The Arts & Culture Journal

Indie Jazz Hip-Hop four piece J-Treole journey to London with remarkable success.

We have a mild afternoon in Cambridge and a mutual love for Jazz and Hip-Hop to thank for the eclectic shimmer of J-Treole.

It was then that Mfon Essien and Ali Jamieson combined the former’s vocal talents with the latter’s keyboard deftness that started the ball rolling towards the Big Smoke and incredible reviews. Added to the couplet were drummer Stuart Pringle and bassist David O’Neill who provide a tight and unusually superb bass section. With each musician a master of his trade, it is unsurprising that they have been greeted in London with widespread success and acclaim.

Currently and incredibly unsigned, J-Treole independently released the Minor Details EP in Spring 2007 through iTunes, Napster and their Myspace page. Heralded by the Barfly (Jan 2007) as "...THE most amazing Indie Hip Hop Jazz hot sauce the UK has to offer” further success is only an unpredictable, explosive drum-beat away. 

www.myspace.com/jtreole

J-Treole – Three Point One Four [EP]

London based jazz/hip-hop quartet J-Treole have been making waves as of late, gaining rave live reviews and now releasing a groove laden monster of an EP on the 28th August 2009.

The bands eclectic take on hip-hop is brilliantly showcased over the five track EP. Highlights include She Said, a slow burning love song featuring a great jazzy beat and swirly, P-Funk style keyboards and Backyard Jungle, which has a golden age, block party style vibe and a swinging horn section.

Vocalist Mfon Essien has the feel of a young Roots Manuva, with a brilliant mix of social commentary and observational humour. His delivery may owe a little too much to the aforementioned Roots but it’s EP early days and his lyrical approach more than makes up for it.

The band themselves are shit-hot, evidently all from a jazz background, special mention should go to drummer Stuart Pringle, who lays down a power house performance, with just the right amount of flair and no excess fat. J-Treole are very close to being on top of their game and one gets the impression it’s only a matter of time before the music scene at-large wakes up to their more than evident skills.

Daniel Cadwallader