 stars[2]
DownBeat3.5/5 stars[3]
Q4/5 stars[4]
Robert Christgau(dud)[5]
Rolling Stone3.5/5 stars[6]
Spin Alternative Record Guide7/10[7]
Sputnikmusic2/5[8]
The New Rolling Stone Album Guide3/5 stars[9]
Tom HullB+[10]

Jazzmatazz Volume 1 (An Experimental Fusion of Hip-Hop and Jazz) is the debut solo studio album by American hip hop recording artist Guru. It was released on May 18, 1993 through Chrysalis Records. Recording sessions took place at D&D Studios in New York. Production was handled by Guru himself, who also served as executive producer together with Duff Marlowe and Patrick Moxey.

The album combines a live jazz band performance with hip hop production and rapping. It features contributions from singers N'Dea Davenport, Carleen Anderson, Dee C Lee, French rapper MC Solaar, and musicians Simon Law, Branford Marsalis, Courtney Pine, Donald Byrd, Gary Barnacle, Lonnie Liston Smith, Ronny Jordan, Roy Ayers and Zachary Breaux, which adds diversity and originality to each track and gives the album a distinct jazz feel.

Guru, quoted in the album's liner notes, talked about his natural affinity for both jazz and rap. "Jazz's mellow tracks, along with the hard rap beat, go hand-in-glove with my voice", he said.[11]

The album made it to number 94 on the Billboard 200 and number 15 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums in the United States. 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. It peaked at No. 24 in New Zealand, No. 43 in Germany, No. 49 in Sweden, No. 58 in the UK, No. 67 in the Netherlands, and No. 139 in France. Its lead single "Trust Me" peaked at #34 on the UK Singles Chart and #105 on the US Billboard Hot 100. Its second single, "No Time to Play", peaked at #25 in the UK. SPIN ranked the album at number 20 on their 'The 20 Best Albums of 1993' list.[12]

Track listing[]

All lyrics are written by Keith Elam, except tracks 3 and 9 written with N'Dea Davenport, and track 12 written with Courtney Pine.

No.TitleProducer(s)Length
1."Introduction"Guru1:20
2."Loungin'" (featuring Donald Byrd)
4:38
3."When You're Near" (featuring N'Dea Davenport and Simon Law)
4:02
4."Transit Ride" (featuring Branford Marsalis and Zachary Breaux)
3:58
5."No Time to Play" (featuring Dee C Lee, Ronny Jordan and Big Shug)
4:54
6."Down the Backstreets" (featuring Lonnie Liston Smith)
4:47
7."Respectful Dedications"Guru0:54
8."Take a Look (At Yourself)" (featuring Roy Ayers)
3:59
9."Trust Me" (featuring N'Dea Davenport)
  • Guru
  • N'Dea Davenport[c]
4:27
10."Slicker Than Most" (featuring Gary Barnacle and the Cutthroats)Guru2:35
11."Le Bien, Le Mal" (featuring MC Solaar, Black Jack and Mickey "Mus Mus")
3:21
12."Sights in the City" (featuring Carleen Anderson, Courtney Pine and Simon Law)
5:10
Total length:44:06
Notes

Personnel[]

Credits adapted from liner notes.[11]

Musicians

Production

  • Guru – producer, mixing, executive producer, concept development
  • Donald Byrd – co-producer (track 2)
  • N'Dea Davenport – co-producer (tracks: 3, 9)
  • Branford Marsalis – co-producer (track 4)
  • Ronny Jordan – co-producer (track 5)
  • Lonnie Liston Smith – co-producer (track 6)
  • Roy Ayers – co-producer (track 8)
  • DJ Jimmy Jay – co-producer (track 11)
  • MC Solaar – co-producer (track 11)
  • Courtney Pine – co-producer (track 12)
  • Carleen Anderson – co-producer (track 12)
  • Philippe "Zdar" Cerboneschi – engineering
  • James B. Mansfield – engineering
  • Craig Marcus – engineering
  • Kieran Walsh – engineering
  • Jason Bell – engineering
  • Joe Quinde – engineering
  • Luke Allen – engineering assistant
  • Doug Boehm – engineering assistant
  • David Carpenter – engineering assistant
  • Tracii D. Sherman – engineering assistant
  • Tony Dawsey – mastering
  • Patrick Moxey – executive producer, concept development
  • Duff Marlowe – executive producer

Design

Charts[]

References[]

  1. ^ Brown, Marisa. "Jazzmatazz, Vol. 1 - Guru's Jazzmatazz, Guru | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved April 3, 2021.
  2. ^ Kot, Greg (June 17, 1993). "Jazzmatazz Vol. 1 (Chrysalis) (STAR)(STAR)Greg Osby 3-D..." Chicago Tribune. Retrieved April 3, 2021.
  3. ^ "Guru: Guru's Jazzmatazz, Vol. 1". DownBeat. Vol. 60 no. 6. June 1993. p. 38.
  4. ^ "Guru: Guru's Jazzmatazz, Vol. 1". Q. No. 83. August 1993. p. 92.
  5. ^ Christgau, Robert. "Robert Christgau: CG: Guru". www.robertchristgau.com. Retrieved April 3, 2021.
  6. ^ Ferguson, Kate (June 24, 1993). "Guru: Jazzmatazz: An Experimental Fusion of Hip-Hop and Jazz (Volume 1)". Rolling Stone. No. 659. p. 83.
  7. ^ Whitehead, Colson (1995). "Gang Starr". In Weisbard, Eric; Marks, Craig (eds.). Spin Alternative Record Guide. Vintage Books. pp. 164–65. ISBN 0-679-75574-8.
  8. ^ "Guru - Jazzmatazz, Vol. 1 (album review)". Sputnikmusic. February 5, 2010. Retrieved April 3, 2021.
  9. ^ McLeod, Kembrew (2004). "Gang Starr". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). Simon & Schuster. p. 322. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.
  10. ^ Hull, Tom. "Tom Hull: Grade List: Guru". tomhull.com. Retrieved April 3, 2021.
  11. ^ Jump up to: a b Adler, Bill (1993). Guru's Jazzmatazz, Vol. 1 (liner notes). Guru. Chrysalis Records. F1-21998.
  12. ^ Smith, Danyel (December 31, 1993). "The 20 Best Albums of 1993". Spin. Retrieved April 3, 2021.
  13. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Guru – Jazzmatazz Volume 1" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved April 3, 2021.
  14. ^ "Lescharts.com – Guru – Jazzmatazz Volume 1". Hung Medien. Retrieved April 3, 2021.
  15. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Guru – Jazzmatazz Volume 1" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved April 3, 2021.
  16. ^ "Charts.nz – Guru – Jazzmatazz Volume 1". Hung Medien. Retrieved April 3, 2021.
  17. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Guru – Jazzmatazz Volume 1". Hung Medien. Retrieved April 3, 2021.
  18. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 3, 2021.
  19. ^ "Guru Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved April 3, 2021.
  20. ^ "Guru Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved April 3, 2021.
  21. ^ "1993 The Year in Music" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 105 no. 52. December 25, 1993. p. YE-28. Retrieved June 3, 2021.

External links[]

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