Guru - Jazzmatazz Volume 4

Apart from a few weak tracks, this is a return to form for Baldhead Slick and his ever-expanding jazz massive.

Album Review by Bram Gieben | 11 May 2007
Album title: Jazzmatazz Volume 4
Artist: Guru
Label: 7 Grand Records

Guru's celebrated Jazzmatazz series re-ignites with a smooth, modern-sounding take on jazz, hip-hop and soul. The breaks crafted by Superproducer Solar are almost universally excellent, and the range of guests featured (Slum Village, Damian Marley, Common) in general tend to strengthen Guru's solid rhyme presence, rather than obscuring it. Musically, Volume 4 has more in common with the preceding Street Soul Volume 3 than with the old-school jazz of the classic Volume 1, but the verses from both Guru and guests anchor the album solidly in hip hop, rather than drifting into polished pop. This approach will perhaps win back some of the fans who felt that the previous two volumes were too musically divergent from the hip hop blueprint. Apart from a few weak tracks, this is a return to form for Baldhead Slick and his ever-expanding jazz massive. That said; it's no Daily Operation. [Bram Gieben]

Release date: 14 May.

http://www.gurugangstarr.com