jazzhouse

The Groove That Took Over: A Jazzy History of Jazz House

Jazz House, a vibrant fusion of jazzy improvisation and house music’s pulsating rhythms, isn’t a genre with a long, storied history. Unlike its parents, it emerged as a specific sound in the late 90s, a child of the era’s dancefloor evolution.

The Roots of the Beat: Imagine a party in the 90s. You’ve got DJs spinning deep house, with its hypnotic beats and soulful undertones. But then, someone breaks out the sampler, adding in snippets of jazz classics. The crowd goes wild. This, in a nutshell, was the birth of Jazz House.

The Pioneers: While there’s no single “inventor,” artists like DJ Sneak, Boo Williams, and Kenny Dope helped define the sound, blending jazz samples into their house tracks with a unique flair. It wasn’t just about throwing in a trumpet riff, but about integrating the jazz spirit into the music’s DNA.

The Funny Side of Jazz House:

• The Accidental Sample: DJ Sneak once confessed he accidentally included a snippet of “Take Five” by Dave Brubeck in a track, purely because he loved the tune. It became a surprise hit, proving jazz could seamlessly blend with house.
• The “Jazz Hands” Move: Apparently, the jazz-inspired hand gestures that many DJs adopted during this era weren’t just for show. They were, according to one DJ, a subconscious way of communicating the complex rhythm and improvisation of jazz.
• The Jazz-House Fashion: Let’s be honest, the baggy clothes, oversized hats, and chunky sneakers of the late 90s were pretty much peak awkwardness. But jazz house music, with its fusion of cool and funk, helped make this fashion a global phenomenon.

Beyond the 90s: Jazz House has continued to evolve, with artists like Matthew Herbert, Gilles Peterson, and DJ Krush adding their own twists to the formula. The sound has found its way into mainstream culture, featuring in TV shows, movies, and even video games.

Jazz House is more than just a musical genre; it’s a testament to the enduring power of improvisation and the creative spirit that unites musicians across genres. It’s a reminder that sometimes, the most unexpected combinations can lead to the grooviest of results.