Guru's Jazzmatazz, Vol. 1  

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Jazzmatazz, Vol. 1 is a jazz rap album by alternative hip hop artist Guru, released on May 18, 1993 (see 1993 in music) on Chrysalis Records. This album is one of the first albums to combine a live jazz band with hip hop production and rapping. It is 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 collaborations with N'Dea Davenport (of the Brand New Heavies) and French rapper MC Solaar.

Jazzmatazz, Vol. 1 peaked at #24 and #91 on Billboard's Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums and the 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 on vocals) – 4:54
6. "Down the Backstreets" (with Lonnie Liston Smith on acoustic and electric piano) – 4:47
7. "Respectful Dedications" - :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) – 2:36
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

Samples Used

• "When You're Near" contains samples of "Last Night Changed it All (I Really Had a Ball)" by Esther Williams & "Povo" by Freddie Hubbard.
• "Transit Ride" contains samples of "Synthetic Substitution" by Melvin Bliss.
• "No Time To Play" contains samples of "Satin Soul" by Barry White, "Satin Soul" by Love Unlimited Orchestra & "Mosadi (Woman)" by The Crusaders.
• "Take A Look (At Yourself)" contains samples of "Synthetic Substitution" by Melvin Bliss & "Funky President" by James Brown.
• "Trust Me" contains samples of "Funky President" by James Brown.
• "Slicker Than Most" contains samples of "It Feels So Good" by Grover Washington, Jr.

Personnel

• Roy Ayers - Vibraslap, Vibraphone
• Courtney Pine - Flute, Saxophone, Sax (Alto), Sax (Soprano)
• Lonnie Liston Smith - Piano, Keyboards, Piano (Electric)
• Ronny Jordan - Guitar
• Jimmy Bell - Engineer
• Big Shug - Additional Vocals
• Guru - Arranger, Vocals, Producer, Mixing
• MC Solaar - Vocals
• Carleen Anderson - Vocals
• Gary Barnacle - Flute, Saxophone
• Zachary Breaux - Guitar
• Donald Byrd - Piano, Trumpet
• Zdar Cerbonschi - Engineer
• N'Dea Davenport - Vocals
• Keith Elam - Executive Producer, Concept Development
• Simon "The Funky Ginger" Law - Keyboards
• D.C. Lee - Vocals
• James B. Mansfield - Engineer
• Branford Marsalis - Saxophone
• DJ Jazzy Nice - Scratches
• Black Jack - Additional vocals
• Mickey "Mus Mus" - Additional vocals
• DJ Jimmy Jay - Scratches
• Lil' Dap - Live Drums
• The Cutthroats - Additional vocals
• Joe Quinde - Engineer
• Kieran Walsh - Engineer
• Ray Burmiston - Photography
• James Bell - Engineer
• Henry Marquez - Art Direction
• Doug Boehm - Assistant Engineer
• Craig Marcus - Engineer
• Michael Benabib - Photography
• David Carpenter - Assistant Engineer
• Diane Cuddy - Design
• Bill Adler - Liner Notes
• Luke Allen - Assistant Engineer
• 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