DJ Rob Swift - Turntable Jazz Hosted by Lyrics Born

Unfortunately the traces of the wondrously good musical genre of Jazz are gradually disappearing from Hip-Hop; an art form that used to heavily embrace Jazz and vice versa. In fact, Jazz was very much so apart of the creation of Hip-Hop. Percussion, heavy bass lines and horn solos are abundant within Jazz and along with Funk and Disco were the first genres most of the early Hip-Hop DJing and production pioneers initially experimented with. Also when talking about the mid and early 90's, sampling Jazz records was a pretty consistent practice amongst the game's most talented producer's like Pete Rock and DJ Premier, who in turn used the soulful sounds of Jazz to create the blueprints for Boom Bap Hip-Hop, a genre within a genre. Of course those were the glory days of rap, and as many of you will attest, we might now be in the last days. All melodrama aside, Hip-Hop as a whole has begun a new phase and that phase finds many of the new artist's and fans straying away from the older acoustics commonly accustomed to it. Who would've thought we'd see the day when young Hip-Hop heads would sneer at things like the venerable sounds (horns, keys and flutes) that typically characterize Jazz like worn out hand-me-downs....SMH.

I don't know why their new tastes that utilize much more "original" (code word for shitty and electronic) sounds have seemingly de-valued the goodness of yesteryear, or why thy can't find a sensible medium between the two sounds, a la Black Milk, DJ Toomp and a few other really talented new producers, but I do know what I hear and I detest most of it. The new Direction that things are going in doesn't suit the true heads and while I have taken up a pretty solid, subterranean residence in Hip-Hop's underground scene, I still loathe the fact that we can't get one worthwhile artist who employs a heavy Jazz sound in his production on the radio. Sure I was tickled pink a couple years back when Lupe Fiasco burst on the scene and was getting major airplay on the radio and MTV with "Kick, Push", but look what happened after that; "Superstar"??? Fuck that...duke sold out quicker than Kanye did....and that's the problem. Too many guys who start out as legitimately talented emcee's, producer's and artist's, that use great samples, that draw in the underground and true heads just blatantly turn their backs on the bona fide music that got them there to cater to club goer's, college kids and casual hip-hop fans that wanna hear a Hip-Hop drum Pattern, but aren't down enough to understand the soul of good Jazz arrangements or thoughtful emceeing and won't advocate, nor sponsor folks that do understand.

Inevitably, after all my ranting you know I'm going to point you in the direction of a new project that is all too worthy of being called Aesthetically perfect. Unsurprisingly it is none other than former X-Men (commonly known as The X-Ecutioner's to you newbies) member Rob Swift that brings forth a new mix that not only showcases his masterful turntablism, but the often forgotten roots of boom bap hip-hop and Jazz music. Swift is the perfect DJ to put together such an ambitious endeavor as "Turntable Jazz". He has always repped the connection that Jazz has to Hip-Hop correctly, especially when it came to his own production and his bevy of Mix albums.

Highlighting the influence that Jazz had on his own career, Swift has stated in the past that Herbie Hancock and Bob James "have always been a huge influence on him and the music he creates". It comes then as no surprise that the music of the two legendary Jazz men appears on Swift's latest Mix album that genuflects to the timeless art form's and techniques of Jazz, Hip-Hop and Scratching. The work of other Jazz greats like Les McCann, Lou Donaldson, Al Hirt and the great one Dizzie Gillespie are also featured, but I find that the more obscure music pieces bring the most delight. The 1947 composition "On Green Dolphin Street" from the Polish film/music composer Bronislau Kaper and American lyric writer Ned Washington is wondrous. The slow moving melody and sustained chords make this a Jazz player's improv standard and Swift applies that improv-esque approach, as he scratches seamlessly over the instrumentation. Another obscure gem included is "Patutu", an enthralling cut from the Chicago jazz legend Richard Evans (who dedicated it to his daughter) that contains blazing percussion as well as some thick basslines. a soulful string section and a jazzy trumpet that steals the show.

Expect to hear a lot of really great, Jazz-influenced beats with Rob Swift scratching up a storm over them. Lyrics Born hosts, but doesn't get in the way too often, lol. All in all this is a great instrumental-type release that any Hip-hop head, new or old should get familiar with. Be sure to peep the last track "Modern Day Music", it features the Hip-Hop group Dejeous, a new troop that I really like and hopefully will do a write up on in the future...

-BIG D O






01 Jazz Is My Religion Rob Swift Ft. Bob James & Dave McMurray
02 Dolphin Dance Herbie Hancock
03 What’s Going On Les McCann
04 Carrie On Brother Eddie Harris
05 Latin Scratch Interlude Rob Swift
06 Minority Large Professor Ft. Rob Swift
07 Harlem Hindoo Al Hirt
08 Patutu Richard Evans
09 Nonverbal Communication Rob Swift Ft. Dave McMurray
10 It’s Your Thing Lou Donaldson
11 Pot Belly Lou Donaldson
12 Green Dolphin Street Bronislau Kaper
13 Enter The Cycles Boulaone Ft. Rob Swift, Isaman & Legrotony
14 Summertime Dizzy Gillespie
15 Nautilus Remix Bob James Ft. Rob Swift
16 Modern Day Music Rob Swift Ft. Dujeous

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