Overview
Nu jazz ranges from combining live instrumentation with beats of jazz house (exemplified by the French St Germain, the German Jazzanova and the British Fila Brazillia) to more band-based improvised jazz with electronic elements (such as that of The Cinematic Orchestra from the UK, the Belgian PhusionCulture, Mexican duo Kobol, and the Norwegian "future jazz" style pioneered by Bugge Wesseltoft, Jaga Jazzist, Nils Petter Molvær, and others).
Nu jazz typically ventures farther into the electronic territory than does its close cousin, acid jazz (or groove jazz), which is generally closer to earthier funk, soul, and rhythm and blues, although releases from noted groove & smooth jazz artists such as the Groove Collective, and Pamela Williams blur the distinction between the styles. Nu jazz can be very experimental in nature and can vary widely in sound and concept. The sound, unlike its cousin Acid Jazz, departs from its blues roots and instead explores electronic sounds and ethereal jazz sensualities. Nu Jazz “is the music itself and not the individual dexterity of the musicians.” Often, Nu Jazz blends elements of traditional Jazz texture with that of modern electronic music and free improvisation, thus, the music can truly evolve into a multitude of sounds and can vary greatly from artist to artist. The style can include broken rhythms, atonal harmonies, and improvised melody. Matthew Shipp and others demonstrate styles coined as “jazztronica” or "electro-jazz".
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