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Deciphering the Message
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Barnes and Noble
Deciphering the Message
Current price: $27.99
Barnes and Noble
Deciphering the Message
Current price: $27.99
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Size: CD
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Since the 1990s,
has periodically invited artists to remix tracks from its hallowed catalog for its "jazzhop" compilations. Several --
,
, and
-- were invited to dig in and remix wholesale, resulting in historic solo projects.
joins the group with
. On acclaimed releases such as 2015's
(2015) and 2018's
(2018),
forged his own beat science path, sampling his band's live playing, then revamping the audio to satisfy an inner muse. In 2020, he remixed
's
, transforming it into
.
is a bridge between jazz's past and the rhythm-centric creativity of the present.
cherrypicked 13 catalog items. He remixed and reassembled them as contemporary works with the assistance of trumpeter
, guitarists
and
, vibraphonist
, saxophonists/flutists
, and bassist
. To properly differentiate the two versions, he slightly altered titles in small letters signified by "aka" in the track credits.
's "A Slice of the Top" (aka "Sliced Off the Top") is introduced by the voice of
, Birdland's emcee during its golden age.
is the only additional instrumentalist, adding layers of drums, percussion, and an additional bassline to
's. The producer reveals the timelessness of
's jam by expanding its bluesy rhythm across post-bop, hip-hop, cumbia, and Afrobeat. The effect is more dramatic when the band enters on
's Sunset (aka "Son Set").
's slippery piano vamp is traced by
's guitar as
underscores the melody. It's slower, but the new groove is exponentially more meaty, pronounced, and swinging.
's "Tranquility" (aka "Corner of the World") is also introduced by
's disembodied voice.
adds subtly synthed reverb to the vibes, then triple times his kit atop
' as saxes, flute, guitar, and
's trumpet all append
's.
's version of
's "Frank's Tune" (aka "De'Jeff's Tune") offers a fingerpopping hip-hop shuffle, gently layered keyboards, and breezy solos from
'
-penned "Mr. Jin (aka Mr. Gin") adds an additional rhythm section to the original with
on electric bass. The hard bop groove remains thanks to
's piano vamp. It opens a gateway for canny interplay between
's and
's kits. The set closer is a revelatory read of
's "Black Rhythm Happening" (no "aka"). Only
graft themselves onto an already large band and chanting chorus. Their bumping, wildly funky, breaking-snare-and-bassline-driven update retains
's vision as an anthem of celebration and creative multiplicity.
was egoless and reverential in remixing these tunes. His own hope for
is to point new listeners toward the originals. As wonderful as that intention is, this album is a phenomenal listening experience in its own right. ~ Thom Jurek