JAZZANOVA LABEL

Jazzanova is many things to many different people. For more than fifteen years the eclectic collective from Berlin has been busy producing, composing, arranging, remixing, DJing and generally shaping our musical world – in the clubs, on the air, in the studio, live on stage, and with their label Sonar Kollektiv. Their “very fertile musical world” (Time Out New York), which does “light a musical tinderbox” (The Face, UK), is “one of the best fusions of all the disparate elements of club music, yet” (Straight No Chaser) and “has dominated the jazz-dance and down-tempo scenes for the past few years, both with its own label and with countless remixes” (Phoenix New Times). Ever changing and evolving, for the past three years Jazzanova has also been touring internationally with a nine-piece-band, which now culminates in their newest release: “The Funkhaus Studio Sessions”. The album represents their exciting “live playlist”, a success from electronic-events like “Melt!”, or Pop-festivals like “Heineken Opener” or “Flow”, to “North Sea Jazz”, “Capetown Jazz” or “Java Jazz”. Played by the full band in the distinguished studios of the “Funkhaus Europa” this brand-new production consists of originals spanning Jazzanova’s entire career: all new, updated and instrumentally re-imagined versions, from their groundbreaking “Fedime’s Flight”, originally released in 1997, via legendary remixes and on to a taste of their score for the revue “Belle et fou”, plus the very first recording of “iHuman”, their fantastically soulful new theme-song – a statement with different meanings to different listeners.

Jazzanova met on the Berlin club-scene in the mid-Nineties, a time when “Mitte” was still a ghost-town during the day, which came alive at night with party-spots like “Delicious Doughnuts” on the corner of Rosenthaler Straße and Auguststraße. A haven for all things jazzy and funky, the club became the birthplace of the collective in 1995 during a night of DJing in which they found truth in each other’s musical styles – and decided to refine their various inspirations into a new sound, incorporating and bowing to a plethora of dance-oriented music from the past four decades. Two years later, Jazzanova got its first big break when DJ and “Worldwide”-presenter Gilles Peterson aired “Fedimes Flight”, the collective’s debut-single, on his radio-show for the BBC. The song was the first release on JCR (Jazzanova Compost Records), their new label-platform in partnership with the Munich-based company of “Future Sound Of Jazz”-fame, and was soon followed by “Caravelle”, yet another hit on the international dance-underground. Spreading their sounds and ideas with inspired DJ sets, also using monikers like “Extended Spirit” or “Kosma”, the Jazzanova DJs were among the first DJs from Berlin in demand all around the world. During this time Jazzanova also got to work on a series of widely acclaimed remixes for fellow innovators like 4hero, Koop, Ursula Rucker, United Future Organization, or Ian Pooley, most of which were collected in the two-disc-set “The Remixes 1997-2000”. After a select few productions under their own name, as well as JCR-releases by Koop, Victor Davies, the Underwolves, or Rima, as well as various-artist compilations dedicated to Polish Jazz from the 60s and 70s for instance, Jazzanova’s full-length debut “In Between” was released by popular demand and to critical acclaim in 2002. Five years and a host of remixes, productions and compilations later, it was followed by their seminal sophomore effort “Of All The Things”. The latter not only introduced an advanced and enriched sound-scape, but also their collaboration with the vocalist and bass-player Paul Randolph, a veteran on the Detroit-scene, revered not only for his own releases but for productions with Carl Craig, Moodyman, or Amp Fiddler. Today, Randolph is not only a featured performer with the live-band, but also the co-writer and singer of their new song “iHuman”.

Jazzanova is in the midst of a fifteen year flow – from early underground-stardom via the big hype of the late 90s to the remarkably sophisticated matter of course that defines their current career. One of the reasons for this may be the way the members of the collective split qualities as well as responsibilities. Stefan Leisering and Axel Reinemer not only run the studio, composing, arranging, recording, and mixing everything Jazzanova; since early 2009 they have also taken over the duties of directing and touring internationally with the nine-piece Jazzanova live-band. Alexander Barck, Claas Brieler, and Jürgen von Knoblauch broaden the music’s appeal as DJs, not only on tour through the best clubs and festivals around the world but also on their weekly radio-program and club-night, as well as with the hand-picked releases of their label Sonar Kollektiv. And after all these inquisitive, innovative and sonically rich years the five of them still plan every new project and prospect together – Jazzanova is still a collective.

Discography

Of All The Things (2008)
Belle et Fou (2007)
Blue Note Trip: Scrambled/Mashed (2006)
...Broad Casting (2006)
Boom Clicky Boom Clack (single) (2006)
Glow and Glare / Dance the Dance / Let Your Heart Be Free (Ame and Atjazz remixes) (2005)
The Remixes 2002-2005 (2005)
Blue Note Trip: Lookin Back/Movin on (2005)
Mixing (2004)
Remixed (2003)
In Between (2002)
Soon (2002)
That Night (2002)
The Remixes 1997-2000 Disc 2 (2000)

Compilations Jazzanova has appeared on
Saint-Germain-des-Prés Café
Future Sounds of Jazz
Bossa Mundo
City Lounge - Berlin
Gilles Peterson Worldwide 2 Volume 2
Ultra Chilled 01
Code 4109 (mixed by DJ Krush)
Café del Mar - Best of Chillout & Sunset Music From Ibiza Volume 11
Kajmere Sound Recordings - Impeach the President
Spliffen Sie English

Jazzanova Remixes

Soul Quality Quartet "Toda Tersafeira" (Jazzanova Dub) - Soul Quality Quartet EP - Sonar Kollektiv (1999)

Azymuth "Amazon Adventure" (Jazzanova Remix) - Off Limits - Sonar Kollektiv (1999)

Tate's Place "Burning" (Jazzanova Remix) - Off Limits - Dynamite Joint Recordings (1999)

Trüby Trio "Carajillo" (Jazzanova's Chant For Leo Mix) - Off Limits 2 - Compost Records (2000)

Soul Quality Quartet "Toda Tersafeira" (Jazzanova Rework) - Sonar Kollektiv 2 - Sonar Kollektiv (2003)

Nuspirit Helsinki "Honest" (Jazzanova's Honestly Yours Remix) - Honest w/ Jazzanova Remix - Sonar Kollektiv (2004)

MJ Cole "Sincere" (Jazzanova Sincerely Yours Mix) feat. Nova Caspar & Jay Dee - The Remixes 1997-2000 - Mercury Records Ltd. (2005)

Soul Quality Quartet "Toda Tersafeira" (Jazzanova Rework) - The Remixes 1997-2000 - Dialog Recordings/Sonar Kollektiv (2005)

Visit Venus "Planet Of Breaks" (Jazzanova Mix) - The Remixes 1997-2000 - Yo Mama's Records Co. (2005)

Tate's Place "Burnin'" (Jazzanova Mix) - The Remixes 1997-2000 - Dynamite Joint Recordings (2005)

Balanco "Metti Una Sera A Cena" (Jazzanova Mix)

Ian Pooley "What's Your Number" (Jazzanova Renumber) - The Remixes 1997-2000 - V2 Records GmbH (2005)

Liquid Lounge "Complete Life" (Jazzanova Mix) - The Remixes 1997-2000 - Pantounge Records (2005)

Ursula Rucker "Circe" (Jazzanova Mix) - The Remixes 1997-2000 - Guidance Records (2005)

Ski "Fifths" (Jazzanova 6 Sickth Mix) - The Remixes 1997-2000 - Sony Music (2005)

Soul Bossa Trio "Words Of Love" (Re-Loved By Jazzanova) - The Remixes 1997-2000 - Wildjumbo Tokumo Japan Communications (2005)

Azymuth "Amazon Adventure" (Jazzanova Mix) - The Remixes 1997-2000 - Far Out Records (2005)

United Future Organization "Friends ... We'll Be" (Jazzanova Mix) - The Remixes 1997-2000, Mercury Music Entertainment Co Ltd. (2005)

Har-You Percussion Group "Welcome To The Party" (Jazzanova Mix) - The Remixes 1997-2000 - Ubiquity Records (2005)

Karma "High Priestess" (Jazzanova Mix) - The Remixes 1997-2000 - Spectrum Works (2005)

Incognito "Get Into My Groove" (Jazzanova Re-Groove) - The Remixes 1997-2000 - Universal Classics and Jazz (2005)

Trüby Trio "Carajillo" (Jazzanova's "Chant For Leo" Mix) - The Remixes 1997-2000 - Compost Records (2005)

Men from Nile "Watch Them Come!!!" (Jazzanova Remix) - The Remixes 1997-2000 - Underground Therapy (2005)

Marshmellows "Soulpower" (Jazzanova's Straight Dub Mix) - The Remixes 1997-2000 - Infracom (2005)

4Hero "We Who Are Not As Others" (Jazzanova Mix) - The Remixes 1997-2000 - Talkin Loud/Mercury Records Ltd. (2005)

Free Design "Lullaby" (J-Nova Remix) - The Remixes 2002-2005 - Zynczak Associates (2005)

Nuspirit Helsinki "Honest" (Jazzanova's Honestly Yours Remix) - The Remixes 2002-2005 - Sonar Kollektiv (2005)

Calexico (Band) "Black Heart" (Jazzanova's White Soul Dub) - The Remixes 2002-2005 - City Slang / Label / EMI (2005)

Marcos Valle "Besteiras do Amor" (Jazzanova Remix) - The Remixes 2002-2005 - Far Out Recordings (2005)

Eddie Gale "Song Of Will" (Jazzanova Rhythm Happening) - The Remixes 2002-2005 - Blue Note / EMI (2005)

Shaun Escoffery "Let It Go" (Jazzanova Remix) - The Remixes 2002-2005 - Oyster Music Ltd. (2005)

Status IV "You Ain't Really Down" (Jazzanova's Hey Baby Remix) - The Remixes 2002-2005 - Sonar Kollektiv (2005)

Masters At Work Feat. Roy Ayers "Our Time Is Coming" (Jazzanova's Guestlist Mix) - The Remixes 2002-2005 - MAW (2005)

Heavy "Wonderlove (For Minnie)" (Jazzanova Remix) - The Remixes 2002-2005 - Kindered Spirit (2005)

Status IV "You Ain't Really Down" (Jazzanova's Hey Baby Beats) - You Ain't Really Down - Sonar Kollektiv (2005)

Status IV "Hey Baby!" - You Ain't Really Down - Sonar Kollektiv (2005)

Fat Freddy's Drop "Breathe Easy Beats" - Flashback (Jazzanova Remixes) - Sonar Kollektiv (2006)

Fat Freddys Drop "Flashback" (Jazzanova's Breathe Easy Mix) - Flashback (Jazzanova Remixes) - Sonar Kollektiv (2006)

Fat Freddys Drop "Flashback" (Jazzanova's Mashed Bag Mix) - Ten Years, Who Cares? - Sonar Kollektiv (2007)

Hugh Masekela - Stimela (Jazzanova Remix) - Verve (2010)

Joe Bataan - Ordinary Guy (Jazzanova Rework) - Sonar Kollektiv (2012)


Jazzanova DJ-Mixes
Circles - Brownswood (1998)
Sound Of The City Vol. 3 - Berlin - Universal Jazz (1999)
Jazzanova...Mixing - Sonar Kollektiv (2004)
Blue Note Trip - Jazzanova - Blue Note (2005)
Blue Note Trip Scrambled / Mashed - Jazzanova - Blue Note (2006)
Jazzanova ...Broad Casting - Sonar Kollektiv (2006)
Jazzanova & Dirk Rumpff ... Broad Casting From OFFtrack Radio - Sonar Kollektiv (2007)
Southport Weekender Volume 7 (Disc 1) - Concept Records (2008)
Secret Love vol. 5 - Sonar Kollektiv (2008)
Neu Jazz - Sonar Kollektiv (2008)
SK200 - Sonar Kollektiv (2008)

Booking for Jazzanova Live feat. Paul Randolph and Jazzanova DJ sets by Alex Barck, Claas Brieler and Jürgen von Knoblauch: booking@best-works.com.