The Complete Verve Remixed Deluxe Box
Though variously rooted in hip-hop, rave and dance clubs sensibilities, the art of mixology has evolved into a potent staple of contemporary pop music. That mainstreaming reached a new zenith with the release of the first installment ofVerve Remixedin 2002 and continued to expand via two subsequent collections of eclectic jazz/r&b-rooted; remixes that found a growing, enthusiasitc audience at public radio and other adult-oriented radio outlets. This set compiles those three savory, largely down-tempo anthologies of jazz-dj fusion, from the reworked takes on classic vocalists like Fitzgerald, Vaughn and Holiday that dominated the first set to the follow-up editions’ more expansive palette, rounding it out with a bonus disc of previously unreleased session outtakes (including Raw Deal’s playful reworking of Ramsey Lewis’ "1-2-3" and Cal Tjader’s "Los Banditos" in an electro-dizzy revamp by Michael Reinboth) and extended mixes of others. Also included on that disc are videos for "Is You Is, Or Is You Ain’t My Baby" by Rae&Christian;/Dinah Washington, Felix Da Housecat’s slinky house take on Nina Simone’s "Sinnerman" and Sarah Vaughn’s "Fever" as retooled by Adam Freeland. A groove-savvy collection whose compelling mash-ups of history and fashion succeed in fusing some disparate audiences as well.--Jerry McCulley