Guru's Jazzmatazz, Vol. 1

Guru's Jazzmatazz, Vol. 1 is the debut solo studio album by American hip hop recording artist Guru, released on May 18, 1993 on Chrysalis Records. It was one of the first albums to combine a live jazz band with hip hop production and rapping, as well as the first such project to feature established rappers. Live backing is provided by a band that includes Lonnie Liston Smith, Branford Marsalis, Ronny Jordan, Donald Byrd and Roy Ayers. The album also features vocal collaborations with Carleen Anderson, N'Dea Davenport of the Brand New Heavies, D. C. Lee and French rapper MC Solaar. The variety of guest artists adds diversity and originality to each track, and gives the album a distinct jazz feel.[8]

Guru's Jazzmatazz Vol. 1
Studio album by
Guru
ReleasedMay 18, 1993 (1993-05-18)
Recorded1992–93
Studio
GenreJazz rap
Length44:17
LabelChrysalis
ProducerGuru
Guru chronology
Daily Operation
(1992)		 Guru's Jazzmatazz Vol. 1
(1993)		 Hard to Earn
(1994)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Chicago Tribune[2]
DownBeat[3]
Q[4]
Rolling Stone[5]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[6]
Spin Alternative Record Guide7/10[7]

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.[9]

Jazzmatazz, Vol. 1 peaked at #24 and #91 on Billboard's Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and 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 and Big Shug on vocals) – 4:54
  6. "Down the Backstreets" (with Lonnie Liston Smith on acoustic and electric piano) – 4:47
  7. "Respectful Dedications" – 0:54
  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) – 2:35
  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

Credits adapted from liner notes.[9]

Musicians

Production

  • Guru (Keith Elam) – production, mixing, executive producer, concept development
  • Luke Allen – assistant engineer
  • James Bell – engineering
  • Doug Boehm – assistant engineer
  • David Carpenter – assistant engineer
  • Zdar Cerbonschi (Philippe) – engineering, assistant engineer
  • James B. Mansfield – engineering
  • Craig Marcus – engineering
  • Joe Quinde – engineering
  • Kieran Walsh – engineering

Design

  • Bill Adler – liner notes
  • Michael Benabib – photography
  • Ray Burmiston – photography
  • Diane Cuddy – design
  • Henry Marquez – art direction
  • Marc Villalonga – photography

See also
  • Jazzmatazz, Vol. 2: The New Reality
  • Jazzmatazz, Vol. 3: Streetsoul
  • Jazzmatazz, Vol. 4: The Hip-Hop Jazz Messenger: Back to the Future

References
  1. Brown, Marisa. "Jazzmatazz, Vol. 1 – Guru". AllMusic. Retrieved May 22, 2014.
  2. Kot, Greg (June 17, 1993). "Guru: Jazzmatazz Vol. 1 (Chrysalis) / Greg Osby: 3-D Lifestyles (Blue Note)". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
  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. Ferguson, Kate (June 24, 1993). "Guru: Jazzmatazz: An Experimental Fusion of Hip-Hop and Jazz (Volume 1)". Rolling Stone. No. 659. p. 83.
  6. 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.
  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. "In Memory of one of the best emcees who ever lived on the planet. Keith Elam a.k.a GURU of Gang Starr…". Guru Tributes. Retrieved May 22, 2014.
  9. Adler, Bill (1993). Guru's Jazzmatazz, Vol. 1 (liner notes). Guru. Chrysalis Records. F1-21998.
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