Victor Davies "Brother"
A few months ago JCR released Victor's remix album, that included brilliant remixes by illustrious names such as Masters At Work, Da Lata, Mark Rae, Nuspirit Helsinki and many others. The track 'Brother is taken from Victor Davies' self-entitled debut album.

Mixmag Magazine rates Victor's music as something "… very cool and jazzy and trendy as f**k", while Relix Magazine writes: "Davies' songs are personal, eloquent statements of love and life. They recall the sound of Terry Callier, early Lenny Kravitz, even Steely Dan, all with a pinch of Latin."
Originally released on JCR 020-1/-2

Nu Spirit Helsinki "Love Bossa" feat. Eero Koivistoinen
This track is taken from Nuspirit's 'Montana Roha Jazz EP" on JCR. Nuspirit Helsinki released their debut album in 2002 on Guidance Records and they contributed a superb remix to Victor Davies' album 'Remixes"

''Love Bossa' is a high speed, dancefloor-concious bossa number featuring a crazy sax solo from Eero Koivistoinen. Genius." writes the Beats & Breaks Magazine and URB Magazine says about the EP: "These are well-constructed songs that only add to the strong arsenal of the JCR axis. … this EP won't sound outdated anytime soon."
Originally released on JCR 010-1

Manfred Ludwig Sextett "Zwielicht"
"Zwielicht" by the Manfred Ludwig-Sextet, with its straight to the hip bossa rhythms and lifting horn sections is taken from the 'Formation 60" compilation, a collection of jazz music from the former German Democratic Republic (GDR), compiled by Matthias Hellwig & Jazzanova. Recorded in the 60s, these locked away treasures document the pure and individual sound of the little-known East German jazz scene. The state-owned Amiga label, the only record company available to East German jazz musicians, originally released this track.

SNC Magazine about the compilation: "All ten tracks are worth immediate investigation, and one must hope for more archive explorations from the Jazzanova crew in the near future. Full marks."

The Wire Magazine: "… these are found treasures – the dedicated jazz-heads will lap it up, but the variety of grooves and moods will appeal to all with an ear for quality. Addictive."
Originally released on JCR 003-1/-2

The Underwolves "Birdsong" (Original)
'Birdsong" is something truly special - a love song evergreen. Gilles Peterson was so impressed by this tune, that he desperately wanted this track for his superb 'Incredible" compilation on Sony Music months before the official release.

Ministry Magazine: "Lost leftfield classic finally gets out. ...Under Your Sky still sounds fresh and that's down to the &Mac226;Wolves Ned and Stretch' timeless songwriting and grooves. ...a debut with its eyes on the Mercury prize.'

XLR8R Magazine: "By mixing up live instruments, great vocal performances and Eastern exoticism with their on-point programming techniques, this album has everything it needs to be a modern classic.'
Originally released on JCR 015-1/-2

DJ Matsuoka "Piano Objective 3"
DJ Matsuoka was Jazzanova's first discovery in Japan. Wax Magazine describes the music as "… beautiful modern jazz, heated funk, soaring strings, and mesmerizing melodies, covered with more soul than a cobbler. JCR trace the lines once again."
Originally released on JCR 005-1

Novi Singers "The Runway"
After the big success of the "Formation 60" compilation, Daniel Best & Jazzanova compiled another CD with rare Jazz gems from Poland's music scene of the 60s and 70s. The Novi Singers played a major part on this CD, as they contributed 10 tracks.
The story of the Novi Singers begins in 1964 when Bernard Kawka, a student at the Warsaw Music Conservatory, decides to found his own jazz group with other students, choosing the voice as an ideal instrument. With their absolute technical perfection and their musical approach, the vocal jazz ensemble Novi Singers were at the time often compared to Lambert-Ross-Hendricks or Les Double Six.
Originally released on JCR 006-1/ 008-2

Classen Collective "Close to Greatness" (Deep Joy Mix)
The "… Deep Joy Mix of 'Close To Greatness' is an echoing, Rhodes-laden affair augmented by breathy female vocals and superb drop-outs. Live conga and classic synths also decorate this already spacious suite." XLR8R Magazine

Uschi Classen and Tonny Svensson aka Classen Collective so far had two 12" releases on JCR Records. Besides that both are very busy with solo-project, Uschi on Earth Project Records and Tonny on Svek Records.
Originally released on JCR 009-1

Koop "Bright Nights" (Rima Fusion Mix)
Koop produced probably one of the best albums in a decade; "Waltz For Koop" is something very special, simply read these press quotes:

"Already a cult item among the jazz dance underground, their second album is a delight … highly infectious…"The Observer
"Waltz for Koop' is something special and unprecedented: a jazz-meets-electronic-dance-music album that actually sounds like jazz" The Independent
''Waltz for Koop' is a lovely, summery record … utterly carefree and pretty throughout" The Independent on Sunday
'Near-perfect" Muzik
"a wonderful though hopelessly romantic record" Mixmag
"a strong album … bursting with summery energy Music Week - Recommended
"Modern jazz doesn't get much better than this….a brilliant debut." DJ
"…sublime jazz ... this is under-the-duvet, in-the-kitchen or up-on-the-roof smoking kind of music" Sleaze Nation
"…stirring atmosphere's are Koop's true forte … beautifully arranged" Q
"…one of the brightest and most exhilarating records of the year…" IDJ
"Essential Album" Seven
"A unique modern jazz record... stunning." NME

On this CD is the track "Bright Nights" in the remix version by Rima aka Domu and Volcov, the main heads of the respectable Archive Label. Rima add some electronic twists to the warm and playful original. Watch out for their debut album on JCR, coming out soon.
Originally released on JCR 029-1

Jerzy Milian "Wsrop Pampasow"
Jerzy Milian also appeared on the 'Go Right" compilation. "Wsrod Pampasow" is bound to fill dance floors in seconds. The tune "Wsród Pampasów" (1975) comes from an album, which the vibraphone player and composer Jerzy Milian recorded with the Polish Radio Big Band from Katowice. A dark, deep, uplifting track with a tight arrangement - soundtrack style meets bigband business.
Originally released on JCR 007-1/ 008-2

The Underwolves "Under Your Sky" (Divine Styler without Rap)
Second track from The Underwolves; this one is taken from their album "Under Your Sky Remixes" which came out in 2002. Here Andy C and Ant Miles did a mix of the title track under their Divine Stylers alias. The mix turns the original in a Hip Hop style instrumental beats & breaks festival.
Originally released on JCR 034-1 / 030-2

Koop "Summer Sun"
JCR's top-seller Koop is represented a second time on this CD. IDJ Magazine pictures the track taken from Koop's album ‘Waltz For Koop': '… one of the brightest and most exhilarating songs of the year. This is modern Latin jazz music as it should be made and it features the painfully sweet and desirable vocals of (the still teenage) Yukimi Nagano."

And Mix Mag Magazine writes "The truly ace Koop come across on this wonderful though hopelessly romantic song. It's even got a vibraphone solo. How risqué."
Originally released on JCR 021-1/-2

Jazzanova "Days To Come"
"Days To Come' skips fearlessly across a sea of choppy high-tempo beats. Excellent, as expected." writes the Jockey Slut Magazine, while Breaking Point Magazine describes the track as follows:
''Days To Come' is just as awesome with its slow intro of freshly cut synths and rhythmical clicks. Deep'n soulful it's covered nicely with a tapestry of rich and colourful sounds. '

It's the boys themselves here, so nothing to add.
Originally released on JCR 023-1

Yukihro Fukutomi "I Am"
Jazzanova like it in the Far East; Yukihiro Fukutomi is the second Japanese artist who got a 12" release on JCR.

'Super-sharp dancefloor jazz with its head in the cosmos. With a level of sophistication rivalled only by Masters At Work and an attention to percussive detail so raw as to make you think it's live, this is the bomb." Jockey Slut Magazine

"Like that a lot. Excellent. Great groove, great drums, great bassline. Just the one thing all the way through, but I don't mind that when it's a good groove." raves Max Brennan (Peacfrog Records, Sublime Records) and Ian O'Brien (Ferox, Peacefrog) says: "Very cool. Really cool tune. I've got it as instrumental which I've been playing all the time. Love it."
Originally released on JCR 011-1

Theo Schumann Combo "Karawane"
Theo Schumann Combo is also taken from the 'Formation 60" compilation. He was another sensational discovery for the Jazzanova boys while they were digging in the crates. Especially this finger-snapping high-speed tune "Karawane" inspired them.
Originally released on JCR 003-1/-2

Nemo "Darkest Day" (Original)
'Originally released as a very limited 7" in 1998 ‘Darkest Day' charmed the life out of everyone who heard it. The track's got a corking bossa beat, a dreamy Rhodes piano refrain and a vocal so catchy and sweet you want to stroke it tenderly before bed and read it fairy stories." Jockey Slut Magazine

"Darkest Day" has always been a Jazzanova favourite, and so they decided to finally re-release this wonderful tune in 2001 on JCR adding extra remixes by Phil Asher aka Restless Soul and Words Of Apples.
Originally released on JCR 019-1

V.A. - Playlist EP

Tracklisting

The Rima track 'Forward" is a first taster of the forthcoming album on JCR. Rima are Domu and Volcov, both famous producers in the broken beat, West-London style genre. Volcov also runs the highly rated labels Archive and Neroli Records. The album will feature guest appearances by Ian O'Brien, Mark De Clive-Lowe, Julie Dexter amongst others.

On Side B are two yet unreleased mixes. The first one is by the British Nu House champs Faze Action who come across with a new interpretation of the Victor Davies track 'Better Place". Whilst keeping the soul and spirit of the original, Faze Action added the right beats and pieces to make this one a serious dancefloor tool. A few months ago JCR released Victor's remix album, that included brilliant remixes by illustrious names such as Masters At Work, Da Lata, Mark Rae, Nuspirit Helsinki and many others.

The second track is a cool broken beat meets groovy boogie style mix by the Berlin boys Intega, members of the creative Sonar Kollektiv pool. In 2002 JCR released a remix album of The Underwolves album 'Under Your Sky", which includes mixes by Peshay vs Photek, Spacek, Restless Soul and many others.

"...the first JCR compilation with the best of the label..." (www.shedivine.com)

"...eine Rundum-sorglos-Compilation für den avancierten Jazz-Hipster..." (www.whirlypop.de)

"15 handverlesene Tracks, die allesamt zum sanften Abhängen auffordern..." (Neue Westfälische "Erwin")

"...alles perfekt für den Dancefloor, die Lounge aber auch für zu Hause geeignet." (Neue Szene Augsburg)

"...you´re much better off getting this than yet another soulless chillout compilation." (www.residentadvisor.com.au)

"...a collection of fifteen quality tracks from the vaults." (www.mundovibes.com)