Celebrate 20 years of Jazzanova’s groundbreaking debut album 'In Between' with this stunning live reinterpretation. Recorded at Little Big Beat Studios, the Jazzanova Live Band breathes fresh energy into timeless tracks like 'That Night', 'No Use', and 'Days To Come'. This performance seamlessly blends the album’s sample-based origins with the vibrancy of live music. A must-have for fans of jazz, soul, and electronic fusion.

“In Between became a defining moment—not just for Jazzanova, but for a burgeoning sound that fused jazz, soul, electronic, and broken beat, ” the collective reflects. “Two decades later, we’ve revisited this milestone with the Jazzanova Live Band, a group that has been touring the world for 15 years, captivating audiences with its dynamic blend of precision and improvisation.”

When 'In Between' was released in 2002, it reflected the influences that had shaped the group since the mid-1990s—a seamless blend of jazz, soul, broken beat, and electronic music, brought to life by producers Stefan Leisering and Axel Reinemer, alongside DJs Alex Barck, Claas Brieler, and Jürgen von Knoblauch. Created as a studio concept, it was never intended to be performed live. That changed in 2008 with the formation of the Jazzanova Live Band, coinciding with their second studio album, 'Of All The Things'.

In September 2024, this vision came to life. At the renowned Little Big Beat Studios in Liechtenstein, the Jazzanova Live Band performed In Between for the very first time in an intimate studio session in front of an audience. Captured on three analog multi-track tape machines and accompanied by a full video recording, this session reimagines the album with a fresh energy, combining samples and live instrumentation seamlessly.

'In Between Revisited: Jazzanova Live' celebrates a milestone as the collective breathes fresh life into their legacy, proving that great music transcends time and evolves with every listen.

TRACK LISTING

1. L.O.V.E. And You & I (Little Big Beat Studio Live Session)
2. No Use (Little Big Beat Studio Live Session)
3. The One-Tet / Fade Out (Little Big Beat Studio Live Session)
4. Mwela, Mwela (Here I Am) (Little Big Beat Studio Live Session)
5. Place In Between / Cyclic (Little Big Beat Studio Live Session)
6. Another New Day (Little Big Beat Studio Live Session)
7. Days To Come (Little Big Beat Studio Live Session)
8. That Night (Little Big Beat Studio Live Session)
9. Dance The Dance (Little Big Beat Studio Live Session)

Taken from the album ‘Strata Records – The Sound of Detroit – Reimagined by Jazzanova’, BBE Music, DJ Amir and 180 Proof records present the 3rd single from this monumental project. This release features remixes by Japanese Club Jazz pioneers Kyoto Jazz Massive, and Genre Blending New Yorkers, musclecars. Kyoto Jazz Massive were enlisted to remix the Jazzanova reimagining of Sam Sanders’s iconic song Face at my Window. Their mix adds an intimate Jazz Club feel to vocalist Sean Haefeli’s recording, which highlights the dynamics of Sean’s voice. The subtle tempo increase maintains the feel of the original and adds a punch to the brass section, making the track an entirely new experience. musclecars add that traditional New York / Chicago House vibe to Jazzanova’s reimagining of Kenny Cox’s ‘Beyond the dream’, and the result is a skippy afro/latin dancefloor filler which can go on forever. musclecars demonstrate their genre blending superpowers on this mix which adds a garage swing to a jazz record, definitely going to be a jam for the dancefloors in 2023. Both remixes showcase the importance of DJ Amir's unearthing of these strata gems, and Jazzanova’s reimagining, how they have breathed new life into one of Detroit’s hidden gems - Strata Records. They will definitely on board new audiences to the treasure trove that is Strata, and the iconic stories surrounding the often overlooked record label.

TRACK LISTING

1. Face At My Window (Kyoto Jazz Massive Remix)
2. Beyond The Dream (musclecars' Reimagination)
3. Face At My Window (Yoshi's Edit)
4. Beyond The Dream
5. Face At My Window

The second single to be pulled from upcoming BBE album ‘Strata Records – The Sound of Detroit – Reimagined By Jazzanova’, ‘Saturday Night Special’ features remixes by Kai Alcé and DJ Amir & Re.decay, as well as The Lyman Woodard Organization’s 1975 original. Possibly the best-known piece of music from the Strata label’s diverse and innovative catalogue, the unique, low-fi, moody, understated aesthetic of ‘Saturday Night Special’ has captured the hearts of music fans and DJs worldwide. “When I first heard the Lyman Woodard Organization ’Saturday Night Special’,” says DJ Amir, “I thought it was a song from a Blaxploitation soundtrack. Once I realized that Lyman was from Detroit, I immediately thought that if there was ever a ’theme song’ for Detroit that ’Saturday Night Special’ would be it. There is such a cinematic vibe to the song full of grit, rawness, and determination that just soaks into your veins. This album/song will always be in my bag of records to survive the apocalypse with!’” When DJ Amir and Jazzanova began work on the ‘Reimagined’ project, breathing new life into the Strata Records archive, this jazz-funk classic was right at the top of the list of ‘musts’ for the band to re-interpret. “I had no idea what direction they were going to go, musically” says Amir. “The original song had been sampled more than a few times, but in my opinion, it was never done tastefully. However, from the first practice session, I knew that they were spot on with the right direction! Their version is the perfect blend of Detroit and Berlin!” Kai Alcé’s ‘NDATL’ remix of ‘Saturday Night Special’ (named, like his label, after his three hometowns of New York, Detroit, ATLanta) brings a sure-footed lightness to Jazzanova’s version of the song, making the absolute most of the track’s stellar horn solos. “After hearing the unreleased Kamasi Washington/Gregory Porter remixes he did, I knew I had to reach out Kai” says Amir. “With this remix, he stretches out the track into a seven minute groove, in the direction of a soulful house/future jazz interpretation.” Alongside his Berlin production partners, Re.decay DJ Amir turns in a low-slung rework of ‘Saturday Night Special’, using as many parts from the Jazzanova version as possible. “We tried to emulate the intro to one of my favourite jazz dance tracks, ‘Expansions’ by Lonnie Liston Smith” says Amir. Mission accomplished.

STAFF COMMENTS

Matt says: Tasty selection of remixes, delving deeper into the already extensive Jazzanova / Strata project.

TRACK LISTING

1. Saturday Night Special (DJ Amir & Re.decay Remix)
2. Saturday Night Special
3. Saturday Night Special (Kai Alce NDATL Remix – Extended Version)
4. Saturday Night Special

12” release of The Lyman Woodard Organisation-penned 'Creative Musicians', reimagined by Jazzanova and featuring remixes by Waajeed and Henrik Schwarz. Originally released as a digital EP from the album 'Strata Records – The Sound of Detroit – Reimagined by Jazzanova', 'Creative Musicians' and its remixes now come to you on deep grooved vinyl. The vocalist for these sessions is Sean Haefeli, who originally hails from Indianapolis, and brings a relaxed urgency to his contributions, sounding like a young Gil Scott-Heron. Leveraging his 20 plus year friendship with legendary Detroit DJ/Producer extraordinaire, Waajeed, Amir enlists him for a special four-to-the-floor mix that not only keeps that organic vibe but also adds a unique contemporary Detroit flavour! Henrik Schwarz needs little introduction to fans of eclectic electronic sounds. For over thirty years, his amazing body of work has packed dancefloors worldwide. Henrik takes ‘Creative Musicians’ in a slightly different direction, retaining many of Jazzanova’s original elements while adding his signature sound to the mix, providing another dance floor scorcher! And just to give you proper context, we have included the cult-classic, much-loved original version of ‘Creative Musicians’ by the Lyman Woodard Organization. ‘Strata Records - The Sound of Detroit - Reimagined by Jazzanova’ is no ‘covers’ album, rather a brand-new celebration of the iconic imprint, as Jazzanova’s take on Lyman Woodard Organization’s musical manifesto ‘Creative Musicians’ makes clear from its Afrobeat-inspired horn arrangements, drum track, and syncopated tempo.

STAFF COMMENTS

Matt says: Jazzanova cover of this The Lyman Woodard Organisation classic plus remixes from Waajeed and Henrik Schwarz. Proving to be quite the undertaking this Strata / Jazzanove project. Get stuck in!

TRACK LISTING

1. Creative Musicians
2. Creative Musicians
3. Creative Musicians (Waajeed Remix)
4. Creative Musicians (Waajeed Remix Instrumental)
5. Creative Musicians (Henrik Schwarz Remix)
6. Creative Musicians (Henrik Schwarz Dub)

In association with DJ Amir and 180 Proof Records, BBE Music proudly presents ‘Strata Records - The Sound of Detroit - Reimagined by Jazzanova’, a brand new celebration of the iconic imprint. How does the Berlin-based production collective Jazzanova find itself reimagining songs from the iconic, Detroit record label Strata? “I couldn’t think of a more perfect band to do this work,” DJ Amir says about Jazzanova, a combination of DJs, record collectors and musicians, “because they brought passion and love to the project, because they know the music and love the music. And on top of that, they know how to play.” This unlikely, yet ideal pairing is the result of years of work and passion from Amir Abdullah, the crate-digging, DJ and label-head for 180-Proof Records which in 2011 began reissuing the groundbreaking Strata Records back catalog and unreleased gems from the vaults. On Strata Records - The Sound of Detroit - Reimagined by Jazzanova, DJ Amir and Jazzanova breathe new life into eleven hand-picked tracks from the Strata catalog for fans of the label’s historic recordings and new ears alike. Strata Records rose from the ashes of Detroit’s tumultuous 1960s decline..

STAFF COMMENTS

Barry says: A superb compilation from the ever reliable BBE which sees renowned collective Jazzanova reimagining the output of Detroit stalwart label Strata. It's an absolute wealth of amazing material to draw on, and the endlessly talented Jazzanova do it great justice here. A match made in heaven.

TRACK LISTING

Disc: 1
1. Introduction
2. Face At My Window
3. Root In 7-4 Plus
4. Lost My Love
5. Creative Musicians
6. Joy Road
Disc: 2
1. Orotunds
2. Inside Ourselves
3. Scorpio’s Child
4. Beyond The Dream
5. Saturday Night Special
6. Loser

"'I'm Still Here", off Jazzanova's 3rd LP, "The Pool" gets remixed by a hand-picked duo acreditted by the band themself.

German A-list remixer Larse gets the package underway, deliverying two, slowly building, slo-house reduxes that are emotive, cinematic and brooding. Winnie & Somow, from Berlin, gets super spaced-out on their remix; keeping some ethereal conga patterns in amongs tthe celestial sweeps and ultra relaxing bass. Zero-gravity hammock tackle whilst their 2nd offering, a 'dub' is quicker paced, more pop-arranged and, I guess, direct enough for the radio stations and the nightclubs.

TRACK LISTING

A1. I'm Still Here (Larse Remix)
A2. I'm Still Here (Larse AP Dub Remix)
B1. I'm Still Here (Winnie & Somow Remix)
B2. I'm Still Here (Winnie & Somow Dub Remix)

From the left or the right side? Straight ahead or upside down? No matter how you look at it - but it seems to be about time that all the remixes for Jazzanova that have been done over the last few years need to be bundled up in a nice big shiny package.

After the first collection of remixes from 2003 now's the turn for "Upside Down", some of dance music finest key figures' interpretations of selected Jazzanova tunes from the last eight years. And be assured, the line-up is as massive as the Berlin's quintet worldwide reputation. From fellow Berliner Henrik Schwarz, Ye:Solar and Âme to Atjazz and Mr. Scruff from the UK, Motor City Drum Ensemble from Cologne, Glasgow's Midnight Mauraders and Soldiers Of House from Pretoria (South Africa) this is a top notch international heavy weight affair.

Inspired by these outstanding reworks of their original material Jazzanova member and DJ Alex Barck and Jazzanova Live! band member Stefan Ulrich (under his Neve Naive moniker together with Alexa Voss on vocals) also got upside down and delivered each a remix to this prosperous project. Besides these two brand new and unreleased remixes the ones by Soldiers Of House and Midnight Mauraders are as well first time available to the public.

Both acts are ones to keep an eye on. Pretoria twosome Soldiers Of House started releasing music in 2005 before founding their own label Soldiers Of House Entertainment in 2008. When participating in a Jazzanova remix competition in 2009 and making it second they did not only caught the attention of Jazzanova / Sonar Kollektiv but kick started their career into newer heights. Their remix of "Lie“ is another promise of things to come. Also a duo, The Midnight Marauders (Ali Herron and Ross Telford ) hail from Glasgow and have caused ruckus with their solo work as OOFT! and Ross' DJ residency at the UK’s longest running weekly house night Subculture at the Sub Club. More remixes and original material is expected in the very near future.

TRACK LISTING

01. Little Bird Feat. José James (Alex Barck Remix)
02. Let Me Show Ya Feat. Paul Randolph (Henrik Schwarz Remix)
03. Glow & Glare (Âme Remix)
04. I Can See Feat. Ben Westbeech (Ye:Solar Remix)
05. Dance The Dance (Atjazz Remix)
06. Lie Feat. Thief (Soldiers Of House AB Reworked Remix)
07. Boom Clicky Boom Clack (Mr. Scruff Vocal Mix)
08. Look What You’re Doin’ To Me (Motor City Drum Ensemble Remix)
09. I Can See Feat. Ben Westbeech (Midnight Marauders House Your Father Dub)
10. Lucky Girl Feat. Paul Randolph (Neve Naive Remix)