Whether it's your first Bonnaroo or you’re a music festival veteran, we welcome you to Inforoo.
Here you'll find info about artists, rumors, camping tips, and the infamous Roo Clues. Have a look around then create an account and join in the fun. See you at Bonnaroo!!
They would be the PERFECT addition for Bonnaroo. Guru was one of the first artists to fuse jazz and hip-hop. The three albums they produced are incredible. They are playing some select dates in March and April and I'm going to try to see them next Tuesday in NYC. I didn't even know this group played live shows. If you aren't familiar with Jazzmatazz, you might know Guru from Gang Starr. Here's a little bio:
Rapper/composer Guru (real name Keith Elam) first rose to prominence as the "lyrical half" of the hip-hop duo Gang Starr, one of the first outfits that attempted to fuse jazz with rap. After three albums by Gang Starr hit record store shelves (1989's No More Mr. Nice Guy, 1991's Step in the Arena, and 1992's Daily Operation), Guru launched his own solo career, issuing Jazzmatazz, Vol. 1 in 1993. The album featured guest appearances by the likes of Roy Ayers, Donald Byrd, and N'Dea Davenport of the Brand New Heavies, and was followed up two years later by a sophomore solo outing, Jazzmatazz, Vol. 2: The New Reality, which again featured a variety of special guests (including Ramsey Lewis, Branford Marsalis, and members of Jamiroquai). Despite his solo career, Guru has remained true to Gang Starr all along, continuing to contribute to such further albums as 1994's Hard to Earn and 1998's Moment of Truth. Five years after his second solo outing appeared, Streetsoul was issued in 2000, which again featured a stellar cast of supporting characters: Herbie Hancock, Isaac Hayes, the Roots, Erykah Badu, and Macy Gray. Wasting little time, Guru returned directly back to the recording studio, issuing a follow-up one year later, Baldhead Slick & da Click. In addition to the aforementioned artists, Guru has collaborated with some of rap music's best-known producers, including fellow Gang Starr member DJ Premier, Pete Rock, Alchemist, Ayatollah, and DJ Spinna, as well as Ice-T, Naughty by Nature's Treach, Killah Priest, and Ed O.G.
Good point augustwest. Herbie Hancock's "Rockit" was one of the first examples of a DJ ever scratching a record in the hip-hop style. But when Jazzmatazz first came out in 1993 it was much further developed lyrically and sonically than most things that came before it.
Regardless of this music's place in history, it's super hot and just plain dope. They are touring for about one month through late March and April and releasing a new album, Jazzmatazz Vol. 4. Here's a quote from guru about the new album:
"On the new Jazzmatazz Vol 4 I am not constrained to specific types of collaborations or any musical guidelines since Jazzmatazz has evolved into its own musical genre in itself. The new album contains not only Hip Hop and Jazz but elements of Soul, Funk, Rock and more. Jazzmatazz Vol 4 is the future of great music with substance and character that makes the listener feel good again!"
It really is the perfect act for Bonnaroo. I'm so pumped to see then next week in NYC!
