Posted on 09/18/2009
New York emcee, John Robinson, and Ohio producer, J Rawls, have decided to join forces and conveniently become Jay Are (think about it…think about it…get it?) As Jay Are, they decided to create an album that pays homage to Jazz music, and specifically spotlight the jazz revolution of the 1960’s. A new idea? Not quite. Am I mad about it? Absolutely not.

The 1960’s Jazz Revolution Again, is nothing more than a very good example of the jazz/hip-hop hybrid that has existed for decades now. Falling in line with A Tribe Called Quest’s classic sound, as well as many others, Jay Are not only explores hip-hop with jazz samples, but they also reference and discuss many jazz musicians, and even pay a direct, explicit tribute to the great, yet tragic horn player, Lee Morgan. This made the album especially interesting only because it turned a “jazzy hip-hop” album into a document, and an addition to history, though more than likely it will be disseminated to the folks who are already invested in it.

Musically, the album ranges from the cliché, brushed high-hat and walking bass, best heard on “Type Sounds,” to the more sonically experimental, upbeat “Relax Ur Mind.” Then there are the tracks that meet somewhere in the middle. These are the songs that seem to best deliver the intention of Jay Are. The love manifesto, “She’s So Brilliant,” the musical roll call and title track, “The 1960’s Jazz Revolution Again…” and “Jazz Unconditional,” a love song to jazz music, featuring a sound byte of the undeniable, raspy voice of Miles Davis, are all examples of the songs that fit perfectly into the arch of the album.

John Robinson and J. Rawls have a solid thing here, in Jay Are. Furthermore they have created a better than decent piece of art to add to the catalogue. But don’t be mislead, The 1960’s Jazz Revolution Again, is not a jazz revolution…again. It’s actually an album using jazz from the 1960’s jazz revolution and paying homage to the artists of the 1960’s jazz revolution…again. But it still sounds good, and it feels good to know that Jay Are has joined the army of musical preservation. Who knows, maybe one day someone will have an album about the hip-hop/jazz revolution, and will use Jay Are samples in their music.

-Jason Reynolds