Although it’s been robbed of its live connection this year, the UK Nu- jazz train has kept up the momentum with a roll of dynamic and defining releases. Oscar Jerome’s ‘Breathe Deep’ album was one of those touchstones. It saw the KOKOROKO guitarist and super collaborator (with buddies like Shabaka Hutchings, Moses Boyd and Yussef Dayes) pushing on with a record that was urgent, soulful, sweaty and of the moment.
Now comes news of the release on November 20th of ‘Breathe Deep Remixes’, a chance to explore the album’s DNA through a different lens. Jerome has pulled in a happening group of sonic tricksters to re-imagine his songs including the disco funk duo Franc Moody, genre defying turntablist Shy One and the electric jazz pacesetters The Colours That Rise. Ezra Collective’s Joe Armon -Jones also gets a twist along with Black Midi’s Morgan Simpson to add more rhythmic spice.
He’s also gone old school, drafting the trip-hop techno Warp legend that is Nightmares on Wax to remix ‘Give Back What U Stole From Me’ his forthright anti-capitalist statement from ‘Breathe Deep’. It’s a massive bass pushed slab of speaker throbbing jazz funk that scales up the scat rap vibes of the original and bumps it to a different place on the dance floor. And if that isn’t sweet enough there’s also a Nightmares on Wax dub syndication of the track on the remix collection.
Both tracks are previewing now on the usual digi- suspects to keep you going until the full release.
EP: Oscar Jerome- Breathe Deep Remixes
