Looking Back

Bristol's soul jazz kings The Jazz Defenders release a 2nd single this autumn as a taster for their third album, which is scheduled to drop in spring 2024. Once again, they're bringing together their love of 1960s soul jazz and golden era hip-hop (the 90s), just as they did on a couple of tracks on their last album "King Phoenix" (Haggis Records 2022). The new single sees them reunited with London MC/rapper Doc Brown, who guested on the track "Perfectly Imperfect" from the last album, and his flow sits so naturally over the Jazz Defenders music and beats, you'd think he's a permanent band member. "Looking Back" takes the tempo right down. An end of the night jam when the lights in the club are low, the last drinks are being drained and it's time to hit the road and head for home, thinking and reminiscing about times gone by.

The Jazz Defenders, led by keyboard maestro George Cooper from The Haggis Horns, have been building a reputation as a great musical unit since their debut Blue Note/hard bop-inspired album "Scheming" appeared on Haggis Records back in 2019. That release was lost temporarily in 2020 as the pandemic shut down music for a while but in 2021, their double A-side vinyl single "The Big Man/Love's Vestige" got them the breakthrough they deserved. It had some heavy support on radio from top folks like Craig Charles (BBC6 Music), Helen Mayhew (Jazz FM), Jamie Cullum (BBC Radio 2), and Worldwide FM resident DJ's Ashley Beedle and Colin Curtis. They further enhanced their reputation as a rocking band with album number two "King Phoenix" but also with sold out live shows across the UK including the legendary Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club in London.

Album number three is still being finalised but for now, check out this tasty single on Haggis Records. The JDs and Doc Brown...the perfect combination still keeping that sweet jazz/hip-hop love affair alive today.