What is Future Jazz?
Text: mmr｜Theme: A genre that combines the improvisational nature of jazz and the innovation of electronic music
Future Jazz emerged in the early 1990s as a genre that combines the improvisational nature of jazz with the innovation of electronic music.It evolved with the development of club culture and a new generation of music technology, and is closely related to trends such as Acid Jazz, Nu-Jazz, and Broken Beat.Below, we will follow the progress of the band over the years, and explain the changes in representative masterpieces and equipment used.
Early 1990s: Germination — From Acid Jazz to Future Jazz
-
Background Acid Jazz has become popular mainly in the UK, reimagining jazz funk and soul for clubs.This was an era when DJs and producers experimented with new interpretations of jazz using turntables and samplers.
- Representative artists/master records
- Galliano — In Pursuit of the 13th Note (1991)
- Brand New Heavies — Heavy Rhyme Experience (1992)
- Equipment characteristics -Akai MPC60/S1000 -Roland TR-808 / TR-909
- Mainly turntable and sampler
10 recommended songs
| No | Artist | Track | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Galliano | Prince of Peace | An iconic track of early Acid Jazz. |
| 2 | Brand New Heavies | Dream Come True | A fusion of funk and soul. |
| 3 | Young Disciples | Apparently Nothin’ | A representative song of the UK scene. |
| 4 | US3 | Cantaloop (Flip Fantasia) | Reconstruction of Blue Note’s famous song. |
| 5 | Jamiroquai | When You Gonna Learn | Early Future Jazz approach. |
| 6 | Incognito | Always There | Bridging jazz and clubs. |
| 7 | Corduroy | Something in My Eye | Swingy and light. |
| 8 | Galliano | Skunk Funk | Funky and club-like. |
| 9 | James Taylor Quartet | Starsky and Hutch | Funk-oriented jazz. |
| 10 | Guru | Loungin’ (Jazzmatazz) | A pioneering fusion of jazz and hip-hop. |
Late 1990s: Establishment of Future Jazz
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Background The term “Future Jazz” became established around Germany’s Compost Records.The fusion of club culture and jazz is also emerging in the listening scene.
- Representative artists/master records
- Kruder & Dorfmeister — The K&D Sessions (1998)
- Jazzanova — Compilation Vol.1 (1997)
- Equipment characteristics -Akai MPC3000 -EMU SP-1200 -Roland JV-1080 -Korg MS-20
10 recommended songs
| No | Artist | Track | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kruder & Dorfmeister | High Noon | A representative song of downtempo Future Jazz. |
| 2 | Jazzanova | Fedime’s Flight | Features a complex rhythm. |
| 3 | Rainer Trüby Trio | Donaueschingen | Club-oriented future jazz. |
| 4 | Trüby Trio | Galacia | A song with strong Latin elements. |
| 5 | De-Phazz | The Mambo Craze | Pop and easy to listen to. |
| 6 | Fauna Flash | Tel Aviv | Dark and deep beat. |
| 7 | Koop | Waltz for Koop | Important works from Northern Europe. |
| 8 | A Forest Mighty Black | Everything | A fusion of downtempo and jazz. |
| 9 | Beanfield | Tides | A fusion of vocals and beats. |
| 10 | Kruder & Dorfmeister | Sofa Rockers | Chill Future Jazz classic. |
Early 2000s: Nu-Jazz/Broken Beat
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Background West London’s Broken Beat scene evolves Future Jazz.A fusion of rhythmic complexity and improvisation.
- Representative artists/master records
- Bugge Wesseltoft — New Conception of Jazz (2001)
- 4hero — Creating Patterns (2001)
- Equipment characteristics
- Cubase / Logic Audio
- Nord Lead / Access Virus
- Rhodes, Nord Electro
10 recommended songs
| No | Artist | Track | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bugge Wesseltoft | Change | Fusion of electro and jazz. |
| 2 | 4hero | Les Fleur | Orchestral and grand. |
| 3 | Nicola Conte | Bossa Per Due | A fusion of bossa nova and future jazz. |
| 4 | Vikter Duplaix | Messages | Neo-soul sound. |
| 5 | Jazzanova | L.O.V.E. and You & I | A song that represents broken beat. |
| 6 | Kyoto Jazz Massive | Spirit of the Sun | Important works from Japan. |
| 7 | Seiji | Loose Lips | Complex rhythms and grooves. |
| 8 | Domu | Save It | A representative song of the West London scene. |
| 9 | Ursula Rucker | Release | A fusion of poetry and Future Jazz. |
| 10 | Nu Spirit Helsinki | Orson | Elegant songs from Scandinavia. |
Late 2000s: From club jazz to electronica
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Background Nu-Jazz merged with electronica and strengthened the listening style.
- Representative artists/master records
- Nils Petter Molvær — ER (2005)
- Cinematic Orchestra — Ma Fleur (2007)
- Equipment characteristics
- Ableton Live
- Native Instruments Reaktor, Kontakt
- Fusion of laptop and live instruments
10 recommended songs
| No | Artist | Track | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nils Petter Molvær | Khmer | Fusion of trumpet and electro. |
| 2 | Cinematic Orchestra | To Build a Home | Beautiful listening jazz. |
| 3 | Jaga Jazzist | All I Know is Tonight | Has progressive elements. |
| 4 | Bugge Wesseltoft | Existence | Electro-jazz with a strong sense of improvisation. |
| 5 | Skalpel | High | Polish sampling jazz. |
| 6 | Nostalgia 77 | Quiet Dawn | A soulful piece. |
| 7 | Sidsel Endresen | Out Here | Experimental vocal jazz. |
| 8 | Hidden Orchestra | Footsteps | Cinematic and profound. |
| 9 | Portico Quartet | Knee-Deep in the North Sea | A fusion of hang drums and jazz. |
| 10 | Cinematic Orchestra | Breathe | A delicate and deep track. |
2010s: Modern Crossover
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Background Future Jazz fuses with hip-hop and contemporary jazz and evolves in a crossover manner.
- Representative artists/master records
- Robert Glasper Experiment — Black Radio (2012)
- Flying Lotus — Cosmogramma (2010)
- Equipment characteristics
- Ableton Live + Push
- Moog Sub Phatty, Prophet 08
- Fusion with acoustic instruments
10 recommended songs
| No | Artist | Track | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Robert Glasper Experiment | Afro Blue | A fusion of jazz and R&B. |
| 2 | Flying Lotus | Zodiac Shit | Cosmic soundscape. |
| 3 | BADBADNOTGOOD | Confessions | A fusion of hip-hop and jazz. |
| 4 | Thundercat | Them Changes | A bridge between funk and jazz. |
| 5 | Kamasi Washington | Truth | A modern version of spiritual jazz. |
| 6 | Taylor McFerrin | The Antidote | A fusion of beat and melody. |
| 7 | Esperanza Spalding | Radio Song | Fusion of pop and jazz. |
| 8 | Hiatus Kaiyote | Nakamarra | Neo-Soul and Future Jazz. |
| 9 | Matthew Halsall | Song for Charlie | New trends in UK jazz. |
| 10 | José James | Trouble | Soulful and modern. |
2020s: Re-evaluation and fusion with AI and modularity
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Background In the era of streaming and AI, Future Jazz has been reevaluated and intersected with modular and AI music.
- Representative artists/master records
- Alfa Mist — Bring Backs (2021)
- Kamaal Williams — Wu Hen (2020)
-
Shabaka Hutchings & Sons of Kemet — Black to the Future (2021)
- Equipment characteristics
- Eurorack Modular
- Elektron Octatrack, Digitakt
- AI assisted DAW
10 recommended songs
| No | Artist | Track | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alfa Mist | Keep On | Melancholy Future Jazz. |
| 2 | Kamaal Williams | Hold On | A representative contemporary jazz song from London. |
| 3 | Shabaka Hutchings | Hustle | Spiritual and powerful. |
| 4 | Nubya Garcia | Pace | Saxophone stands out. |
| 5 | Blue Lab Beats | Pineapple | A fusion of hip-hop and jazz. |
| 6 | Kokoroko | Abusey Junction | Melancholic and beautiful. |
| 7 | Floating Points | LesAlpx | Electronica and jazz fusion. |
| 8 | Tom Misch & Yussef Dayes | What Kinda Music | Modern interpretations of pop and jazz. |
| 9 | Makaya McCraven | Autumn in New York | A fusion of improvisation and editing. |
| 10 | Immanuel Wilkins | Ferguson — An American Tradition | A fusion of sociality and musical expression. |
A genre that is always on the cutting edge of the times
Future Jazz has continued to evolve as a place where traditional jazz improvisation and electronic innovation intersect.It started with the club culture of the 90s, went through Broken Beat and Nu-Jazz, and is now expanding into a multi-layered expression that also incorporates modularity and AI.
As befits the name ``futuristic jazz,’’ it is a genre that is always on the cutting edge of the times.
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