Music Producer Geoff Wilkinson - Brainchild Of The Jazz/Hip-Hop Band Us3

Our guest today is London-based music producer Geoff Wilkinson, who is also the brainchild of the jazz/hip-hop band Us3. He formed Us3, alongside production partner Mel Simpson in 1992, which combines jazz rap and hip-hop jazz fusion, blending live jazz instrumentation with rap vocals and classic sample-based production. Us3 were signed to legendary jazz label Blue Note and given unprecedented access to sample anything from their back catalog. The debut album Hand on the Torch became a global phenomenon and sold over 2.5M copies. The debut single "Cantaloop (Flip Fantasia)" was a worldwide hit (a re-interpretation of Herbie Hancock's 1964 jazz classic "Cantaloupe Island") and over 30 years still retains its fresh appeal. The group released nine albums over 20 years.

Geoff talks about Us3's most recent release, Snap, Crackle & Bop! (Self-Produced, 2026) and shares thoughts on jazz and hip-hop and their fusion together and background history.

Jumping forward in time, 2025 saw Geoff revive Us3 with an all-instrumental album entitled Soundtrack, this time fusing contemporary trap beats with an 18-piece horn section, playing arrangements largely influenced by the work of (the famous Miles Davis collaborator) Gil Evans. A 21st Century cinematic reboot of the hip-hop jazz fusion pioneered by Us3 in the '90s.

Now in 2026, Us3 returns to more familiar hip-hop-jazz ground with their new album Snap, Crackle & Bop!

We listen to portions of two songs from Us3's latest release: "Cool, Cat" and "Have A Great Day."