Product Description

Hipness is not a state of mind, it s a fact of life.Ladies and Gentleman, here comes the long awaited longplayer by one of the most favorite bands in the international clubjazz scene of the last years. Eight tracks,no fillers in sight, everyone has the quality for a timeless diamond. Guest appearances by Carolyn Leonhart, Katia B, Robert Smith and Terry Callier.The Juju Orchestra was founded in 2004 by Rare Groove dj & vinyl nerd Fab DJ Sammy and producersound engineer Oliver Belz. They are based in Braunschweig Germany, right in the middle of nowhere between Hamburg, Berlin and Hannover. Some of their musical idols are Caetano Veloso, Charlie Parker, Miles Davies, Steely Dan, Stan Getz. Of course they are influenced by all of them, but the Jujus created their own language like every important artist does. In some words:contemporary Soul, Jazz and Latin music with a vintage sound.In 2005 the first single release Kind Of Latin Rhythm Funky Nassau entered the peak position of the German Club Charts. Great reactions from around the world followed, by famous djs as well as by the audience. the next 12 Take Four / Hip Shake did it the same way. On the album you can find a new vocal version of Hip Shake with lyrics and voice of Terry Callier. It was absolutely a great honour to work with such blessed artists as Terry, Robert Smith, who runs his own orchestra for Caribbean Music in Hamburg, Katia B from Brazil and Carolyn Leonhart, background singer for mighty Steely Dan, showing her outstanding talent on What Is Hip? and the Steely Dan cover Do It Again.Paul Murphy, a fan from the first minute, is still writing some hopefully nice words about The Juju Orchestra s Bossa Nova Is Not A Crime to be included on the album.

Track Listing

1. This Is Not A Tango
2. What Is Hip? feat.Carolyn Leonhart & Terry Callier
3. Kind Of Latin Rhythm
4. Take Four
5. Do It Again feat. Carolyn Leonhart & Robert Smith
6. El Bravo
7. Nâo Posso Demorar feat. Katia B
8. Funky Nassau

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #59702 in Music
• Released on: 2007-03-05
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Import

Customer Reviews

Groove driven delight
I first came across The Ju Ju Orchestra on one of the fantastic Brazilectro compilations a couple of years back. The tune was the superhumaly hip 'Kind of Latin Rhythm' which uses a sample of a a cool cat talking to his audience about the Bossa Nova. He is probably someone very famous, ... I have no idea... suffice it to say the combination of rimshot latin drums, seriously groovy stand up bass line, cool-as-you-like semi-acoustic rhythm guitar restrained effortless tenor sax and hip talk-over won me over and I still love it now.....smokin'!
Apart from that tune, I knew nothing about the band, and bought the album last week on a whim. Now experience has taught me that when you do these things, it can go either way, and I wasn't sure if it was going to be a waste of money....but I'm so glad I did. These guys are hot!

The opener 'This is not a Tango" has shades of The Gotans about it, the percussive accordian motifs playing off a lovely sinewy double bass line with skittering jazz drums. By the time the understated wah guitar and latin percussion kick in I'm grooving round the room like a good un. Feeling a little more optimistic we come to track two...'What is Hip?' luckily for all of us, hip IS track two! This real brooding swamp beast of a groover sees some superb low n dirty vocals from Carolyn Leonhart and Terry Callier soaring over Hammond driven grooves, that lovely nagging bass again, slick drumming, brass stabs. This is one hell of a mambo dance beast!
Whilst there are certainly no fillers on the album, some tracks dont quite hit the heights: Take Four, Do it Again (Dan cover) is fantastic apart from the iffy vocal, respectable tunes all right tho'.
El Bravo is a more authentic salsa tune with real Brazilian flava...a good mid tempo mover.
Funky Nassau is a real Afro gem. Bubbling along on Fela Kuti style brass, Hammond, funky guitar, effervescent drums, urgent congas bobbing and weaving... a bed of sound that moves and grooves in all the right places.
This is a great album that has already had a lot of hammer ... can't seem to prize it out of the CD player at the moment...and I predict it will get plenty more in the weeks and months ahead. A real find.