Audio By Carbonatix
Jazzanova has made its mark on long remixes — at times, exceedingly long — for nearly a decade. The six-member German-based collective (or, as the group’s label name suggests, Kollektiv) is more geared toward interpretation than creation, and this compilation gathers four years of its favorite works, each one an extended play on house, Brazilian, and (obviously) jazz cuts. When they get deep and soulful, as in their nine-minute-plus take on a cappella group Status IV’s “You Ain’t Really Down,” the collective’s legacy as tasteful producers is solidified. A sweet mash-up of Marcos Valle’s “Besteiras do Amor” is also a prime choice as the group surveys South American terrain. Unfortunately, a few overextended plays on light-jazz fare weigh down the comp: A trite take on Heavy’s “Wonderlove” and a Masters at Work/Roy Ayers collaboration “Our Time Is Coming” could have been left unharmed. Like most vinyl in a DJ’s bag, you’ll pick and choose wisely.
