Jazzanova

Jazzanova has made its mark for long remixes — at times, exceedingly long — for nearly a decade. The six-member, German-based collective (or, as the group’s label name suggests, Kollektiv) is geared more toward interpretation than creation, and this compilation gathers four years of its favorite works, each one an extended play on house, Brazilian and (obviously) jazz cuts. When the group gets deep and soulful, as in its nine-minute take on a cappella group Status IV’s “You Ain’t Really Down,” its legacy as a tasteful production team is solidified. A sweet mash-up of Marcos Valle’s “Besteiras do Amor” that surveys South American terrain is also a prime choice. Unfortunately, a few overextended plays on light-jazz fare weigh down the album. A trite take on Heavy’s “Wonderlove” and a Masters at Work-Roy Ayers collaboration, “Our Time Is Coming,” could have been left unharmed. As with most vinyl in a DJ’s bag, one must pick and choose wisely.