Da Funkie Junkie & Cosmic Girl – Caviar Jazz
After years of collecting, Da Funkie Junkie & Cosmic Girl have released their compilation album “Caviar Jazz”. The album gathers jazz-influenced house tracks from the period 1995-2005 from their collection. The compilation feels like a glimpse into someone’s record collection, and in fact, that’s exactly what it is. The tracks are chosen based on personal taste rather than commercial considerations. This gives the album a cohesion that you don’t always find in compilations. Either you love it or you don’t. And yes, I love it.
Their edit of Jo Boyer’s “Isabelle & The Rain” from 1977 (generation exception) is an interesting addition. The original is a rare record that is highly sought after among collectors. However, their reworking makes the track much more accessible for the dancefloor without losing the original atmosphere. DJs like Gilles Peterson regularly play the edit, and that says enough!
The tracklist contains work from established names in the scene: Masters At Work, Louie Vega, Joe Claussell, Daft Punk and Cricco Castelli. I:Cube’s “Disco Cubizm” opens the album in both original form and Daft Punk remix. The choice works well as an introduction to what follows. Janet Jackson’s “Go Deep” in the Masters At Work treatment shows how mainstream pop can be transformed into deep house. Mondo Grosso’s contribution brings the Japanese influence that colored the scene at that time.
Right Tempo Records from Milan has taken care of the production. The vinyl pressing has a warm, full sound that suits the material. The label is known for careful releases, and that can be heard here too. The digital version lacks some of the warmth of the vinyl, which is often the case with this type of music. “Caviar Jazz” documents a period when jazz-house emerged in the underground scene. The album gives an impression of how this music sounded in clubs in Asia, where different influences came together. For the Milanese label, this is the first release in this genre and their first collaboration with Asian artists.
“Caviar Jazz” is a solid compilation that will find its target audience. The selection is coherent, the production well-crafted, and the context interesting. The album works both for active listening and for background music. Collectors of jazz-house will appreciate it, although it contains no major surprises. The compilation shows that good curation still has value in an age of endless playlists. Da Funkie Junkie & Cosmic Girl have used their knowledge and taste to create an album that tells a story about a certain time and place in music. (8/10) (Right Tempo Records)
