When Guru first launched Jazzmatazz hip hop had been through one of its more lack lustre periods and was re-emerging, via acts such as De La Soul and Gangstarr, to reclaim its credibility.
The first Jazzmatazz album picked up on the rebirth of cool that had gripped parts of the UK's post acid dance community. Guru's trick was to use legendary jazz artists, such as Donald Byrd, and marry them to the new mood.
Tonight the cavernous Forum is rammed by a crowd that is mostly old enough to have been there the first time and remember the excitement it generated. So when the action kicks in the reception is predictably explosive, despite the fact that Guru isn't even on stage yet.
DJ Kaori drops in with Soul II Soul before jumping back to Liquid liquid's 'Cavern' and the Bongo Bongo Band's seminal break from 'Apache'.
When Guru finally appears he's wearing the kind of white hat that Norman Jay would feel comfortable in. His opening raps mix the old and the new before he announces "If you know the history of jazz sing along" and launches into 'Jazz Thing'.
Mid song he calls out "jazz thing" and everyone chants "It's a jazz thing" merrily back at him like some happy clappy congregation. Guru might not be the most dextrous rapper, but his slow, deliberate delivery and quirky syncopation gives him one of hip hop's most unique voices which, apart from Premier's production, ensures this track's status as a hip hop classic.
Having dispensed of his Gang Starr obligations we are introduced to the live band, a four piece of keyboard, drums, guitar and bass and he launches into 'Lift Your Fist', his collaboration with the Roots on the new album. Except the Roots aren't here, which is why two backing vocalists slip on stage to take on the vocal parts of the collaborators who are unavoidably elsewhere tonight.
Always willing to give other artists props, Guru uses an old jazz trick and allows each band member a solo before introducing the one performer we all hoped would turn up. "He's a legend, oh baby you're seeing it now," says Guru. Herbie Hancock enters stage right in a natty grey suit and the crowd goes respectfully bonkers.
After that kind of reception a legend has to be given space to show his worth, which is exactly what Hancock does with the understatement of Ellington. His implied chords and keyboard runs ensure Guru is soon over-awed by the talent he's arranged around himself and hands over the stage to more solos, darting between keyboards to highlight their finger action.
But when Guru does take to the mic it is always with the same cool, controlled delivery, so that by the time 'Loungin' kicks in he's sounding relaxed enough to be sitting watching the football and having a Bud. From here we go into 'Hustlin' Daze' from the new album, prompting Guru to exclaim a satisfied "Jazz street soul or what?" about his new material.
To prove his point he invites Bilal on. Said soul singer appears and repeats "mother fucker" into a heavily delayed microphone a lot before the straight four four funk beats of 'Certified' kick in, throwing a crowd that's relaxed into laid back break beats off step. But the applause that follows is only minimally less enthusiastic than that which greeted Hancock.
Having got Bilal on stage, Guru vacates it to allow the singer to showcase his own material, which is less street soul than R&B, but none-the-less is taken to heart by the all appreciating audience.
Next-up is the top celebrity draw for the night, as Guru returns to declare "I'm going to bring my sister out here, can you all make some noise for Angie Stone." Naturally everyone makes a fair amount of noise, not least Angie Stone, who launches into a quick fire rap powered by a pair of lungs that threaten to blow everyone else of stage.
As a character and physical presence Stone is vast. She cannot help but dominate centre stage and send Guru into the wings. So when she pauses between song to say "thank you Guru" it's easy to slip into thinking this was in fact her night and Guru was just here to warm things up.
