Customer Reviews

Re-Bop: The Savoy Remixes (Dig)

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4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
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Just for the record: I know what I'm getting into when I buy a remixed album of classics. I know nothing will replace the originals, nor am I looking for them to be replaced. What I AM looking for are new, entertaining and fun twists on the originals.

I did not get that with Re-Bop, even after a couple spins to let the grooves marinate. I found this collection to be mediocre, at best. It's not good, it's not bad. Just decent background music with a nice groove. But nothing at all stands out to me here.

Well, almost nothing. The thing I noticed most was how dated some of these remixes sound. It's like all of these songs were done with mid-90's style beats and techniques. I love mid-90's music, especially from the R&B scene. But a 10 year old sound ain't old enough to be "retro" enough to be considered hip. With an album like Re-Bop we'd expect a truly fresh sound, at least with vibes from this millenium.

Great concept, so-so execution. Maybe Re-Bop II (if there is such a thing in the works) will find the opportunities that this set missed along the way.

A lot of people review these remix CD's with remorse that they are no longer as good as the origionals. If you are expecting a classic jazz lover's treatment of your favorite songs do not buy this CD! If, on the other hand you love to hear reworkings and new spin on old standbys this is an excellent album. There are a couple duds (such as the opening song "Movin' Nicely") which rather repetitive and some of them hide the original song underneath all the new remixing. On the other hand some tracks like "Night in Tunisia" and "Minor Vamp" integrate the old track into new grooves like nothing you have ever heard before. I would buy the CD based on these tracks alone. Then, as an added bonus you get songs such as "Caravan" (probably my favorite), "Night and Day" (a close second) and "Loverman" which take the original and enhance it. These gems are what the original writers would have made them sound like had they had the technology (and the audience).

If you are an open-minded jazz lover or simply someone who loves a good groove buy this CD today.

I approached this CD with a different perspective than most, being a movement theatre (dance?) teacher in a high school. I'm always searching for music that is accessible to young people and yet challenges them, and for that, this CD is perfect. Probably a bit more accessible to the electronic-music lover than the jazz lover, still many tracks on this CD capture and translate the mood of the original pieces of music. I particularly like the "Minor Vamp" and "Night in Tunisia" cuts.

There are tons of tracks on this CD that are perfect to slip into a more traditional dance party for a change of pace. It's the kind of thing that my friends always end up asking about if they hear even one song.

One last note- I also own the Reich Remixed CD, another similar attempt, except with minimalist music instead of jazz - and the Savoy Remixes is BY FAR the better CD. This made me want to explore the original recordings, where the Reich Remix CD was almost without exception dull and/or irritating and discouraged exploration.

the ReMixes on this Disc are all Phat +++

While the beats Pump and the turntables scratch, the DJ's rely on the integrity
of the Original jazz joints to make the trax groove rather then just loop one key phrase over repetetive beats like some "ReMixes"

If you like Cool Jazz for the modern club dance floor this is your DISC

Most cuts were a nice mix of the original loops and the modern mix.