Madlib - Shades of Blue
(Blue Note)
The conceit: Blue Note, in conjunction with Peanut Butter Wolf's Stones Throw Records, lets a hip-hop DJ loose in the Blue Note vaults. Enlisted for the task is DJ/multi-instrumentalist Madlib who rises to this auspicious occasion. The result is, well, pretty much what you'd expect from a pairing of Stones Throw and Blue Note: solid jazz funked up by solid hip hop.
Seven tracks are Madlib's remixes, from the original multi-track recordings, of his hand picked songs. Not having the benefit of a prior familiarity with most of the songs included, these tracks sound like turntablist instrumental creations, albeit with an atypical homogeny within each track. Each element makes a smoother fit, as they were all recorded in intention to be together, but are more discrete than, I am assuming, in the track's original form. The fact of the matter is, if one starts with strong source material, and gives it to a strong DJ, you cannot help but get something good.
Five of the tracks are Madlib's recreations—that is to say, covers songs. These include tracks I am more familiar with, such as Wayne Shorter's legendary "Footprints" and a Herbie Hancock tune, "Dolphin Dance." These recreations are really interesting as the instrumentation has dramatically changed. On "Footprints," vibes and keyboards are used to crate a swirling, psychedelic cosmic mass that is propelled along by densely layered percussion, including more traditional jazz drum kit and more afro-centric hand-played percussion. Also of note is "Stormy," originally record by Reuben Wilson, which, despite being a live recreation, manages to evoke the feel of turtablism. The organ and flute tracks seem to float along next to each other, the drums march underneath, and the bass sits off in the corner doing its own thing. It's a slightly unsettling, but ultimately very cool effect.
The worst that one can say about this effort is that it is a bit conservative. Blue Note is an Institution and the tracks seem to be handled as such. Nothing is pushing any envelopes. That cannot detract, however, from the strength of the music contained therein. There are reasons, after all, why certain songs, artists, labels, etc, become standards, often because they deserve to be.
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