REVIEW BY THOMAS DEMERATH
Earlier this month Jazzy Jeff (aka DJ Jazzy Jeff, aka Jazz) blessed Shanghai, China with a blowout at Zeal on The Bund. As part of a concert series that featured other Hip-Hop legends like DAS EFX, Jazzy Jeff brought hundreds of Shanghai locals and expats back to a golden era. Basking in the light that shines across the Huangpu river from Pudong's countless skyscrapers, Zeal offered the opportunity to revel to the sounds of one of the premier DJ/producers in the world.
The classic "transform" scratch was present throughout Jazz's two hour set which included todays chart toppers and some nostalgic songs from the 80's and 90's. Reading and feeding the crowd has always been Jazz's strength, and he made sure he used that power to warm his fans. Whether he was giving Skillz (Mad Skillz, Rawkus Records) instrumentals to freestyle over or he was playing dusty breaks and ancient soul, Hip-Hop's improvisational magic was alive. The lone disappointment of the night was Jazz playing too much Mac Miller (not party music) whose mixtape he produced.
Recent shows by MC Supernatural, DJ Shadow and other artists who demonstrate the dynamics of the four elements of Hip-Hop, are still overpowered by Pop. As Akon (sold out arena last month), Lady Gaga, and Bruno Mars are more popular that the "little red book", the presence of 70's and 80's babies will keep icons like Jazz working for more than a minute.
