Nu Jazz (Jazztronica) - Wikipedia
Nu Jazz (Jazztronica) - Wikipedia
Nu Jazz (Jazztronica) - Wikipedia
Nu jazz
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Overview
According to critic Tony Brewer,
“Nu Jazz is to (traditional) Jazz what punk or grunge was to Rock, of course. [...] The songs are the
focus, not the individual prowess of the musicians. Nu Jazz instrumentation ranges from the
traditional to the experimental, the melodies are fresh, and the rhythms new and alive. It makes
Jazz fun again.”
Nu jazz ranges from combining live instrumentation with beats of jazz house, exemplified by St Germain,
Jazzanova and Fila Brazillia, to more band-based improvised jazz with electronic elements, such as that of The
Cinematic Orchestra, Kobol, and the "future jazz" style pioneered by Bugge Wesseltoft, Jaga Jazzist, Nils Petter
Molvær, and others.
Nu jazz typically ventures farther into the electronic territory than does its close cousin, acid jazz, which is
generally closer to earthier funk, soul, and rhythm and blues, although releases from noted groove & smooth
jazz artists such as the Groove Collective, and Pamela Williams blur the distinction between the styles. Nu jazz
can be very experimental in nature and can vary widely in sound and concept. The sound, unlike acid jazz,
departs from its blues roots and instead explores electronic sounds and ethereal jazz sensualities. Nu jazz “is the
music itself and not the individual dexterity of the musicians.”[3]
Los Angeles based artist, Flying Lotus, and artists under his independent record label, Brainfeeder, have
instigated significant stylistic development and commercial exposure of nu jazz.[4] While nu jazz is not the
primary focus of Brainfeeder, many of the in-house artists such as Thundercat, Taylor McFerrin, Daedelus, and
Flying Lotus fuse jazz elements with experimental electronic sounds. Cosmogramma by Flying Lotus released
in April 20, 2010 featured jazz saxophonist Ravi Coltrane in "Arkestry" and "Germain Haircut" which both
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present avant-garde jazz backed by dense futuristic beats and texture.[5] Flying Lotus's more recent work,
You're Dead! released in 2014 October 20, invited the performance of saxophonist Kamasi Washington and jazz
titan Herbie Hancock who shared his prowess as a keyboardist and co-writer.[6] Both albums by Flying Lotus
were awarded "Best New Music" by Pitchfork. On November 27, 2015, Daedelus and Grammy nominated jazz
fusion group, Kneebody, released a collaboration album entitled Kneedelus.[7]
Established jazz artists have become increasingly active as leaders of nu jazz works in the 21st century. Jazz
trumpeter Dave Douglas and his trio involving Mark Guiliana and Jonathon Maron worked with electronic
musician, Shigeto, who established the musical theme of the band with his ambient synth bass and texture.[8]
The resulting amalgam, entitled High Risk, reminisces the experimental sound of Miles Davis's Bitches Brew
with a psychedelic and chill touch. Drummer of the band, Mark Guiliana, has released nu jazz works under his
own name as well. Showing clear influences from Jojo Mayer & Nerve, many of the albums such as Beat
Music in 2012 and My Life Starts Now in 2014 incorporates synthesized melodies, bass and harmony
accompanied by acoustic drumming that successfully replicated the nuance of electronic beats.[9][10] Although
no studio recording has been released, Mark Guiliana performed duo sets with Zach Danziger who constructed
melodies using samples and, once the theme was established and looped, joined Guiliana on drums to create
rhythmically intense electronic jazz.[11] On a more subtle level, Brad Mehldau's album Largo in 2002, featured
Mehldau's contemporary lines with acoustic hip-hop/house beats from the percussion and occasional electronic
overdubs on tracks such as "Sabbath" and "Free Willy"[12]
Notable artists
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See also
Acid jazz
Broken beat
Gamm (record label)
Groovera New Modern Radio
Japanese jazz
Saint-Germain-des-Prés Café (popular series of nu-jazz compilations)
Chillout
References
1. Nicholson, Stuart (March 2003). "Jazztronica: A Brief History of the Future of Jazz" (http://jazztimes.co
m/articles/14149-jazztronica-a-brief-history-of-the-future-of-jazz). JazzTimes. Retrieved 16 January
2016.
2. Definition from Sergey Chernov, June 7, 2002, in The St. Petersburg Times [1] (http://www.sptimes.ru/in
dex.php?action_id=2&story_id=7334)
3. [2] (http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/Sunpeople/Sunday/Features/20070929113703/Article/index2
_html) Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20071226150500/http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/S
unpeople/Sunday/Features/20070929113703/Article/index2_html) December 26, 2007, at the Wayback
Machine.
4. Barton, Chris. "The groove where jazz and dance music meet" (http://articles.latimes.com/2012/aug/26/e
ntertainment/la-et-cm-edm-to-jazz-20120826). Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved
3 December 2015.
5. Colly, Joe. "Cosmogramma" (http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/14198-cosmogramma/). Pitchfork.
Pitchfork. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
6. Patrin, Nate. "You're Dead" (http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/19875-flying-lotus-youre-dead/).
Pitchfork. Pitchfork. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
7. Hart, Ron. "Kneebody and Daedalus: Kneedelus" (http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/21240-kneedelu
s/). Pitchfork. Pitchfork.
8. Turner, Mark. "Dave Douglas: High Risk (2015)" (http://www.allaboutjazz.com/high-risk-dave-douglas-
greenleaf-music-review-by-mark-f-turner.php). AllAboutJazz. Retrieved 2 December 2015.
9. Harris, Anthony. "Mark Guiliana - 'Beat Music: The Los Angeles Improvisations' " (http://nextbop.com/b
log/markguilianabeatmusicthelosangelesimprovisationsstreams). NextBop. NextBop. Retrieved
3 December 2015.
10. Bilawsky, Dan. "Mark Guiliana: Beat Poet of a Different Sort" (http://www.allaboutjazz.com/mark-guilia
na-beat-poet-of-a-different-sort-by-dan-bilawsky.php). All About Jazz. All About Jazz. Retrieved
10 December 2015.
11. Michael, Dan. "Exclusive Interview: Mark Guiliana – 'Beat Music: Los Angeles Improvisations' + 'My
Life Starts Now' Pt. I" (http://revive-music.com/2014/10/28/exclusive-interview-mark-guiliana-beat-musi
c-los-angeles-improvisations-life-starts-now/#.VmkfOrzdsX5). Revive. Revive. Retrieved 10 December
2015.
12. Doerschuk, Robert. "Brad Mehldau - Largo" (http://www.allmusic.com/album/largo-mw0000661230).
Allmusic. Allmusic. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
Sources
"A Flourish of Jazz" (http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,917043-1,00.html), Time
Magazine article, including mention of the use of electronics in jazz fusion.
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