Blue 72
Blue 72

Jazzhole Returns with Seductive New Concept Album

Pioneering acid jazz group re-imagines hit tunes from 1972 on Blue 72

Bill Milkowski

While the acid jazz movement kicked off in London clubs during the mid ‘80s, that phenomenon of mixing jazz and hip-hop eventually reached Stateside by the early ‘90s in a wave of bands including Digable Planets, Guru and Jazzmatazz, Groove Collective and others. One of the groups to emerge on the scene in 1994 was Jazzhole, which broke out with their self-titled debut that year.

Twenty years later, the core of that group — vocalist Marlon Saunders, keyboardist Warren Rosenstein, guitarist John Pondel — is still making outstanding music together. Their seventh recording, Blue 72, is a chill concept album in which the three principals re-imagine familiar pop and R&B tunes from the year 1972. Such hits as Carly Simon’s “You’re So Vain,” Gilbert O‘Sullivan’s “Alone Again (Naturally),” the Bee Gee’s “Run to Me” and Looking Glass’ “Brandy (You’re a Fine Girl)” get the full Jazzhole treatment on this soulful outing. With some help from vocalists Michelle Lewis (who interprets Gamble & Huff’s “Drowning in a Sea of Love”), Rosa Ross (who breathes new life into Jim Croce’s “Operator (That’s Not the Way It Feels)”) and Lindsey Webster (who contributes seductive Portuguese vocals on Elton John’s “Rocket Man” and America’s “Ventura Highway”).

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    Blue 72

    A collection of mostly sad songs from 1972, revisited with a unique soul / jazz / bossa approach.

contact

For all inquiries,
please contact Jazzhole at

Jazzhole
P.O. Box 1462
Woodstock, NY 12498

Blue 72 Cover Photo: Arthur Tress, courtesy National Archives.