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Us3

Us3 is the brainchild of London-based producer Geoff Wilkinson. Formed in 1992, alongside production partner Mel Simpson, Us3 rose from the ashes of 2 previous incarnations. The first was a limited edition white label 12” release in 1990 called “Where Will We Be In The 21st Century” featuring rapper MC Honey B and jazz pianist Jessica Lauren. This brought the attention of a (then) fledgling indie label, Ninjatune, and the result was NW1’s 1991 12” “The Band Played The Boogie”. By sampling one of the biggest dancefloor tunes of the burgeoning jazz dance scene, Geoff had unknowingly started a chain reaction. The tune he sampled was Grant Green’s “Sookie Sookie”, originally released on Blue Note Records.

London’s Kiss FM playlisted “The Band Played The Boogie” and Geoff received a call summoning him to EMI’s offices in London. Knowing the sample had not been cleared Geoff was nervous, but somehow talked himself out of being sued and into the Blue Note vaults. By allowing complete access to their legendary back catalogue, Blue Note went back to the future. “It was a brave decision by Bruce Lundvall (Blue Note President)”, says Geoff, “but he made me record some demos first, to prove I could do it”. One of those demos, recorded in March 1992, was “Cantaloop (Flip Fantasia)”.

Exactly two years later it was sitting pretty in the US top ten. By then the resulting album, “Hand on the Torch” had become a global phenomenon, collecting plaudits and Gold & Silver discs in equal measures. It was the first Blue Note album to achieve Platinum status (1,000,000 sales) in the USA.

The worldwide success of Us3 took everyone by surprise, and proved a point to Geoff. “I always thought there was a huge potential audience for jazz amongst younger people, and I wanted Us3 to be a point of access for them. By sampling classic jazz tracks, mixing them with beats and raps, and having younger jazz cats playing on top I was acknowledging the past, staying rooted in the present, and looking forward to the future, all at the same time.”

After several world tours with the Us3 band, Mel left for pastures new, and in 1996 Geoff set about making the follow-up. “It was always my intention to change the vocalists with each ” says Geoff, “it keeps things fresh and exciting for me too.” NY rappers KCB and Shabaam Sahdeeq came in to replace Rahsaan Kelly, Kobie Powell & Tukka Yoot, and the resulting 1997 album was “Broadway & 52nd”. The Blue Note samples became more embedded in the grooves and experimental tracks like “Snakes” (in 5/4) and “Sheep” (a spoken word poem) broke new ground, drawing great performances from K and Shabaam.

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575
Interview

Us3: The Struggle Continues

Read "Us3: The Struggle Continues" reviewed by Frederick Bernas


In 1992 Geoff Wilkinson produced the groundbreaking jazz/hip-hop crossover track “Cantaloop (Flip Fantasia)," gaining international recognition with his Us3 project. Fourteen years and six albums down the line he's still going strong, but it could all have been very different. Here he tells AAJ contributor Frederick Bernas about the highs and lows of his long and convoluted musical journey.

For a man whose achievements are so widely respected, Wilkinson comes across as a genuine, open person--not ...

178
Album Review

Us3: Questions

Read "Questions" reviewed by James Taylor


I'm a child of the hip-hop generation, so a lot of great music, I'm not ashamed to say, came to me through hip-hop. Us3 turned me on to Herbie Hancock in the same way that Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg turned me on to Parliament and DJ Shadow turned me on to David Axelrod.So imagine my excitement when I heard that Us3 was resurfacing, retooled with a new lineup behind mastermind Geoff Wilkinson, with their first stateside release ...

273
Album Review

Us3: Broadway & 52nd

Read "Broadway & 52nd" reviewed by Chris M. Slawecki


It's hard to imagine a more hallowed jazz address than broadway & 52nd , the site of the original Birdland.

In 1993, British underground DJ turned hip-hop producer Geoff Wilkinson shook up the jazz world with Hand On The Torch, a collection of hip-hop and rap tunes based on samples from classic Blue Note recordings, not only with the label's blessing, but released by Blue Note. “Cantaloop (Flip Fantasia)" went top ten, and exposed Herbie Hancock's “Cantaloupe Island" ...

182
Album Review

Us3: Hand On The Torch

Read "Hand On The Torch" reviewed by Jim Santella


Much of the talk about Us3, hip hop, and its mixture of rap with jazz has centered around the sampling of legendary jazz tunes. While rap remains the centerpiece, jazz sampling takes a back seat to the fine mainstream jazz presented by the members of Us3, including trumpeter Gerard Presencer, guitarist Tony Remy, trombonist Dennis Rollins, pianist Matt Cooper, and saxophonists Ed Jones, Mike Smith & Steve Williamson. The arranging, programming, and effects are created by Mel Simpson and Geoff ...

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164

Recording

Platinum-Selling Hip-Hop/Jazz Group Us3 Set to Release "Stop.Think.Run"

Platinum-Selling Hip-Hop/Jazz Group Us3 Set to Release "Stop.Think.Run"

Source: Michael Ricci

London, UK--The seventh album from producer Geoff Wilkinson’s hip-hop-jazz crew Us3 sees the introduction of two new young MCs hot off the streets of New York. Underground hip-hop fans will already know the name of 23 year-old Sene, and spoken word aficionados will certainly be aware of 20 year-old Brook Yung. “These are the youngest vocalists I've featured since the guys on “Hand on the Torch" says Geoff, “and it’s definitely given the album more of a hip-hop bite." From ...

120

Interview

Us3 Producer Geoff Wilkinson Interviewed at AAJ

Us3 Producer Geoff Wilkinson Interviewed at AAJ

Source: All About Jazz

In 1992 Geoff Wilkinson produced the groundbreaking jazz/hip-hop crossover track “Cantaloop (Flip Fantasia)," gaining international recognition with his Us3 project. Fourteen years and six albums down the line he's still going strong, but it could all have been very different.

For a man whose achievements are so widely respected, Wilkinson comes across as a genuine, open person--not at all pretentious or arrogant. AAJ contributor Frederick Bernas spoke with Wilkinson at London's Jazz Cafe, where Us3 played two nights, launching a ...

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