To date, Jay Dee's fingerprints can be discerned on many high quality projects. Not only was he instrumental in producing the last two Tribe Called Quest albums (as part of The Ummah) but he also made the beats for Common's 'Like Water For Chocolate' and Slum Village's 'Fantastic Vol 2', was executive producer for Erykah Badu's new album and has also cooked up singles for De La Soul, Busta Rhymes, Guru and Jay Z.
He's certainly been a busy bee over the last couple of years but luckily not too busy that he can't squeeze in a solo album. Finally, he's gotten to flex his own muscles to the full and the results are as surprising as they are dope.
Aside from his trademark blend of relaxed, bass heavy jazz sounds, the venerable beatsman has decided to take off in lots of directions. Straight up hip hop jams like 'The Clapper' sit next to cuts that seem to be influenced by the techno heritage of his home town, and others like 'Rico Suave Bossanova', that gets on a gently swinging bossa tip.
There's some trademark fathoms deep bass lines and atmospheric dopeness as well as 'Shake It Down', a cut straight out of the Slum Village school of vibes but generally Jay Dee has stretched himself to the limits here, showing the broadness of his influences without completely deserting is own inimitable ultra-dope sound.
