Jazzmatazz Vol. 4

Guru, Solar

7 Grand Records

12.31.07
(A lost review from our vault – April 2007. Oops, this oldie but goodie is still worth reading. If you haven’t already picked up this disc, it’s available at a number of online music retail sites.) – Editor, Stephanie Collier


4.6.07

A friend and I waited impatiently to hear great jazz musicians laying down original tracks for Guru to drop his unique “butter” vocal sound as the lead instrument. It’s his signature style of wonderful blends of jazz and hip-hop that he had achieved in Jazzmatazz Vol. 1 and 2.

The CD introduces Guru, producer Solar, and Guru’s label 7 Grand Records. (As the music played on this promo copy CD, this same intro repeated itself over and over. This distraction made it hard to get a grasp on the music to the point of annoying. I understand the label doesn’t want anyone getting their hands on the music before its official release, but this was ridiculous.)

Jazzmatazz Vol. 4 starts out with laid-back tracks and stays there the rest of the album.

It’s a listener’s delight.

Guru’s flow is on-point with the music using his classic cadence we are used to hearing from this MC. I don’t think it’s a comeback — it’s the truth.

The lyrical content is uplifting and a mini-guide to the street life. “Universal Struggle” encourages listeners to be strong, positive and persistent to accomplish their goals and reintroduces the struggle of humanity to the masses.

There is an energetic contribution delivered by Damian Marley in the song “Stand Up,” while “Fly Magnetic” featuring Dionne Farris brags about his male conquering of someone’s girlfriend.

For an MC that has expressed his dislike for current popular rappers’ lack of lyrical content, he shows on this album he, too, isn’t immune from it.

There are many guest appearances on the album from Slum Village, Common, Blackalicious, to Ronnie Laws, Bob James, David Sanborn, Vivian Green, etc. Though all the efforts stand up creatively on their own, none of them are able to pick up this album and raise it to the heights of Volume 1.

The tracks produced by Solar are well constructed; he injects an updated sound to a tried and true blend of hip-hop and jazz that made this Jazzmatazz series popular. They don’t sound like jazz tracks, but rather hip-hop tracks played by jazz musicians and singers.

But even the tracks that use familiar hip-hop samples lose their energy with a cover band feel. (No disrespect to all the jazz musician/singers on this album. I can’t play an instrument myself. Maybe the tracks will translate well live … )

It’s a solid effort, but I don’t think Guru will pick up any new fans with this installment by Guru and 7 Grand Records.

"Jazzmatazz Vol. 4 The Hip-Hop Jazz Messenger: 'Back to the Future'" was released on 7 Grand Records July 31, 2007.