Jazzy Sport began in 2002 as a shop located in Morioka, in the Tōhoku region of northern Japan. A second store in Shibuya, in Tokyo, quickly followed. They now – I think – have 3 outlets in the city, in Gohonoki, Omotesando, Shimokitazawa, plus another in Kyoto. Expanding into a label and distribution, under the concept of “Uniting the world through music and sport” (1), they are probably just as famous for their quality apparel. Initially these designs were based on authentic boxers sweats, but they now manufacture all sorts of bespoke items. A recent collaboration saw them team up with legendary Detroit imprint Strata Records. While the label is primarily focused on nurturing and supporting homegrown talent, they’ve also worked with international artists such as Steve Spacek, James Mason, DJ Spinna, DJ Nature, Byron The Aquarius and Dego’s 2000 Black. Their latest venture is a hook up with London’s Time Capsule.

“Jazzy Sport Past Forward: Silver” is a selection of underground smashes from the label’s back catalogue, curated by Nina Yamada, the daughter of one of the collective’s core members. The compilation contains 6 tracks, dating from between 2008 and 2012. Nubian Lady’s “In*Flu*Enza” is one of the earliest releases included. The all female trio of Pipparatree, Sunny Sapp and Tomvo, building some tribal tinged, UR-influenced techno from an Ian Dury / “Spasticus Autisticus” loop. Bottom Fly’s Daisy Age / Native Tongues flavoured “Rhyme Or Reason” is another. A feel good, boom bap, collaged creation, it scratches rap snippets, West Coast folk harmonies, and a little acid, around a chorus of “Without love there is no reason, without love there is no rhyme” (2).

Kouji Asano aka Grooveman Spot’s “Do The Dance”, a groovy, gurgling Chicago house tribute – complete with TB-303 and Mike Dunn-esque vocals repeating the title, comes from 2011’s “Runnin’ Pizza” EP. Physical Sound Sport’s “Magical Kalimba” was also recorded in 2011  but not released until 2013, on the retrospective round up, “Song Notes”. Produced by Daisuke Nakagawa, Masaya Kobayashi and Yonn Okuda, this slowly shifts from a simple sanza snippet into something hypnotic. Funky, and “broken”, with future fusion keys, and an “ancient meets modern” vibe, it’s very much the sort of side championed by Time Capsule affiliated party “Beauty & The Beat”.

Cro-Magnon consisted of keyboardist Takumi Kaneko, drummer Shigekazu Otake, with Tsuyoshi Kosuga on guitar and bass (3). They’re represented here by remixes of a couple of cuts lifted from their terrific 2007 “Great Triangle” EP. DJ Mitsu The Beats turns “Eclipse” into slow, synth-y, squelchy, stripped back boogie. The Idjut Boys use “Riding The Storm” to pay homage to The Rolling Stones. Delivering a 9-minute dub disco epic that sends the original’s rocking Richards-esque riff through showers of loose, rattling congas, and “Sympathy For The Devil” ooh oohs. It stills sounds brilliant, after more than a decade.

Yamada’s choices here go some way toward showcasing the Jazzy Sport aesthetic. Where hip hop, house and jazz stand shoulder to shoulder. Not divided. In the process, creating a community of talented players, brought together by a love of music, regardless of genre, as long as it’s genuine, soulful. Comes from the heart. I’ll be really interested to check further volumes. I’m betting the endeavour will amount to an impressive body of work.

NOTES

(1) I wonder if this had anything to do with the classic Instant Funk track “Wide World Of Sports”.

(2) Listening had me thinking of Friends & Lovers’ old B-Boy break, “Reach Out Of The Darkness”.

(3) As far as I know, Cro-Magnon split as the pandemic hit. I was lucky enough to catch them live in 2017, when they performed an cracking cover of Azimuth’s “Jazz Carnival”. Kaneko went on to form Balearic favourites Coastlines, alongside Masanori Ikeda.

“Jazzy Sport Past Forward: Silver” can be ordered directly from Time Capsule.