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Spinner RPM: Cobblestone Jazz

Posted on Dec 5th 2007 11:00AM by Mike Spinella
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Minimal techno and live music are not terms that are traditionally used together. Enter Cobblestone Jazz, a Canadian trio that pushes the boundaries of electronic music with fierce live sets that preserve the essence and urgency of tightly wound esoteric grooves. The group is fronted by established IDM wizard Mathew Jonson, and came into existence through sheer misfortune. The name Cobblestone Jazz might seem musically misleading, but it bears significant meaning. "A cobblestone is comprised of many different types of rock which symbolizes different to our music styles -- including jazz -- and personalities," Jonson tells Spinner.

Danuel Tate, Tyger Dhula and the Mole, who all round out the collective, first played in the Modern Deep Left Quartet, before moving to Montreal. The band, however, shortly moved to Vancouver after being robbed of their gear at gunpoint. It wasn't all for naught, though. It was there that Cobblestone Jazz was born.

"The idea behind improvisation and having an open mind to what each player will do when its his/her time to speak is a fundamental part of our music," Jonson explains of their music. "It's really fun for all of us as we really don't know what will happen next."

Jonson had previously established himself with a well-respected solo career as a DJ and producer before venturing into Cobblestone Jazz. "Playing with a band is all about interacting with the other musicians," Jonson says of the difference. "It's almost like having a lazy conversation or a big f---ing argument on stage, but with instruments. As a solo artist, I'm letting each instrument have their spot and idea in the conversation, but I'm speaking to the audience and to my surroundings."

Jonson credits artists like Prince, Thelonious Monk , Herbie Hancock and Public Enemy to shaping his musical ventures, and hopes to preserve the sonic quality of music as technology evolves. "Digital DJing is the future in many ways, but the DJs themselves have to make sure that the sound is getting better in quality," he says. "The MP3 format is hurting the whole industry -- it's like fast food. The future needs to sound better than 16 bit CDs. Mp3's sound worse. They are made for a lazy, attention deficit society that would rather listen and buy a hundred songs that sound like crap than enjoy one piece of music that sounds as it was made in the beginning."

Download: Cobblestone Jazz, 'What You Want' (MP3)

Cobblestone Jazz, 'Flavour Mix' (DJ Set)

Subway, 'Joy II'

Eddie Fowlkes, 'Where Will I Be' (Claude Young's Last Temptation)

Cobblestone Jazz, 'Hired Touch'

Samim vs. Signor Andreoni, 'Deep Meet'

Cuica, 'Why Not Samba'

100 Hz, 'Tub Run'

DJG, '6'

Art Konik, 'Hum' (Playin' For the City Mix)

100 Hz, 'Shoot The Bar'

Inner City, 'Do Ya' (The Claude Young Mix)

Mr. Scruff, 'Giffin'

Theo Parish, 'Sawala Sayale'

Heiko Laux, 'Dedicated' to all Believers

Cobblestone Jazz, 'PBD'

Dimlite, Synonym4' (A Few Among Others)

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Filed under: MP3, Electronic, Exclusive, DJ Mix, RPM
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Dj Generation Y

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December 21 2007 at 6:37 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

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