Gunn unites jazz, hip hop

Russell Gunn's Ethnomusicology, Volume 1 is a compelling work that demonstrates that jazz and hip-hop can really work together. Gunn, formerly of Wynton Marsalis's Buckshot LeFonque, deftly combines group jazz improvisation over deep grooves, played by his octet and scratched by DJ Apollo. Born in Chicago and raised in East St. Louis, Gunn represents a new breed of trumpeters and jazz artists out to redefine the boundaries of musical style, format and genre.

Ethnomusicology, Volume 1 features songs written by Woody Shaw, Branford Marsalis, Joe Zawinul and of course Gunn himself. A wide range of vocal samples are used throughout this album, adding to the diversity and feel of Gunn's work. Run DMC, Charles Mingus, Jeru and Wynton Marsalis are a group of artists that you wouldn't expect to hear together on a jazz album. And yet that is the reason why this album works so well. Gunn has taken Guru's dream on Jazzmatazz and brought it to the modern jazz side, with stunning results.

"The Blackwidow Blues" features the voice samplings and old school influence of KRS-ONE and is clearly one of the album's most engaging tracks. The groove of "Folkz" is laid down by a heavy piano riff and dynamic percussion. While "Shiva" offers a worldly feel to its improvisational style and lighting-fast turntabilist action, "Doll" brings your heartbeat down under a slow and sensuous tempo.

Ethnomusicology, Volume 1 is an album that searches the musical vocabularies of both jazz and hip hop to offer a dynamic and original work. Gunn has blurred the lines of stylistic demarcation, and hopefully Volume 2 will find him trying to further expand and explore his vision.