Category Archives: Jazz & Bass

2021, Ear & Drum Session, Jazz & Bass, Melodic, Old Skool

Ear & Drum Session: 198 – Four Stroke

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First mix of 2021 is is the final in my 2-Step / Tech Step series looking back at 90s D&B Steppers. This one focuses on Jazz Step from the mid to late 90s featuring some amazing tunes from the likes of T.Power, B.L.I.M. and of course Photek.

Jazz Step was an avant-garde take on the 2-step sound, featuring a lot of live instrument samples such as sax, percussion and double-bass. Starting with Alex Reece’s – Pulp Fiction and closing out with Roni Size’s – Brown Paper bag, the style didn’t really survive the turn of the millennium. But that didn’t stop Jazz Step from having some of the most forward thinking and innovative tunes of the 90s.

Four Stroke – 1hr of Classic Jazz Step

Flex Camp – Style Wars
T.Power – Police State (Native Bass Edit)
Unguided Lights – Deep Blue ‘C”
Minx – Take Me To Summer (N Jay Remix)
B.L.I.M. – Their Culture
Hydro – Tha’ Bomb Shit
Elizabeth Troy – Let Me Be (L Double Remix)
N-Jay – Enceptia
N-Jay – Jazz 163
T.Power – Refraction Edit
B.L.I.M. – Jeamland 96
Morf – Spell
Photek – The Rain (Photek Remix)
Hidden Agenda – Dispatches #1
Elementz of Noise – Astral

2017, Ear & Drum Session, Jazz & Bass, Melodic

Jungle Jazz Vol.2 – Ear & Drum Session 133

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Back with another mix sourcing from the legendary Jungle Jazz compilations. This one covers 1998-2002 when the music was transforming from intelligent jungle into more jazz infused D&B as we know it today.

Some of these are straight up jazz tracks such as London Elektricity’s epic 10 minute ‘Rewind’ where as others are starting to take on the jazz-step sound of the naughties like Groove Rider’s remixes of Goldie’s ‘Believe’ and Bally Sagoo’s ‘Turn Bin Jaya’.One of the great things about the Jungle Jazz series was they had tunes I never saw get a vinyl release, so some of this music will hopefully be new to most of you.

My pick of the bunch would have to be 4 Hero’s – 9 by 9 (M.I.S.T. Full Vocal Mix) which pretty much kicked of the Liquid genre that is so huge today and Klute’s – Phone Call (Matrix Remix) which is pretty much the perfect D&B track in my humble opinion.

Jungle Jazz Vol.2 – 1hr of Jazz Infused D&B

London Elektricity – Rewind
Justice – Westside Centre (DJ Pulse Remix)
Nuyorican Soul – It’s Alright, I feel it! (Roni Size Remix)
New Jazz Hustler – Bombay
Shifty – Jazz Ass
4 Hero – 9 by 9 (M.I.S.T. Full Vocal Mix)
DJ Krush – Meiso (4 Hero Vocal Mix)
Goldie – Believe (Grooverider Remix)
Klute – Phone Call (Matrix Remix)
Bally Sagoo – Turn Bin Jaya (Grooverider Remix)
Adam F – Music In My Mind
4 Hero – Star Chasers (Photek Remix)
Shifty – Jelly Head
Photek – Modus Operandi

All Label Mix, Ear & Drum Session, Intelligent, Jazz & Bass, Melodic, Old Skool

Shadow Wax Vol.5: 1996 Hard Intelligence – Ear & Drum Session 66

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Coming on strong with mu favourite era of Moving Shadow, 1996. The amount of tunes Moving Shadow released in 1996 was astounding, and even more incredible was the diversity and quality the label kept up during this time. This mix looks at the harder end of the Intelligent sound which was a precursor to the Jazz & Bass sound Shadow would specialise in a little later down the track.

EZ Rollers & Aquasky were the two main stays of this sound and Walk This Land turned out to be THE defining tune going on to be remixed a million times and featuring in the sound track for the movie Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels. At the same time some of Shadows more chilled artists were having a go at the hard sound with Omni Trio’s – Rhythm Methods and Dave Wallace – Expressions Part 1 getting a remix from Tango as prime examples.

Basically you can’t wrong with any of the Moving Shadow tunes from 1996, sp strap yourself in for some intricate drum work, wicked breaks and some sweet melody.

Shadow Wax Vol.5: Hard Intelligence – 1hr of 1996 Moving Shadow

EZ Rollers – Bad Up
Kudos – Horizontal Movements
EZ Rollers – Sunset Phobia
EZ Rollers – Walk the Land
Aquasky – Kauna
JMJ & Ritchie – Illicit Groove
JMJ & Ritchie – Universal Horn Remix
Dave Wallace – Expressions Part 1 (Tango Remix)
Omni Trio – Rhythm Methods
Technical Itch – Can’t You See (Funky Technicians Remix)
Foul Play – Karma Part 1
Omni Trio – Astral Phase
Aquasky – Nylon Roadster
EZ – Rollers – Rolled Into 1 (Photek Remix)

All Artist Mix, Jazz & Bass, Old Skool, Requested Archive

EZ Rolled – Jungletrain Session 153

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Jay Hurren and Alex Banks defined the easy-rolling two-step of Moving Shadow Records during the late ’90s with their recordings as E-Z Rollers, after developing hardcore breakbeats earlier in the decade as JMJ & Richie and Hyper On Experience. Meeting up with vocalist Kelly Richards, Hurren and Banks decided to form E-Z Rollers around the threesome.

Their debut album Dimensions of Sound appeared in mid-1996, followed by several additional singles for Moving Shadow and the full-length follow-ups Weekend World and Titles of the Unexpected. Their huge singles Walk this Land and Tough at the Top are some of the most recognisable singles in D&B due to their hard jazz sound.

While not getting a lot of props these days, they have had a heavy influence on D&B and I especially respect their early works. I’ll always have a soft spot for their additions to the Moving Shadow catalogue and hope their future releases live up to the past.

EZ Rolled – 1hr of EZ Rollers

E-Z Rollers – You’ll Never Know
E-Z Rollers – Rolled Into 1 (Photek Remix)
E-Z Rollers – Droppin Science Pt.2 (E-Z Remix)
E-Z Rollers – Retro
E-Z Rollers – Movin’ Target
Omni Trio – Where Are You (E-Z Rollers Remix)
E-Z Rollers – Tough at the Top (Origin Unknown Remix)
E-Z Rollers – RS2000
E-Z Rollers – Weekend World (Calyx Remix)
E-Z Rollers – Walk This Land (Paradise Remix)
E-Z Rollers – Half a Chance
E-Z Rollers – Believe (Marky & XRS Remix)
E-Z Rollers – Tough at the Top (E-Z Rollers Remix)
E-Z Rollers – Rolled Into 1 (E-Z Rollers Remix)
E-Z Rollers – Dust

Chill Out, Ear & Drum Session, Jazz & Bass, Melodic

Finer Things – Ear & Drum Session 26

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Last year I did a mix of old 96 chilled jazzy tracks called The Finest. I guess you could call this a sequel of sorts. There are a few well know tracks amongst this lot, but by in large I’ve tried to pick some of the more obscure tracks from the golden era of D&B.

I’m sending this one out to Haste, Blick and Niddle (Nidal) who never cease to amaze me with their knowledge of old D&B and who’s mixes are always welcome on my iPod any time. Respect fellahs.

Finer Things – 2hrs of jazz & bass classics from 1996

Elisabeth Troy – Let Me Be
DJ Krush – Only the Strong Survive (Dillinja Remix)
Alex Banks – Control
Elementz of Noize – Astral
Natural Mystic – Got to Have You
Foul Play – Artificial Intelligence
Hyper-On Experience – East Coast Vibes
Spring Heel Jack – 60 Seconds Dub
Jonny L – 2 of Us
Wax Doctor – Off Shore Drift
Plug – Snapping Fuss
Tekniq – Awakening 96
JMJ & Flytronix – In Too Deep
EZ Rollers – Believe (Photek Remix)
Q Project – Solar System
Doc Scott – Tokyo Dawn
Wax Doctor – Finer Things
E.R.K. – Still Not Smoking
B.L.I.M. – Jeamland 96
P.F.M. – The Eleventh Hour
P.F.M. – The Mystics

Chill Out, Ear & Drum Session, Jazz & Bass, Melodic, Old Skool

The Finest – Ear & Drum Session 11

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1996-97 was the era when Drum & Bass was at it’s most popular in the broadest sense. From hardcore Hip-Hoppers to chart topping acts, everyone needed a D&B remix on their 12″ or album. Cafés, bars and restaurants were using it as muzac and every second advert on TV seemed to have a D&B backing track. It also happens to be the era when D&B as a music was at it’s most melodic and intricate, which is why I love the jazzy/intelligent D&B from around this time more than just about any other era.

This was a time when commercial success wasn’t such a dirty word (Sony and others were snapping up artists for their labels) and accessibility to the music didn’t seem like such a bad thing. Artists like Wax Doctor, LTJ Bukem, EZ Rollers, Omni Trio, Aquasky and many others all put delicate floating melodies over tough chopped up Amens and beats to produce a sound that you could play on a dance floor, but also play to your Mum and still have her stay in the room. The best thing about this era is that it still sounds as fresh today as when it first came out. It never seems to age or become disposable like some of the genres that came after it.

So in this mix I’ve tried to put together what was great about the 1996-97 Jazzy D&B genre. Some tracks you will have heard and, hopefully, there are a few obscure surprises in there that you haven’t. Best listened to with a good drink in your hand and your feet up on the couch, I suggest you kick back and enjoy what is not only great D&B, but great music too.

 

The Finest – 1.5hrs of 1996-97 Jazz & Bass

Nuyorcian Soul – I Am the Black Gold of the Sun (4 Hero Remix)
JMJ & Flytronix – In Too Deep
Flytronix – The Rhodes Tune
EZ Rollers – Dropping Science (EZ Remix)
Dr. S. Gachet – Remember the Rollers (The Meaningful Mix)
Omni Trio – Tripping on Broken Beats (Carlito Mix)
Statik Sound System – Revolutionary Pilot (Rob Smith Mix)
EZ Rollers – Sub Tropic
EZ Rollers – Believe
Photek – The Hidden Camera (Static Remix)
Aquasky – Opaque
Olive – You’re Not Alone (Roni Size Remix)
Alex Banks – Control
DJ Krush – Only the Strong Survive (Dillinja Remix)
LTJ Bukem – The James Bond Theme
Intense – Careless Minds
St. Germain – Alabama Blues (Wax Doctor Remix)
Ken Ishii – Stretch (Shogun Remix)
Wax Doctor – Finer Things
Adam F – Aromatherapy

All Artist Mix, Amen, Chill Out, Jazz & Bass, Melodic, Old Skool, Requested Archive

Los Trio Omnios – Phuturefreq Session 7

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I’ll be the first to admit that Omni Trio is like no other D&B producer in the game. His sense of melody and gentle touch in production makes his stuff far more than D&B and pushes it into the realms of ‘proper music’.

Ever since he started up with Rob Playford, Omni Trio has consistently released hit after hit and has provided some of THE anthems for the genre. His Albums Volume One – The Deepest Cut, The Haunted Science, Skeleton Keys, Byte Sized Life and Even Angels Cast Shadows are all classics.

I did this mix back in 2004, but still get requests for it today and so I thought it is well overdue for a re-hosting. It doesn’t cover every great track he has ever done, but you never could in just 2 hours. Even though a lot of the stuff in the mix is over 10 years old, I never get sick of listening to it and I hope you don’t either. Mr Robert Haigh, to you I say respect.

 

Los Trios Omnios – 2hrs of Omni Trio  

Through the Vibe (2 on 1 Mix)
Nu Birth Of Cool (Rogue Unit Mix)
The Elemental
Rhythm Methods
Serpent Navigators
Astral Phase 
Who Are You? (Aquasky Remix)
Sanctuary
Twin Town Karaoke (Guardians of Dalience Mix)
Fire Island 
Red Rain
Skeleton Keys
Meltdown
Breakbeat Etiquette
Secret Life (Silent Storm Remix) 
Higher Ground
Nu Birth
Lucid
Higher Ground (Breakbeat Etiquette London Steppas Mix)
Artificial Life (Harp Tune)
First Contact (1.25)
Diffusion Loops
Rogue Satellite (Extended Mix)
Lucid (London Steppers Remix)
Less Than Zero
Who Are You (EZ Rollers RMX)
Renegade Snares (High Contrast Remix)
Thru The Vibe (John B Remix)

All Artist Mix, Chill Out, Ear & Drum Session, Jazz & Bass, Melodic, Old Skool

Progressive Future Music – Ear & Drum Session 1

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To say PFM is a legend in the field of atmospheric drum & bass is a chronic understatement. Although not huge in volumes of output, just about every track PFM has produced is golden and is so lushly crafted that they always take you on a journey. If I had to point to a single producer who sums up the Good Looking sound it would be them/him.

This mix goes to all those who have had a ‘moment’ on a dance floor some where at some time when a PFM track has smoothed it’s way into a mix and transported you to a better place.

Click the thread title to listen, or right-click & save-as to download.

 

Progressive Future Music – 1hr of PFM

PFM – Cruising Detroit (98 Remix)
PFM – Danny’s Song
PFM – One and Only
Mandalay – Flowers Bloom (PFM Secret Lover Mix)
PFM – The Western (Words 2 B Heard Vocal Mix)
PFM – The Mystics
PFM – Language of Love
PFM – Dreams PFM – In Love
PFM – Wash Over Me
Saint Etienne – The Sea (PFM Remix)
PFM – For All of Us