Jazzanova

Jazzanova formed in Berlin in 1995 when six musicians and producers met at the Delicious Doughnuts club. Alexander Barck, Claas Brieler, Jürgen von Knoblauch, Roskow Kretschmann, Stefan Leisering, and Axel Reinemer shared a passion for funk, jazz, disco, and rare groove records. They began as a DJ crew, building reputation through remixes and underground releases. In 1997, BBC DJ Gilles Peterson aired their self-released track “Fedime’s Flight,” which blended Brazilian shuffle with cosmic soul chords. The exposure accelerated their visibility among international DJs. Jazzanova partnered with Compost Records that year to establish JCR and released two self-titled EPs in 1997–1998. These records introduced their sample-heavy, jazz-inflected house sound to a wider audience.

The collective founded Sonar Kollektiv label in 1997, which became essential to nu-jazz and electronic music. Between 1997 and 2000, they worked extensively as remixers for artists including 4Hero, Ian Pooley, Incognito, and Masters at Work. Their remix compilations sold approximately 200,000 copies and signaled the movement of broken-beat and jazz-house from underground clubs into mainstream recognition. Jazzanova released their debut studio album In Between in 2002 on JCR. The album blended broken beat, soul, electronics, and live instrumentation with vocalists Clara Hill, Vikter Duplaix, Ursula Rucker, and Capital A. Critics recognized it as a defining release in European nu-jazz. The group established themselves alongside contemporaries like 4Hero and Kyoto Jazz Massive as central figures in the nu-jazz movement.

After a five-year gap, the collective released Of All the Things in 2008 on Sonar Kollektiv. This second original album deepened their soulful, mature aesthetic. In 2012, Jazzanova collaborated with vocalist Paul Randolph on Funkhaus Studio Sessions, a jazz-funk project combining electronic production with live band elements. The Pool appeared in 2018 on Sonar Kollektiv and returned to atmospheric, downtempo soundscapes. Their 2022 project Strata Records: The Sound of Detroit – Reimagined by Jazzanova reinterpreted rare Detroit jazz label recordings with contemporary electronic production. Throughout three decades, the collective has balanced touring as a live band, operating their label, curating compilations, and composing for modern dance theater. Their influence extended across electronic music, jazz, and club culture, establishing Jazzanova as architects of nu-jazz who bridged underground dance floors with sophisticated studio work.