Artists
DJ Krush
Japanese turntablist and producer DJ Krush is one of the few island- nation throw-ups to be embraced by the global hip-hop world. Releasing material through Sony in Japan, Mo'Wax and Virgin in the U.K., and Axiom, Shadow, and A&M in America, Krush's heady brand of experimental, (largely) instrumental hip-hop has been praised by everyone from hardcore underground hip-hop 'zines like The Bomb to the speckless offices of Rolling Stone and Spin.
DJ Shadow
DJ Shadow's Josh Davis is widely credited as a key figure in developing the experimental instrumental hip-hop style associated with the London-based Mo' Wax label. His early singles for the label, including In/Flux and Lost and Found (S.F.L.), were all-over-the-map mini-masterpieces combining elements of funk, rock, hip-hop, ambient, jazz, soul, and used-bin finds.
Donald Fagen
Donald Fagen was one of the two masterminds behind Steely Dan, the seminal jazz-pop band of the '70s. Fagen's solo work has been a continuation of the band's work of the early '80s — carefully constructed and arranged, intricately detailed pop songs that are more substantial than their stylish surface may indicate.
Doo-Bop Sound
The secret of Doo-Bop Sound provokes a strong interest among the jazz- lovers of the intense, timbre-active modern jazz. Uniting the rhythmic of the jazz-rock with electronic sounds of keyboards and at other times also a saxophone, with masterly improvisations in the manner of stop jazz, filling the compositions with funky rhymes, the band has occupied a fitting place in a musical club culture of St. Petersburg.
Down To The Bone
Far from your run-of-the-mill contemporary jazz chart-toppers, the duo of Stuart Wade and Chris Morgans come from a long line of British advocates of jazz including the Brand New Heavies and US3. Their first album as Down to the Bone, 1997's From Manhattan to Staten, did predictably well around their base in Chobham, Surrey, but also transferred to American smooth jazz charts.
Duncan Millar
Duncan Millar is a pianist, keyboardist, composer and producer from London, England.
dZihan & Kamien
The sound of Vienna-based duo dZihan & Kamien can easily be compared with the downtempo, soulful house sounds of Jazzanova, P'taah, or the Naked Music compilations. The duo hit popularity in 1996 with the single Der Buch, which went big in European clubs and made appearances on several compilations. Their full-length album Freaks & Icons was released in late 2000.
Erik Truffaz
In the next step of his evolution as a pioneering jazz figure, French trumpeter Erik Truffaz continues his exploration of modern dance rhythms informed by drum 'n' bass and hip hop as well as gripping rock 'n' roll with his quartet on The Walk of the Giant Turtle. This CD is Truffaz's fourth U.S. release, following up last year's remarkable Mantis, and featuring a video on the making of the album.