K7.com's PreviewIn a list of the most influential and successful hip hop DJ's, Jeffrey Allen Townes aka Jazzy Jeff, ranks right up there with the likes of DJ Premier, Eric B., Marley Marl and Grandmaster Flash. The New School pioneer enjoys continued fame, in particular thanks to the stir caused by his production company, "A Touch of Jazz" (Jill Scott, Musiq Soulchild, Michael Jackson). The "Magnificent EP" offers a promising glimpse at his first solo album, set for release in August in the "Beat Generation" series and forcefully underlines Jazzy Jeff's class. You can tell just listening to these four tracks that as a DJ and producer, he is still capable of the extraordinary. "Love of Da Game" especially, played with Baby Blak and Pauly Yamz, is evidence of an extrmely high level of muscial communication. Former "New Music Seminar DJ Battles" winner (1986), his beats are as fresh as only colleagues like Jay Dee, Hi-Tek or Pete Rock can make them. Even if he has declined from entering the limelight himself in the last few years, he nevertheless masterminded 3 tracks on Will Smith's debut solo album, "Big Willie Style", and worked as executive producer on "Willennium"; but it's only with this EP that he shows his true colours. The three remaining tracks are also in a class of their own; "Are You Ready", recorded with Slum Village and cut with silky soft grooves, stands out especially. Jazzy Jeff arrives with this EP exactly where he started 17 years ago: at the very essense of hip hop.Jeffrey Allen Townes' career started in the mid 80's, forming the duo "Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince", which went on to become one of the most successful hip hop acts in the world, with albums like "Rock The House" and "He's The DJ...I'm The Rapper" and hits like "Girls Ain't Nothing But Trouble" and "Parents Just Don't Understand". In 1990 he set up the now flourishing production company, A Touch Of Jazz, responsible for the successes of Jill Scott and Musiq Soulchild, amongst others. |