Kaidi Tatham is often envied, having been associated and worked with 2000 Black, Bugz in the Attic and Silhoette Brown.

Tatham is credited within the UK as a pioneer producer, fusing jazz and dance music, and giving birth to the genre now known as ‘broken beats'. Over time, Broken Beats moved away from the underground,  gradually surfacing to its current platform, and further creating other sub-genres, including Afro-Beats. 

This EP was released early 2017 on First World Records who have many successful artists in their artillery, including Eric Lau and Bastien Keb.

I appreciate digital and vinyl mediums and I am pleased to say this four track 12" EP met my expectations. However, it does begs the question; how does Tatham continue to meet the demand to produce punchy, melodic and catchy tunes?

This sub-genre of jazz and dance is not new, and is now well established. It is full of melodic hooks and syncopated beats. For some readers and listeners who practice jazz in the purest form, this may be considered blasphemy. However, I for one appreciate the origins of jazz, yet encourage evolution. When you can balance multiple genres in a composition you open your music to a wider audience. You have to give credit where credit is due, and the proof is in the pudding. Tatham's music is still in demand, especially the live performances in London.

Treacle Manifestations’ intro makes interesting use of open chords, creating a nice, ambient sound, whilst the main chorus leads to a jazz fused up-tempo melodic keyboard solo. The changes from the chorus to the verse are a little off-splice and appears to jolt-in at times. However, I'm not sure you would notice it if you were dancing away at a club.

Inspired by Afro-Caribbean beats, Seasoned Clouds has ‘roots’ feel; again the jazz inspired chords create nice hooks with a light synth effect.  

Chui Nui would make a great backing tracking for a talented writer and vocalist. Having said that, this instrumental is soulful and catchy.

The strongest jazz fusion-influenced track on this EP is Shims, which is melodic and has an uncomplicated music structure with a simple 4/4 time signature, like the other tracks.

Style: Jazz, Broken Beats, Trip Hop

Artist: Kaidi Tatham

Label: First World Records