Maxi Jazz
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This biographical article needs additional citations for verification. (December 2011) |
| Maxi Jazz | |
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 Maxi Jazz, singing with Faithless in MEN Arena, Manchester, 4 December 2010 |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Maxwell Fraser |
| Born | 14 June 1957 Brixton, London England, United Kingdom |
| Genres | Rap, dance, trip hop |
| Occupations | Musician Songwriter |
| Years active | 1983–present |
| Labels | Cheeky, Columbia, Namu Records, Savage Records |
| Associated acts | Faithless 1 Giant Leap |
| Website | http://www.maxijazz.co.uk/ |
Maxwell Alexander Fraser (born 14 June 1957 in Brixton, London[1]), better known as Maxi Jazz, is an English rapper. He is best known as the lead vocalist of British band Faithless. He is sometimes incorrectly referred to as Faithless, with a misconception existing that the band is actually a solo artist.
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Biography[edit]
Maxi founded The Soul Food Cafe System as a DJ in 1984, having discovered hip hop a year earlier. He transferred this sound to pirate radio station LWR in 1987.
In 1989, The Soul Food Cafe Band was picked up by Tam Tam Records, which is the dance wing of Savage Records), and the album Original Groovejuice, Vol. 1[2] was recorded. Maxi founded Namu Records in 1992 in order to release the band's material in the form of three EP's and the band toured as a support act to various artists, including Jamiroquai in Amsterdam; Soul II Soul in Barcelona; Galliano in Switzerland; and Jason Rebello in Brazil. After the band dissolved, Maxi worked throughout Europe, and took time out to collaborate with Jah Wobble on the Invaders Of The Heart album, followed by live dates with the Wobble Collective.
Maxi met Rollo Armstrong in a studio and went on to form Faithless, together with Jamie Catto and Sister Bliss. As a Soka Gakkai Buddhist, Maxi's strong beliefs and the band's own strong individual beliefs, contrast with the name 'Faithless', which was chosen during the writing of the song "Salva Mea". Rollo had asked Maxi to write a song about frustration, which was something to which Maxi could relate from his own experiences. The subject matter of Maxi's lyrics range from upbeat to melancholic. His work covers a range of personal and social issues, including current affairs and social commentary.
In 2006, Maxi provided the vocals for the hit Tiësto track "Dance4life". He also sang alongside Robbie Williams on the single "My Culture" from the collaborative album 1 Giant Leap.
Maxi celebrated his 50th birthday on June 15, 2007 in Hyde Park, London by headlining the O2 Wireless Festival 2007. In the encore he was greeted by thousands of fans wishing him happy birthday.
Cars and racing[edit]
Maxi is very fond of cars and his collection was featured on Sky One's Vroom Vroom motoring show. He owns a Subaru Impreza P1, a Ford Escort Mk2 RS2000, a Ford Fiesta Zetec S, a Ford Sierra Cosworth and a Marcos LM500 R.
Maxi founded Maxi Jazz Racing in 2000 when he asked Rae Claydon to enter him in the Ford Fiesta Championship for the 2000 season[3] but was only able to race occasionally due to his musical obligations.
On Sunday 9 December 2001, Maxi was involved in a serious car accident, causing several of Faithless's UK tour dates to be postponed. In 2005, he raced a Ginetta, and in 2006 and 2007 a Porsche 997 GT3 Cup in the Porsche Carrera Cup GB.
Crystal Palace Football Club[edit]
He has recently become an associate director of Crystal Palace football club.
Personal life[edit]
He lives in West Norwood, in the London Borough of Lambeth and supports Crystal Palace football club. He advocates the work of the Burma Campaign UK. He is also a Buddhist.
Discography[edit]
With Faithless[edit]
With 1 Giant Leap[edit]
- 2002 "My Culture" (with 1 Giant Leap and Robbie Williams),
Solo[edit]
- 1992 "Summertime" (with Jason Rebello)
- 2006 "Dance4life" (with Tiësto), #3 NL, #5 BEL, #10 FIN
- 2011 "Where the Heart Is" (with Benji Boko)
- 2012 "Tomorrow's Day" (with Trenton and Free Radical)
References[edit]
- ^ Hard to describe, great to listen to – Daily Telegraph
- ^ "Original Groovejuice, Vol. 1 on AMG".
- ^ "Maxi Jazz Racing history".
External links[edit]
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