Verve Records To Release Unprecedented Verve Remixed Album

Verve Records has released Verve Remixed, a compilation of its finest vocal performances remixed by MJ Cole, Masters At Work, Thievery Corporation, UFO, Richard Dorfmeister, and other top names from the world of dance music.

By granting these remixers permission to raid their vaults, Verve has assembled a peerless collection of modern spins on classics by renowned jazz vocalists Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, and Nina Simone, among others.

Produced by The Verve Music Group's International Marketing Director Dahlia Ambach-Caplin and A&R Manager Jason Olaine, the album presents some of the true highlights of the venerable Verve catalog remixed and reimagined with both the respect and vision of these modern artists. The concept for assembling this album had been bandied about the Verve offices, both in the US and abroad, for years. When Olaine and Ambach-Caplin formally proposed it in 1999, the project was begun in earnest. Says Olaine, “It took three years to assemble the right combinations of remixers and appropriate Verve catalog material, but the album is definitely worth the wait."

Among the album's many high points are Dorfmeister's inventive take on Willie Bobo's Latin classic, “Spanish Grease" (which he produced with Madrid de los Austrias Muga) and Tricky's rendering of Billie Holiday's signature “Strange Fruit." Tricky showcases his trademark intensity on his remix of this haunting track.

Masters At Work deliver a hypnotic version of Nina Simone's “See-Line Woman." It was an easy choice for them since, according to MAW's “Little Louie" Vega, they have “always been big fans of Nina Simone," and think that “'See-Line Woman' is a tune that was ahead of its time."

Richard Dorfmeister had been enamored of “Spanish Grease" since he first heard it at a club in Vienna. “When the remix offer for Verve came in, it was obvious what to choose! 'Spanish Grease' is such a special track. Whenever I hear it, I feel good."

Like the greats of jazz, many of these remixers were anxious to push the envelope with their contributions but they were also conscious of respecting the original music. “This project presented a great challenge," says Mark Rae of Manchester's cutting-edge production duo Rae & Christian, “because you are dealing with the music of legends." His up-tempo take on Dinah Washington's “Is You Is or Is You Ain't My Baby?" is reverent while it also presents the song in a bold new context. Says Rae, “It was a pleasure to work with such timeless talent. I hope Dinah would have approved!"

Many of these remixers are pleased at the prospect of exposing new listeners to jazz. King Britt notes that, “from hearing this music from my mom and dad to being the link between jazz and hip-hop as the DJ in Digable Planets, to remixing and making new songs from the Verve catalog, I have always felt like a messenger of jazz music."

Since its inception, dance music has drawn on jazz for samples, ideas and inspiration. One needs to look no further than the 12 excellent tracks on Verve Remixed to hear just how strong this connection is.

Verve Remixed

1. Willie Bobo-Spanish Grease Dorfmeister con madrid de los Austrias muga
   
   reserva mix 7:25
   
   
2. Carmen McRae-How Long Has This Been Going On? MJ Cole remix 4:56
   
   
3. Astrud Gilberto-Who Needs Forever? Thievery Corporation remix 4:11
   
   
4. Dinah Washington-Is You Is or Is You Ain't My Baby? Rae & Christian remix 4:57
   
   
5. Nina Simone-Feelin' Good Joe Clausell remix 6:03
   
   
6. Shirley Horn-Return to Paradise Mark de Clive-Lowe remix 5:51
   
   
7. Ella Fitzgerald-Wait 'Till You See Him De-Phazz remix 3:51
   
   
8. Billie Holiday-Don't Explain dZihan & Kamien remix 4:48
   
   
9. Nina Simone-See-Line Woman Masters At Work remix10:04
   
   
10. Sarah Vaughan-Summertime UFO remix 6:49
    
    
11. Billie Holiday-Strange Fruit Tricky remix 3:18
    
    
12. Tony Scott-Hare Krishna King Britt funke mix 6:57