Madlib - Shades of Blue (2003)

Otis Jackson Jr.'s moniker is actually a wordplay on the Latin phrase: 'ad libitum' (or 'ad lib' for short) meaning 'at one's pleasure'. In a musical context, it usually is an invitation for a performer to improvise a certain passage, play it at his own discretion. And it seems that Madlib does just that - he digs up samples, fiddles with them and pairs them up with neat breakbeats thereby 'improvising' a new sound.

The 'Shades of Blue' album is even more so interesting, because the samples used throughout the entire production come from the legendary Blue Note labels' archives. Madlib surely had a lot to choose from. Actually, saying that he merely samples old recordings would be a gross understatement. Rather than that, he uses the various bits and bobs he finds as instruments and, much like the head of an orchestra, creates a musical collage with a fresh and unique sound. No wonder then, that one of Madlib's alter egos is called 'The Beat Konducta'.

The results of his invasion of the Blue Note catalog are quite impressive. Madlib remixes many classics, such as: Gene Harris' "The Book of Slim", Donald Byrd's "Distand Land" and "Stepping into Tomorrow", Wayne Shorter's "Footprints" or Bobby Hutcherson's 'Montara', giving them a new appeal. There's also a bunch of skits and interludes thrown in for good measure, which tell the story of the Blue Note label and give us an insight into Madlib's answering machine (!).

Much like the title of the album suggests, the various tracks spread across the whole emotional spectrum. You can find tunes with a real hip-hop edge ('Please Set Me At Ease' with guest MC Medaphoar); some break-heavy jams ('Stormy' or 'Funky Blue Note'); slower, moody grooves ('Andrew Hill Break'); and tracks which might as well have had a 'nu-jazz' label stuck on them ('Song For My Father' or 'Peace / Dolphin Dance'). What all these tracks have in common, however, is the delicious, ear-pleasing production quality served by Madlib. Even the most raw and simple songs are filled with carefully picked sounds - there's an almost silent horn over here, a distant cowbell on the off-beat there, some barely noticeable vocals harmonising with the strings, a swinging piano in the background, etc. That's what really makes this album sound so good and I also believe that part of the fun with it is exploring these hidden gems.

'Shades of Blue' is also special for one more reason. Madlib is so far the only hip-hop producer ever to release an album on the legendary Blue Note label, which has in its roster such prominent artists as: Miles Davis, Clifford Brown, Art Blakey, Thelonious Monk, Sonny Rollins or Cannonball Adderley. Do you think he can match his label mates? Well, just see for yourself!

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Jaheim - Put That Woman First (Calibre Vocal Remix) (2003)

Todays musical journey will lead us to the realm of broken beats. Our guide for the trip will be the Belfast-based drum and bass producer who goes by the name of Calibre.

Dominick Martin, as this is his real name, got into the production scene quite late - his first release came out in 1998 on Quadrophonic, a short-lived Irish label (operated only for 2 years and had only 5 releases). He then later grabbed the attention of the legendary DJ Fabio, who signed him to his Creative Source label and helped him release, among other, fine EPs, his first album - the critically-acclaimed 'Musique Concrete' (2001). Two years later, Calibre starts his own label - Signature Records - which operates as an outlet primarily for his own productions and collaborations. Apart from that, he also runs Soul:r together with the Mancunian Marcus Intalex and ST Files.

Calibre is a very prolific producer, with a vast number of tunes signed under his moniker. He has worked with the likes of: Zero Tolerance, A-Sides, High Contrast, Klute, Bailey etc. etc...trust me, the list goes on and on....His records have been released on such influential labels as: Defunked, Samurai Red Seal and LTJ Bukem's Good Looking Records, among others.

The tune I've selected for you today is a remix of a 2002 "r'n'b" (*ekhm*) song, by Jaheim, called: 'Put That Woman First', which comes off his platinum album: 'Still Ghetto' (wink, wink, nudge, nudge). I haven't heard the original until today and, to be honest, it's nothing special, really, but not bad either. Just a lil' love song with a not-that-bad-at-all beat, a chilled-out guitar and some background keys and strings. Jaheim's baritone voice, I believe, is the strongest part of the tune...and that's precisely what Calibre must've thought, cause his remix seems to only have the vocal part in common with the original.

I think Calibre did a great job by turning this 'comme ci comme ça' song into a great, great drum and bass tune. It's really simple when you think of it. 

He took the vocal from the original, picked the nicest bits and sliced them up to his liking.

He added a fantastic beat - really soft and pleasant and not-so-in-your-face, like it usually is in drum and bass. It has a very delicate kick drum with a slight roll on the 1st and 3rd beat, a flat and bright snare and a rather pleasant, soothing hi-hat on the semi-quavers. Well, the beat just rolls and rolls throughout the tune giving it a really nice, 'liquid drum and bass' vibe.

Having done that, Calibre came up with an, again very simple, melody line. It consists of 3 major seventh chords (Emaj7, F♯maj7 and G♯maj7, if I'm not mistaken) played out on the piano (with an oscillating filter) and a bassline (which constantly plays the same motif, but its pitch alternates by a major second after every bar). Both the piano and bass complement each other very neatly, creating an awesome, groovy melody.

As y'all can see - simple, yet bloody powerful and just plain g-o-o-d!

Part of the success of the tune should, however, be attributed to the person responsible for the mastering - i.e. Beau Thomas of Masterpiece Media, London. He's a much sought for engineer, having mastered releases of such artists as: Above & Beyond, Total Science, Commix, Logistics, Ed Rush & Optical, Alix Perez, Rusko, Pendulum, Booka Shade etc. etc. 

This guy is the reason why this tune just sounds so freakin' good!

Well, here it is - Calibre's fantastic remix of Jaheim's 'Put That Woman First'. It was released on a White Label, however it does have a sticker on it which says: 'Warner Music UK Ltd.'. Anybody wanna solve this mystery?

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