The reason why jazzy jungle may/maynot sound a lot like straight-up jazz is
simple..It's all in the words "jazzy jungle".. Its *JUNGLE* (note the noun)
that has a little bit of a "jazzy" twang (note the adjective). It's not
trying to be jazz, it's JUNGLE that shows some jazzy influences, so it won't
sound like Miles Davis or John Coltrane.. It will likely sound like Peshay
or Roni Size/Reprazent, with some sax. samples or an upright bass..
It's still jungle, so that's probably why many jazz-heads(if that's a proper
term) don't like it..
I must agree though that many artists have been falesly labeled Jazzy
Junglists when their music is almost entirely intelligent jungle. I agree
that airy synths do not constitute jazzy influences..
Artist like Courtney Pine, on the other hand, will surely sound much more
like jazz because he is a jazz musician whose work has been remixed by
jungle producers.. So in this case, you start with Jazz and add Jungle..
Otherwise, the more prominently known works labeled "jazzy jungle" have been
Jungle works with Jazz added to it..
On a side note, for the same reasons, many people who listen to traditional
Indian music wouldn't like selections from artists like Talvin Singh or
State of Benghal.. Such said artists are not meaning to emulate traditional
music, for that has already been done. They, like the jazzy junglists, are
trying to take the music of the present and spice it up with hints of the
past, thereby making music of the future.. (sounds cheesy, but that's
exactly why there are a number of compilations titled "the Future Sound of ___")
At 07:20 AM 1/9/99 -0800, Tony Reid wrote:
> here i go again w/my hair splitting--just delete this one elson :)
>
> most of the stuff i've heard called "jazzy jungle" has been dubbed that by
> junglsts--not usually jazz people--and it is stuff that is smoother
>("jazzy")
> than other stuff. among people that are into dance forms, the perception of
> jazz is that it's "cool & mellow"--i always want to play late 60's miles to
> disprove that (the group w/herbie, wayne, tony & ron carter).
>
> when i first heard squarepusher, i thought someone had sampled jaco
>pastorius
> (ex-weather report/joni mitchell) playing bass. i was ecstatic, but tom
> jenkinson's (aka squarepusher) beats really get on my nerves--drill & bass
> indeed!!
>
> i would concur w/the courtney pine recommendation. a jazz musician w/drum
> & bass elements (even in some of the original versions). i believe james
> hardway is a saxist also.
>
> -t
>
>