Guru
Jazzmatazz (Volume 1)

In the liner notes for Jazzamatazz, Guru explained, "jazz's mellow tracks, along with the haerd rap beat, go hand-in-glove with my voice." Truer words were never said, and in 1993 the Gang Starr legend proved the point by releasing one of the greatest hip-hop albums of all time. The link between hip-hop and jazz was already in the air, but Guru crystalised it in no uncertain terms, pulling in a heavyweight list of singers and players like N'Dea Davenport, Donald Byrd, Courtney Pine, Lonnie Liston Smith and more besides to realise his vision. Guru's sultry tone sits in the bed of warm musicianship like butter on toast, and this reissue means you can pick it up in pristine condition and hear it pouring out of those grooves. If ever an album was made for vinyl, this would be it.