Marc Antoine - Urban Gypsy (1995)

Rarely has an album title so perfectly encapsulated the essence of a hybrid project as Marc Antoine's smartly realized Urban Gypsy. Usually in rhythm and jazz, soul-based loop electronics back up horns like trumpet or sax, and flamenco guitar strains are left to those who can provide more Latin-styled backbeats. But Antoine creates hypnotic soundscapes both by machine, doing all the programming himself, and organically, with the help of Steve Reid and Luis Conte. On up-tempo swings, he gets the hip-hop grooving before texturing his bold acoustic precision. And his ballads allow for some clever improvisation between streams of cool strumming. A flair for Brazilian zing explodes on an all-too-short interlude before Antoine returns to his homeland for a street carnival shuffle appropriately titled "Paris Jam." All-star assistance is provided by Rachel Z (a bluesy Fender Rhodes jaunt) and Jimmy Haslip. This spectacular fusion of styles and melodic flair can take its rightful place at the top of either genre it touches upon.