Guru's Jazzmatazz, Vol. 2: The New Reality, was the follow-up to the well-received Jazzmatazz, Vol. 1. This second release to the Jazzmatazz series slightly toned down the jazz rap punch that made the first volume memorable. It was nevertheless critically acclaimed in its own right. Guests featured on this release include Freddie Hubbard, Donald Byrd, Ramsey Lewis, Kool Keith, Patra and Jamiroquai; other notable personalities which reprising their roles from the previous release include Branford Marsalis, Courtney Pine, and Ronny Jordan.
According to Billboard music charts, this album slightly outpeformed its predecessor; it peaked at #16 and #73 on Billboard's "Top R&B / Hip Hop Albums and "Billboard 200" albums charts respectively. The single, "Watch What You Say" (featuring Chaka Khan), peaked at #13 and #93 on the Billboard's "Hot Dance Music / Maxi-Singles" and "Hot R&B / Hip Hop Singles & Tracks" charts respectively.
Jazzmatazz, Vol. 2: The New Reality was released on July 18, 1995, via the Chrysalis imprint.
[edit] Tracklisting
- "Intro [Light It Up] Jazzalude I" – 1:44
- "Lifesaver" – 4:13
- "Living in This World" – 4:29
- "Looking Through Darkness" – 4:48
- "Skit A [Interview] Watch What You Say" – 5:00
- "Jazzalude II - Defining Purpose" – 1:02
- "For You" – 4:10
- "Insert A [Mental Relaxation] Medicine" – 4:19
- "Lost Souls" – 4:12
- "Insert B [The Real Deal] Nobody Knows" with Shara Nelson – 3:58
- "Jazzalude III - Hip Hop As A Way Of Life" – 1:17
- "Respect The Architect" – 4:51
- "Feel the Music" – 3:57
- "Young Ladies" – 4:12
- "The Traveler" – 4:01
- "Jazzalude IV - Maintaining Focus" – 1:18
- "Count Your Blessings" – 4:02
- "Choice Of Weapons" – 4:24
- "Something in the Past" – 3:19
- "Skit B [A lot On My Mind] Revelation" – 4:35
[edit] Samples Used
- "Lifesaver" contains a sample of "Django" by Cal Tjader
- "Feel the Music" contains a sample of "Revival" by Martine Girault
- "Respect The Architect" contains samples from "I Can See Clearly Now" by Johnny Nash & "Nobody Beats the Biz" by Biz Markie
- "Choice Of Weapons" contains a sample of "It's A New Day" by Skull Snaps
- "Something in the Past" contains samples from "What You Won't Do For Love" by Bobby Caldwell & "You're A Customer" by EPMD
- "Looking Through Darkness" contains samples from "A Change Is Gonna Come" by Otis Redding & "Slippin' into Darkness" by War
- "Insert B [The Real Deal] Nobody Knows" contains a sample of "You Are My Starship" by Norman Connors
- "Watch What You Say" contains a sample of "The Midnight Sun Will Never Set" by Quincy Jones
[edit] Personnel
- Marc Antoine — Guitar
- Bahamadia — Vocals
- Baybe — Vocals
- Carlos Bess — Engineer, Mixing
- Big Shug — Vocals
- Bu — Vocals
- Donald Byrd — Piano, Trumpet, Producer
- Rob Caprio — Engineer
- Choko — Creative Input
- Mike Chukes — Engineer
- Jez Colin — Producer, Bass
- Wallace Collins — Didjeridu
- Derrick Davis — Flute, Sax (Alto)
- Tony Dawsey — Mastering
- DJ Premier — Producer
- DJ Red Handed — Scratching, Turntables
- DJ Scratch — Scratching, Turntables
- DJ Sean-Ski — Scratching, Turntables
- Bill-Dog Dooley — Engineer
- Neale Easterby — Executive Producer
- Keith Elam — Executive Producer
- Paul Ferguson — Piano, Keyboards
- Gordon Franklin — Creative Input
- Darren Galea — Sax (Tenor)
- Kenny Garrett — Saxophone, Fender Rhodes
- Steve Gursky — Engineer, Mixing
- Guru — Arranger, Composer, Vocals, Producer, Mixing
- Gus Da Vigilante — Vocals
- Brian Holt — Bass, Guitar, Keyboards
- Freddie Hubbard — Trumpet
- Kenneth Ifil — Engineer
- Ken Ifill — Engineer
- Jason Kay — Vocals
- J.B. — Engineer
- Ben Jones — Engineer
- Benny Jones — Engineer
- Ronny Jordan — Guitar, Producer
- Ini Kamoze — Vocals
- Jason Kay — Vocals
- Chaka Khan — Vocals
- Jan Kincaid — Piano
- Kool Keith — Vocals
- Thierry Le Goues — Photography
- Dee C. Lee — Vocals
- Shawn Lee — Drums
- Ramsey Lewis — Synthesizer, Piano, Moog Synthesizer
- Lucien — Vocals
- Henry Marquez — Art Direction
- Branford Marsalis — Saxophone
- Willie McNeil — Drums
- Dennis Mitchell — Keyboards, Engineer
- Sikken Moov — Vocals
- Leo Morris — Engineer
- Leo Swift Morris — Engineer
- Patrick Moxey — Executive Producer
- Me'Shell NdegéOcello — Bass, Vocals
- Shara Nelson — Vocals
- Nikke Nicole — Producer
- Panchi Da Wild Comanchi — Creative Input
- Mica Paris — Vocals
- Patra — Vocals
- Courtney Pine — Flute, Saxophone
- Bernard "Pretty" Purdie — Drums
- Joe Quinde — Engineer
- Dennis Rodriguez — Keyboards
- J. Rodriguez — Clarinet, Flute
- Mike Rone — Creative Input
- Eddie Sancho — Engineer, Mixing
- Solsonics — Producer
- Mark Sparks — Producer
- Sweet Sable — Vocals
- True Master — Vocals, Producer
- Yoram Vanan — Engineer
- Yorum Vazan — Engineer
- Kieran Walsh — Engineer
- Reuben Wilson — Organ
- Stuart Zender — Bass
[edit] Album reviews
