Guru
Jazzmatazz Volume 4
7 Grand/ Shock


Guru's 'Jazzmatazz' series has been one of the most groundbreaking projects in the urban music landscape. With its fusion of street smart hip-hop and old school jazz, not only did it take hip-hop to another level, but also showcased Guru, better known as the co-founder of legendary hip-hop duo Gangstarr, as a producer and a solo artist. Seven years after Volume 3 was released, Volume 4 continues to show Guru's breadth as an artist, and catapults hip-hop into yet another level.

Where Volume 3 touched more on collaborations with mainstream artists such as Craig David, DJ Scratch, Angie Stone, The Neptunes, Kelis and Jay Dee, Volume 4 sees Guru taking it back to the initial focus of the series by working more on jazz legends, as well as up coming stars of the scene.

Also, what makes this volume different from the others is that Guru has enlisted the talents of super producer Solar - who produces all the tracks in the album - and the results are a triumph, with Guru claiming it is "the best Jazzmatazz yet."

And who can blame him, with a star studded cast of collaborators, he has created another fusion of hip-hop and jazz that will indeed stand the test of time. The album's featured artists include hip-hop luminaries Slum Village on the album opener Cuz I'm Jazzy, Blackalicious on the silky smooth Infinite, and Common on the uplifting State Of Clarity, which also features brilliant jazz pianist Bob James.

Other guests include revered saxophonist David Sanborn in the heavenly Living Legend, fellow sax player Ronnie Laws on the short but funky as hell This Is Art, trumpeter Brownman on the poetic Universal Struggle, and vocalists Vivian Green, Raheem DeVaughn, Dionne Farris, and Aussie Shelley Harland.

Guru has once again delivered a well rounded and balanced album, full of evergreen tracks. With releases like this, the 'Jazzmatazz' series will continue to set the benchmark for new hip-hop, and this release will surely be talked about in many years to come.

Leo Varona