| |
|
|
VERVE REMIXED 2
BY CHRISTOPHER JOHN TREACY
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tampering with jazz classics isn’t likely to go down well with purists. But the folks at Verve aren’t troubled by that. And for those who possess an open mind about such things, Verve Remixed 2, the second in a series of compilations that sets contemporary DJs loose on cherry-picked recordings from the Verve vaults, is as intriguing as it is entertaining. What’s most striking is how well Verve’s brand of jazz lends itself to electronic/house/lounge treatments. Dizzy Gillespie’s "Manteca" is mixed by Afro-Cuban wizards Funky Lowlives, and the walloping result is an intensely percussive offering shot through with industrial seasonings. Matthew Herbert’s take on Oscar Brown’s "Brother Where Are You?" relies on a gritty, slow-churning mix that makes the soaring, soulfully belted chorus that much more satisfying.
Of the two Ella Fitzgerald tracks, "Angel Eyes" stands out, as Layo & Bushwacka take it to an otherworldly space with sweeping keyboards and carefully placed strings. Felix Da Housecat turns the gravity of Nina Simone’s version of "Sinnerman" to his advantage on a dub-style house mix that loops an urgent piano signature and couples it with Simone’s repeated probing "Where ya gonna run to?" And Gotan Projects’ reworking of Sarah Vaughan’s "Whatever Lola Wants" gets its sexual charge from the sultry tango and flamenco flourishes.
