finetune artist: US3

One of 1993's most intriguing musical experiments, the UK-based Us3 was formed three years earlier by Geoff Wilkinson and Mel Simpson. Wilkinson was best known for his jazz DJ work, and met Simpson at his own Flame studio, where they discovered mutually inclusive tastes. Together they struck upon the idea of sampling some of their favourite old jazz tunes and mixing them in with their own material. The resultant "The Band Played The Boogie" was released in 1991 on Coldcut's Ninja Tune Records imprint, credited to NW1 and featuring the rapping of Born 2B, and created a critical buzz. By hook or by crook the record came to the attention of executives at jazz label Blue Note Records, who quickly deduced that the sample of Grant Green's "Sookie Sookie" was lifted directly from their own catalogue. The miscreants were summoned, but then Capitol Records took the wholly laudable and progressive step of working out a deal whereby the duo could enjoy unlimited access to the Blue Note label archives. The result was an album of richly textured jazz and hip-hop, with guests including rappers Tukka Yoot (b. Jamaica), Kobie Powell and Rahsaan Kelly (all three of whom would secure deals with Capitol in the wake of the album's success), and jazzmen Gerard Presencer, Dennis Rollins, Tony Rmy and Steve Williamson. The album, which was preceded by the singles, "Cantaloop (Flip Fantasia)" (US number 9) and "Riddim", proved a worldwide hit, selling particularly strongly in the USA. The foresight of the copyright holders at Blue Note was amply rewarded too: following the release of Hand On The Torch interest in the Blue Note back catalogue escalated and sales doubled. Even Herbie Hancock, on whose "Cantaloupe Island" the single "Cantaloop" was loosely based, expressed his appreciation for their efforts. It would be used on the soundtrack to the Super Mario Bros movie, and Barry Levinson's Jimmy Hollywood. They were also enlisted for Stephen Spielberg's Flintstones.

Listen to US3 at Finetune.

Cantaloop (Flip Fantasia)
Cantaloop (feat. Rahsaan & Gerard Presencer)
Tukka Yoot's Riddim
Come On Everybody (Get Down)
Different Rhythms, Different People