Jazzmatazz, Vol. 3: Streetsoul [PA]

Performer: Guru
Artist: Erykah Badu; Isaac Hayes; Macy Gray; Les Nubians; Angie Stone; Kelis; The Roots; Amel Larrieux; Donnell Jones; Bilal; Craig David; Big Shug; JR Reid; Herbie Hancock
Distributor: EMI Music Distribution

Notes: Personnel includes: Guru (spoken vocals, programming); Najee (flute); Donald Harrison (saxophone); "Diggity" Dave Patterson (keyboards, bass); Ahmir Thompson (keyboards, drums); Shaun Martin, James Poyser (keyboards); Dino "June Bug" Young, Bray Lon Lacy (bass); Geno Iglheari (drums); DJ Premier (programming, vinyl scratches); Victor Flowers (programming); Tammy Lucas (background vocals). Producers: Guru, DJ Scratch, DJ Premier, The Neptunes, Jay Dee. Engineers: Eric "IBO" Butler, Eddie Sancho, Cus. Includes liner notes by Amy Linden. Personnel: Guru (vocals); Ryan Dorn (vocals, keyboards); Craig David, Donell Jones, Erykah Badu, Isaac Hayes, Junior Reid, Macy Gray, Angie Stone (vocals); Shaun Martin (keyboards). Audio Mixers: Eddie Sancho ; Dexter Thibou; Jon Smeltz; Tom Soares. Liner Note Author: Amy Linden. Recording information: D & D Studios, New York, NY; House Of Tre', Fort Lee, NJ; Kampo studios, New York, NY; Mastersound Recording Studios, Virginia Beach, VA; Palmyra Studios, Palmer, TX; Right Track Recording, New York, NY; Sample Kings, New York, NY; Sound on Sound, New York, NY; Soundtrack Studios, New York, NY; Studio A, Dearborn Heights, MI; Studio Twin, Paris, France; The Studio, Philadelphia, PA. Give Keith Elam credit for knowing how to surround himself with great talent. It's a fact that has guided his career from the early days of Gang Starr -- the group he formed with one of the greatest hip-hop producers of all time, DJ Premier -- to his solo Jazzmatazz albums, recorded with a host of jazz legends including Roy Ayers, Donald Byrd, Freddie Hubbard, and Branford Marsalis. This third volume in Guru's Jazzmatazz series came not only after a five-year break, but at a time when the notion of jazz-rap was almost as antiquated as the '70s jazz-funk sound it helped resurrect back in the late '80s. Guru undoubtedly realized this, so instead of focusing strictly on jazz this time out, he made Streetsoul more of a roots album. With all the great contemporary R&B talent on display, though, any jazz-rap fans still left could hardly be annoyed with Guru's shift in focus from jazz to soul. A trinity of late-'90s soul divas -- Macy Gray, Erykah Badu, and Kelis -- each have features, and the swing-to-urban production behind Badu's contribution frames her vocal excellently. DJ Premier also shows up, contributing his usual excellent trackmaster skills to "Hustlin' Daze," with vocals by Donell Jones. Fellow rapcentrics the Roots make an appearance on the fight-for-your-right anthem "Lift Your Fist," and Guru inserts two pioneer tracks, Herbie Hancock's "Timeless" and Isaac Hayes' "Night Vision" near the end. Unfortunately, the one caveat to Streetsoul -- Guru's rapping talent hasn't improved at all -- is practically unavoidable considering he pops up for a verse or two smack-dab in the middle of almost every track here. ~ John Bush Gangstarr's Guru has acquired some of the best talents in the business for the third in his Jazzmatazz Series. STREET SOUL is geared more towards hip-hop, displaying his renewed sense of purpose and determination to challenge all preconceived notions about the genre. Skip over one track on this release and you'll miss some serious musical talent such as Herbie Hancock on "Timeless," Isaac Hayes on the brooding "Night Vision," and The Roots' sparse percussion and mellow flow on "Lift Your Fist." "Certified" features the versatile stylings of newcomer Bilal, and a funky, feel-good beat from minimalist Jay Dee. The smoothed-out vocals of Erykah Badu and the mellow upright bass of "Plenty," Macy Gray's pouting petulance on "All I Said," and the lovely expressions of Kelis on "Supa Love" make this a release for everyone and every mood. With STREET SOUL, Guru takes hip-hop to another level, fusing it with R&B, soul, jazz and reggae.

Rolling Stone (10/12/00, p.92) - 3.5 stars out of 5 - "...Some of the most powerful music you'll hear this year..." Spin (10/00, p.174) - 8 out of 10 - "...Hip-pop history has caught up with his retro-vision; if JAZZMATAZZ was fusion by fiat, the rise of jazzy ;70s-inflected neo-soul has created an actual pop-cultural moment where Guru looms like a bald, reposeful Professor X..." Spin (10/00, p.174) - 8 out of 10 - "...Hip-pop history has caught up with his retro-vision; if JAZZMATAZZ was fusion by fiat, the rise of jazzy, 70s-inflected neo-soul has created an actual pop-cultural moment where Guru looms like a bald, reposeful Professor X..." Q (1/01, p.92) - Included in Q's "50 Best Albums of 2000". Q (11/00, p.106) - 4 stars out of 5 - "...A tasty selection pack of contemporary soul and R&B talent....Guru's modus operandi yeilds delicious results....A triumph..." CMJ (9/18/00, p.3) - "...By far the most contemporary-sounding chapter of the series....exploiting more of the hip-hop/R&B side of the rap-jazz fusion....An uplifting journey..." Mojo (Publisher) (11/00, pp.105-6) - "...Pleasantly undemanding....matching Gang Starr's best....a rap album of the year contender..."

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