Nu Jazz Cool: Blue Beats and Chilled Jazz Grooves

• Artist: Various Artists
• Rating:
• Release Date: May 06, 2003
• Type: Collection (various artists)
• Genre: Electronica

Review

Despite the desperate title, Nu Jazz Cool: Blue Beats and Chilled Jazz Grooves is an excellent survey of the downtempo scene as it existed during the '90s and early 2000s. The artist roster couldn't be of a higher quality, and among the inclusions are a high percentage of touchstones in the progression of organic electronica -- Nuyorican Soul's "I Am the Black Gold of the Sun," Koop's "Waltz for Koop," Nightmares on Wax's "Les Nuits," Jhelisa's "Friendly Pressure." There's also a high jazz quotient; the Japanese United Future Organization takes on Duke Jordan's "No Problem," Suba covers the Jobim/Vinícius de Moraes composition "Felicidade," and Snowboy succeeds wildly with a Latin jazz version of John Coltrane's "Mr. P.C." On the second disc, the jazz tributes include Gil Scott-Heron checking in with "Lady Day & John Coltrane" (the only vintage cut included), and, on the collection's only failure, Brooklyn Funk Essentials unfortunately strapping a pedestrian beat to Pharoah Sanders' ethereal "The Creator Has a Master Plan." ~ John Bush, All Music Guide

Tracks

CD 1

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Samba de Benção (Lyrics)	Vinícius de Moraes, Baden Powell	Bebel Gilberto	(4:47)
The Child	Billie Holiday, Alex Gopher	Alex Gopher	(4:34)
Santa Maria (Del Buen Ayre)	Eduardo Makaroff	Gotan Project	(5:59)
Barrio Alto	Eric Hilton, Rob Garza	Thievery Corporation	(3:57)
She's So	Torbjørn Brundtland	Röyksopp	(5:22)
Virtual Insanity (Lyrics)	Jason Kay, Toby Smith	Jamiroquai	(5:42)
I Am the Black Gold of the Sun	Richard Rudolph, Charles Stepney	Jocelyn Brown, Nuyorican Soul	(5:23)
Easy to Remember	Ludovic Navarre	St. Germain	(9:39)
No Problem	Duke Jordan	United Future Organization	(7:39)
Teardrop Butterfly	Rob Gaasterland, Praful, Daniel Testas	Praful	(6:37)
Waltz for Koop	Oscar Simonsson, Magnus Zingmark	Koop	(2:28)
Felicidade	Vinícius de Moraes, Andre Michel Salvet, Tom Jobim	Suba	(4:22)
Queixume		Joyce Hozé, Tom Hozé	(3:48)
Mr. P.C.	John Coltrane	Snowboy & the Latin Section	(3:42)

CD 2

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Riders on the Storm (Pink Solidism)		Yonderboi	(4:22)
Ponteio	Edú Lobo	Da Lata	(5:48)
Feeling Good [Epic Mix Edit]	Leslie Bricusse, Anthony Newley	Huff & Herb	(4:37)
Indigo Blues	Nicole Graham, Llorca	Llorca	(5:57)
The Garden of Earthly Delights	Ellis Freeman	D*Note	(3:38)
Lady Day & John Coltrane	G.J. Scott	Gil Scott-Heron	(3:34)
Friendly Pressure	Lee Hamblin, Jhelisa Anderson	Jhelisa	(4:30)
Outro Lado	Stefan Kruger, Stefan Schmid	Zuco 103	(4:33)
The Jackal	Ronny Jordan, Dana Bryant, Joel Campbell, Anthony Mason	Ronny Jordan, Dana Bryant	(7:04)
Seis Por Ocho		Nuspirit Helsinki	(6:13)
Cantaloop (Flip Fantasia)	Herbie Hancock, Mel Simpson, Geoff Wilkinson, Rahsaan Kelly	Us3, Rashaan	(3:41)
Hoy Tenemos [Boys from Brasil Mix]	Richard Blair, Iván Benavides	Sidestepper	(5:48)
The Creator Has a Master Plan	Leon Thomas, Pharoah Sanders	Brooklyn Funk Essentials	(3:19)
Metti Una Sera a Cera	Ennio Morricone	Balanço	(5:26)
Les Nuits	Robin Taylor-Firth, George Evelyn	Nightmares on Wax	(6:20)

Credits

Richard Blair (Producer), Ray Hayden (Producer), Ray Hayden (Mixing), Anthony Mason (Arranger), "Little" Louie Vega (Producer), Patrick Forge (Arranger), Patrick Forge (Producer), Chris Franck (Arranger), Chris Franck (Producer), Kenny "Dope" Gonzalez (Producer), Ludovic Navarre (Producer), Ludovic Navarre (Mixing), Philippe Cohen Solal (Producer), Iván Benavides (Producer), Chris Mueller (Producer), Chris Mueller (Remixing), Eduardo Makaroff (Producer), Christoph H. Müller (Producer), Balázs Zságer (Fender Rhodes), László Jr. Fogarasi (Arranger), László Jr. Fogarasi (Programming), László Jr. Fogarasi (Producer), Phillipe Cohen (Producer), Phillipe Cohen (Remixing)