Club credibility comes from years of inspiration and hard work and Phil Martin, the creative captain of the Jazzinvaders (and Socialbeats Records), knows exactly how to get there. From his musical vision, the Jazzinvaders have already reached and touched so many musical lovers globally, from those who dare to go beyond everyday club scenes, to those who look beyond the spectrum of jazz aficionados. Today, the Jazzinvaders are spreading their message even stronger.
From his studio, Phil Martin (also the band’s drummer) created the basic tracks, while adding all kinds of input from the band, from themes and arrangements, to solos, lyrics and structures. With a debut album that instantly turned into a club hit, the expectations were high, but raising the bar is in the nature of the beast, and the collective chemistry worked out really well. It leaves no doubt, that the Jazzinvaders’ spirit has grown tremendously since they’ve been touring for the last years through Europe and Japan. The first two albums “Up & Out” and “Blow!” already showed that Phil Martin can bring out the best out of his team, the new album, simply called “3”, is clearly a real group effort that will be released in October 2010.
Most of the members are top notch, multi-awarded jazz-soloists, but with the Jazzinvaders they deliver their strongest work to date. Since the beginning, also the role of the computer as an extra and variable band voice, falls more and more into place now, with jazz-like parameters like dynamics and all the improvisation that happens on the spot. Ultimately, the Jazzinvaders should be experienced raw and fresh, on a club date or festival.
As on all their albums the Jazzinvaders obtain new territory, but only to ignite their appetite. This time the band got their inspiration from the 70’s funkjazz artist like Donald Byrd, Roy Ayers and Earth Wind & Fire. On the front, alto-saxman ROLF DELFOS hits you right in the face with his bravura and virtuosity and he might surprise you as he whispers his sweet notes too. JAN VAN DUIKEREN is easily one of Europe’s best trumpet players. Combining super chops with extremely swinging solo’s, melodical mastery and stunning compositions. GUIDO NIJS is the newcomer with his uberfunky tenor-sax sound. Singer LINDA BLOEMHARD adds a special flavour, not only in words and sound, but through her mere presence. The subtle groove and harmonies of pianist BERTHIL BUSSTRA not only tickle your imagination, but also your dancing shoes. The heart of the group in many respects is drummer PHIL MARTIN, with his superb dedication to sound, groove and feel.
Additionally, ’3’ features some extraordinary guest appearances. The Dutch singer BRIAN ZALMIJN sings on a couple of songs and the well respected Dutch guitar player ANTON GOUDSMIT (of the New Cool Collective) contributes on two tracks.
Following their successful album releases ‘Up ‘n Out’ (2006) and Blow! (2008) which received rave reviews from DJs, press and audiences all over the world, the Jazzinvaders are now ready for their next ride.
This is the second album from this great Dutch group and on the ever-consistent label ‘Social Beats’ (also Dutch), who, currently, can do no wrong. Let’s make no bones about it, this album is aimed straight at the dancefloor and hit’s the bullseye. Dj’s with no patience will get frustrated because there are so many tracks one could play (Day By Day; Perugia; Max Roach; Broad Minds and the funky ‘What The Bleep’) but it’s also varied enough, tempo and style-wise, to suit the home-listener too. As you’d expect from the Dutch – with their great jazz heritage, the musicianship is outstanding, but there must be a special mention of the singer Linda Bloemhard, who shines throughout the album. – 8 out of 10 – deejay Snowboy
The Jazzinvaders project is a collaboration between producer/percussionist Phil Martin and members of famous Dutch jazz outfit The Houdini’s. Rejecting the producer-centric abstractions of the nu-jazz/broken beat set, ‘Up & Out’ is a groove-centred attempt at updating the classic latin and jazz-funk sounds of the 1960s and 1970s for the 21st century. This is a band with their sights set firmly on the dancefloor. Opener ‘Bonga Bonga Jazz’ sets the tone – a propulsive concoction of Latin riffs and funky horn stabs driven forward by an elastic monster of a bassline. Elsewhere there are nods to the pioneering fusions of Fela Kuti and the Jazzanova crew as well as some lovely vocal turns from Mette Burild and Linda Bloemhard. But for all its infectious vitality and the nods to recent dancefloor trends, ‘Up & Out’ remains a very retro affair that throws up no real surprises. Luckily what the set lacks in invention it more than makes up for in sheer exuberance – a welcome reminder of just how funky jazz can be. Chris Pile – Fly Magazine