Jazzy House

Jazzy House is a subgenre of house music that originated in the early 1990s. It is characterized by its fusion of jazz and funk elements with the rhythmic structure of house music. The roots of Jazzy House can be traced back to the 1970s when jazz-funk and disco music were popular. Many disco DJs of the time experimented with mixing jazz-funk tracks with disco beats. This experimentation paved the way for the emergence of Jazzy House in the 1990s. One of the earliest and most influential Jazzy House producers was François Kevorkian, also known as Francois K. He was a key figure in the New York club scene and played an important role in shaping the Jazzy House sound. His seminal mixtape, "Choice: A Collection of Classics," which was released in 1993, showcased his skills at seamlessly blending jazz-funk tracks with house beats. Another key figure in the development of Jazzy House was Joe Claussell, who worked alongside Kevorkian in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Claussell was known for his use of live instruments, such as piano and trumpet, in his productions. He also introduced African rhythms and percussion into his tracks, which helped to create a unique sound that was both musical and danceable. Other notable Jazzy House producers include Kerri Chandler, who infused his productions with a deep soulful sound, and DJ Gregory, who was instrumental in bringing African and Latin rhythms into Jazzy House. Another important figure in the genre was Osunlade, who brought a spiritual element to Jazzy House with his use of African and Yoruba chants in his productions. Jazzy House enjoyed a period of popularity in the mid-1990s, with many producers releasing tracks that fused jazz and funk with house beats. However, as the 2000s progressed, the genre began to lose momentum as house music in general became more commercial and mainstream. Despite this, Jazzy House continued to have a devoted following, and many producers continued to experiment with the genre throughout the 2000s and into the 2010s. One of the most successful Jazzy House tracks of this period was Atjazz's remix of Jazzanova's "That Night," which became an instant classic and is still played by DJs today. Today, Jazzy House continues to be a vibrant and evolving genre, with producers from around the world creating tracks that fuse jazz, funk, and house music. The genre has also influenced other musical styles, such as nu-jazz and broken beat. In recent years, Jazzy House has seen a resurgence in popularity, with many younger producers incorporating the genre's signature sound into their productions.

Kerri Chandler: An American DJ and producer, Kerri Chandler is a pioneer of the Jazzy House sound. He blends elements of jazz and soul with deep house rhythms to create a unique sound that is uplifting and soulful. Louie Vega: Louie Vega is a Grammy Award-winning American DJ and producer who has been at the forefront of the Jazzy House movement for over 30 years. He is known for his ability to create soulful, uplifting tracks that showcase his love of jazz and world music. Atjazz: Atjazz is a South African DJ and producer who has been a fixture in the Jazzy House scene since the early 2000s. He is known for his precise, intricate beats and his ability to infuse his tracks with a deep, soulful energy. Osunlade: Osunlade is an American DJ and producer who has been a driving force in the Jazzy House scene since the 1990s. He is known for his ability to create deep, soulful tracks that blend elements of jazz, soul, and world music. DJ Gregory: A French DJ and producer, DJ Gregory has been instrumental in bringing the Jazzy House sound to Europe. He is known for his ability to craft tracks that blend African rhythms with jazz and soul, creating a sound that is both uplifting and infectious. Peven Everett: Peven Everett is an American singer-songwriter who has collaborated with some of the biggest names in the Jazzy House scene. His soulful voice and poetic lyrics have been a driving force in the genre, and his contributions are invaluable to the sound. Jill Scott: Jill Scott is an American singer-songwriter who has worked extensively with Jazzy House producers. Her soulful voice and poetic lyrics have helped to bring the genre to a wider audience, and her contributions are essential to the sound. Dennis Ferrer: Dennis Ferrer is an American DJ and producer who has been creating Jazzy House tracks since the early 2000s. He is known for his ability to blend elements of jazz and soul with deep house rhythms, creating tracks that are both soulful and infectious. Glenn Underground: Glenn Underground is an American DJ and producer who has been at the forefront of the Jazzy House scene since the 1990s. He is known for his ability to create deep, soulful tracks that showcase his love of jazz and world music. Karizma: Karizma is an American DJ and producer who has been creating Jazzy House tracks since the early 2000s. He is known for his ability to create intricate, funky beats that are infused with a deep, soulful energy. His contributions to the genre are invaluable, and he has helped to shape the sound of Jazzy House for over two decades.

1. "The Ha Dance" - Masters at Work 2. "Finally" - Kings of Tomorrow 3. "My Love" - Route 66 4. "Brighter Days" - Cajmere feat. Dajae 5. "Can't Get Enough" - Soulsearcher 6. "Atmosphere" - Kerri Chandler 7. "Deep Burnt" - Pepe Bradock 8. "Mystery of Love" - Mr. Fingers 9. "I'm a House Head" - Farley "Jackmaster" Funk 10. "Respect Is Due" - DJ Pierre feat. Dawn Tallman 11. "Homeroom" - St. Germain 12. "Jazz Carnival" - Azymuth 13. "Closer Than Close" - Rosie Gaines 14. "Love's Got Me High" - Terrence Parker 15. "Missing" - Everything But the Girl 16. "Sueno Latino" - Sueno Latino 17. "Do It Properly" - 2 Puerto Ricans, a Blackman and a Dominican 18. "Fantasy" - Blaze 19. "Feelin' Love" - Soul II Soul 20. "Follow Me" - Aly-Us 21. "Hallelujah" - Kerri Chandler & the Voices 22. "It's Alright, I Feel It!" - Nuyorican Soul 23. "Jazz Machine" - Black Machine 24. "Never Let You Go" - Deep Sensation 25. "Somethin' Else" - Pig & Dan

One book that discusses jazzy house is "Last Night a DJ Saved My Life" by Bill Brewster and Frank Broughton. The authors describe jazzy house as a genre that "melds the funky rhythms and basslines of house with the cool sophistication of jazz to create a whole new sound" (53). They note that the genre emerged in the late 1980s in places like Chicago and New York City, where jazz and house music were both popular. Brewster and Broughton quote Kenny Dope, a prominent producer of jazzy house, who says, "Jazz and house go together. It’s like peanut butter and jelly" (54). The authors also mention the influence of jazz musicians like Miles Davis and Herbie Hancock on early jazzy house tracks. In "The Underground Is Massive: How Electronic Dance Music Conquered America", Michaelangelo Matos writes about the role of jazzy house in shaping the larger genre of electronic dance music. He notes that jazzy house "represented an alternative to the rave music sound" that was dominating the scene in the early 1990s (102). Matos quotes François Kevorkian, a prominent jazzy house DJ and producer, who says that the genre "had roots in jazz and soul and R&B, which made them more musically interesting" (104). He also notes that jazzy house was popular in London in the early 1990s, where it was often played in more "sophisticated" clubs like the legendary Ministry of Sound. Another book that discusses jazzy house is "Energy Flash: A Journey Through Rave Music and Dance Culture" by Simon Reynolds. Reynolds notes that jazzy house "evokes jazz not just through the use of sample sources but also by sequence and arrangements that sometimes mimic a jazz combo's spontaneity and interplay" (440). He quotes British DJ Paul Bradshaw, who says that jazzy house "has always been a peculiarly British phenomenon" because of the UK's strong jazz scene (441). Reynolds also notes the influence of acid jazz, a genre popular in the UK in the 1990s that combined jazz with funk and hip-hop, on jazzy house.

The social context of Jazzy House can be traced back to the cultural melting pot of New York City during the 1970s and 1980s. Jazz music has always been influential in the city's nightlife and music scene, with legendary musicians like Duke Ellington, Miles Davis, and John Coltrane performing in the city's clubs and venues. The city's house and disco music scenes during these decades also drew inspiration from jazz, which resulted in a hybrid genre of jazz-funk that was popular in underground clubs and house parties. The cultural context of Jazzy House also includes the emergence of jazz-infused house music in Europe. French producer St. Germain, whose groundbreaking debut album Boulevard (1995) blended jazz with deep house music, was a key figure in shaping the sound of Jazzy House. Other influential European producers of the genre include JoVonn, Ron Trent, and Blaze. The technological context of Jazzy House is associated with the development of electronic music production tools and software. With the advent of digital audio workstations (DAWs), producers could now create and manipulate sounds using a computer, resulting in a new level of flexibility and control over the production process. This technological progress has been central to the genre's development, allowing for the integration of jazz melodies and instrumentation with house beats and production techniques. Record labels played a pivotal role in promoting Jazzy House. Germany's Jazzanova Records, founded in 1995, was one of the first labels to embrace the genre. They released influential albums by artists like Dixon, Rainer Truby, and Jazztronik, and their compilations and remixes helped popularize the genre worldwide. Other notable labels that played a crucial role in the development of Jazzy House include Nite Grooves, King Street Sounds, and Large Music. Journalists who covered the genre also played an important part in its development. Magazines like DJ Times and Mixmag published features on Jazzy House in the late 1990s and early 2000s, as did online music blogs and websites. These publications helped to create a buzz around the genre and gave it exposure to wider audiences. Notable figures who contributed to the growth of Jazzy House include DJs and producers like Kerri Chandler, Dennis Ferrer, and Larry Heard. These musicians helped to shape the sound of the genre and set a benchmark for quality music production. Jazzy House continues to evolve and thrive today, with new artists adding their unique style to the genre and keeping it fresh and exciting.