Nu Jazz

So, during my last post, I promised  to take a look at an offshoot of acid jazz: nu jazz. Sometimes called electro-jazz or future jazz, nu jazz seems to be a definite move toward the electronic and hip-hop influences that made appearances in acid jazz tracks like the song from Galliano in my previous post.

To illustrate this, let's look at a personal favorite of mine from the band Quantic:

As you can see, the general format and chord structure of the tune is very similar to that of mainstream jazz, but it's played out via a more modern medium. The idea of using loops the create music is especially strong in nu jazz due to its roots in techno and electronica, and if such simplicity is a sin, then "Life in the Rain" is certainly guilty. One writer from AllAboutJazz.com compared this particular style change to the grunge/punk reaction to rock and roll during the 90's; while this new jazz certainly borrows from its parent forms, it represents a shift toward simpler, more accessible form of expression that no longer required the virtuosity of its predecessors.

One could argue that this rejection of soloists is a step backward, but is it? Let's consider "Life in the Rain." What amazes me about this particular song is how subtle the layering of sound is -- each section of the song softly adds or subtracts a groove, which creates a gently flowing (but always driving, thanks to the steady, yet quiet tapping of the ride cymbal) musical experience. While we do hear a short solo from the guitar at (3:12), it's understated, allowing the listener to focus less on the individual skill of the player and more on the overall feeling of the song. The pensive and somewhat haunting voice samples, presumably musings on one's life direction, complete the mood and invite the listener to deeper thought.

I'll end this post with another track from Quantic. What do you think?