Future Sounds Of Jazz Vol. 11 (2007)

Welcome to the eleventh chapter of this exquisite compilation series that was launched wayback in 1995. The longevity may be the most obvious proof for its success - and quality! Not for nothing in the past years Future Sounds Of Jazz has been voted repeatedly one of the best compilation series of all times in English and German music magazines like Mixmag, Jockey Slot and Groove. But instead of being misled to rest on his laurels Mr. Reinboth is only incited to update his track record.
Anyway, a lot of great soulful electronic music out there at the moment and this package right here takes you on a diversified trip into the deeper spheres of advanced dance music…

This and the very first time it’s not compiled by Michael Reinboth, rather by Benjamin Fröhlich and Tom Bioly, the founders and masterminds behind Permanent Vacation. Why? Simply because they both are very close friends of the Compost famlee, with an amazing musical and DJ-like tastefulness, with the knowledge-based trust of music in the vein of vibrant, jazzy electronica hybrids. And they are from Compost Records’ hometown Munich, too. Maybe Volume 14 differs slightly to what the previous 13 brought up music-wise, but that’s the score, idea and open mindedness of this series, as it was by the compilers, and last but not least a great time for a change, too.

Though it's six volumes in and counting, Compost's Future Sounds of Jazz series just keeps on shining. Recruiting a cast of varied standout producers - Ian O'Brien, Fauna Flash, Tosca, Victor Simonelli, United Future Organization, Beatless - helps immensely, as does the sheer variety of productions. All are nominally jazz-based, but vary from downtempo to trip-hop to drum'n'bass with no lack of flow.

The fifth volume in the Future Sound of Jazz series is a double-disc set including a range of techno, jazzy and experimental tracks from Nonplace Urban Field, Bjorn Torske, Chaser, Max Brennan, Fauna Flash and Force & Paul, among others.

For better or worse, Germany's Compost Records has been the benchmark and barometer for measuring the state of downtempo/chillout. While trends in downtempo music have altered and evolved since the inaugural installment of the Future Sounds of Jazz series, one thing has remained consistent: the series has provided quality compilations featuring some of electronic music's most respected downtempo producers alongside up-and-coming talent. This tenth installment, mixed carefully by label owner Michael Reinboth and labelmates Beanfield, features the same high-quality acid jazz, downtempo, and drum'n'bass that devotees of the label have come to expect from the series. Contributions from minimal techno maestro Ricardo Villalobos and jazz legend Cal Tjader (remixed ably by Reinboth)…

Future Sounds of Jazz, Vol. 7 combines smooth jazz layered with progressive drum'n'bass, equally pleasing for dancing or intense listening. This release from the German Compost label includes Universal Principles, Stephane A, Peter Kruder, The Amalgamation of Soundz, Bonobo.

The Future Sounds of Jazz series continues to bring forth the best that nu-jazz and downtempo has to offer. Volume 8 happens to be one of the strongest installments of the series, presenting a variety of styles, from bossa rhythms to gentle house and spoken word. Includes exclusive tracks & previously unreleased tracks.

If this compilation is any real indication, the future sound of jazz consists of mellow vocals, dreamy electric piano, and programmed rhythms. Okay, it's more varied than that, but if you listen to "Keep You Kimi" and "Leave Me Now," two of the first three cuts from this disc, you'd be forgiven for thinking there was a formula. The Foremost Poets up the energy a bit, bringing up bits of hip-hop - they actually sound like Herb Alpert fronted by an R&B/hip-hop mix. Their lyrics, however, certainly need some work. Joseph Malik's track has as much to do with the chill-out room as nu-jazz, while Triplane offer a largely percussive workout. In fact, the second half of the album tilts heavily toward electronica - Dntel's "Anywhere Anyone" has very little to do with jazz by any normal definition, although Monassa right the balance just a tad…

Cool - calm - collected: chapter 15 of this superlative series, compiled by Compost’s head honcho Michael Reinboth. 21 tracks, 8 exclusive, previously unreleased tracks.
The exclusives by Aera (guess you all know his brilliant Innervisions release), Arnau Obiols & KAYYAK (recently featured by Gilles Peterson in his “watch out for 2021” top five list), Ron Deacon (officially belongs to the Workshop-Crew together with other artists like Move D, Even Tuell and Kassem Mosse), Class Compliance my gosh - what a killer tune, Mille & Hirsch (operators of the fine Polish Records), All Is Well (Fred Everything), Ben Sturm (watch out talent of Leipzig’s viral underground scene) and Oliver Kieser (best known as Kieser & Velten with their releases on G-Stone)…

Welcome to the third chapter of this exquisite compilation series that was launched wayback in 1995. The longevity may be the most obvious proof for its success - and quality! Not for nothing in the past years Future Sounds Of Jazz has been voted repeatedly one of the best compilation series of all times in English and German music magazines like Mixmag, Jockey Slot and Groove. While trends in downtempo music have altered and evolved since the inaugural installment of the Future Sounds of Jazz series, one thing has remained consistent: the series has provided quality compilations featuring some of electronic music's most respected downtempo producers alongside up-and-coming talent.