JCR: Classen Collective

Classen Collective feat. Corinna Joseph
mixes by King Kooba, Universal Funk

Side A:
"New Born" Universal Funk Remix (8:00)
"New Born" Universal Funk Beats (3:33)

Side B:
"New Born" Original (7:16)
"New Born" King Kooba Remix (7:16)

After their successful debut E.P. last year Classen Collective are back with another superb 12" introducing singer Corinna Joseph.
The track "New Born" , inspired by Uschi's newly born baby, is once again a highly jazz-influenced house track, which has plenty of vibe, deepness and groove. The Original version includes a nice piano melody, beautiful-warm female vocals by Corinna Joseph, and funky breaks. This is something for the late-night lounge session. The mix by Universal Funk, alias Tonny Svensson, one part of the Classen Collective, is far more beat oriented, perfect for the open minded dance floor, but still as deep and playful as the original. Tonny Svensson already released two superb 12" on Svek Records under the name of Universal Funk. King Kooba, the main act of the British label Second Skin Records, who recently released a new album, deliver the second remix. Originally coming from downbeat / leftfied circles, this time King Kooba surprise with a straight house version, that works best on the dance floor, keeping the nice sax solo and the warm vocals in the track.

Classen Collective

Side A:
"Close To Greatness" Deep Joy Mix (8:12),
"Close To Greatness" Who Took Away The Funk Mix (5:57)

Side B:
"Close To Greatness" Original Mix (7:15)

Classen Collective is the fruit bearing union of Uschi Classen’s skills as a composer with Tonny Svensson’s creative output as a DJ and producer.

Uschi Classen, head of the Collective, has been involved in a multitude of influential projects during her career. The talented composer has been working together with the well-respected Ballistic Brothers and the Black Science Orchestra, where she picked up Mark Woolford as engineer and mixer for Classen Collective. Moreover highly reputed acts such as Ashley Beedle, Maria Nayler or Andrea Parker made use of her impressive writing skills. Even Channel 4 commissioned her with the soundtrack for "High 5”, an extreme sports programme.

Besides the ambitious support as a composer and performer she has given to several artists a number of interesting remix versions rank among her projects. When doing the remixes she didn’t shrink from a musical diversity that covers a wide range from British Indie Rock to Black Music and R’n B. So a series of totally different acts left their songs to Uschi Classen, among them Innercity, British teenie idols East 17, Terence Trent D’Arby, Urban Species, the Manic Street Preachers, Olive, Freakpower, Gabrielle or Jodeci.

Together with Danish DJ and producer Tonny Svensson and Mark Woolford, member of the Ballistic Brothers and the Black Science Orchestra she founded the Jazz-Funk oriented Classen Collective, whose uplifting track "Close To Greatness” has successfully been tested on the dance floors of numerous clubs by London based DJs such as Gilles Peterson, Ross Allen and Ashley Beedle.

Like Uschi, Tonny –as well- can fall back on a large spectre of musical experience. With his different projects he has been pursuing various styles: from conventional House to the driving vibes of Big Beat and Electro. Especially the innovative sounds of Gada-Gong, a project he had formed together with producer friend Kenneth Christensen, turned out as refreshing experiments on the various compilations where they has appeared. Besides two other projects, Skyline and Universal Funk, the Classen Collective can be regarded as one of his successful escapades into the fields of Jazz, House and Funk.

Press Quotes

"Uschi's done it right 4-U"
XLR8R (USA)

"Soppy, smooth and pretty house that feels purpose built for a hazy afternoon party. ...it also gets jazzy with those airy George Benson ‘this is sophisiticated music' licks."
7 Magazine, June 2nd 99

"This is just pure laid-back sex on a groove."
Fluid, 6/99

"A great summer disco record..."
London Magazine for the Japanese Community, 5/99

"The mulit-talented Uschi Classen and Co-horts, Mark Woolford and Tonny Svensson, team up for some serious New World jazz business on a stunning three tracker for the superb Jazzanova."
Wax, 6/99

"The ... shimmering deep jazz blast ‘Close to Greatness' is already picking up props in all the right circles for its ace retro Original workout on Germany's Jazzanova-Compost."
Blues & Soul, 5/99

"... what you get is a funky club-house groove that's big on basslines, vocals and live instruments. Add to that a deeper, mellow version and a jazzier break version and you've got a quite tasty twelve indeed."
Muzik, 7/99

Classen Collective sound samples:

Classen Collective - Close To Greatness (Deep Joy Mix)



	JCR 012 - New Born E.P. - 12" Classen Collective feat. Corinna Joseph mixes by King Kooba, Universal Funk Side A: "New Born" Universal Funk Remix (8:00) "New Born" Universal Funk Beats (3:33) Side B: "New Born" Original (7:16) "New Born" King Kooba Remix (7:16) After their successful debut E.P. last year Classen Collective are back with another superb 12" introducing singer Corinna Joseph. The track "New Born" , inspired by Uschi's newly born baby, is once again a highly jazz-influenced house track, which has plenty of vibe, deepness and groove. The Original version includes a nice piano melody, beautiful-warm female vocals by Corinna Joseph, and funky breaks. This is something for the late-night lounge session. The mix by Universal Funk, alias Tonny Svensson, one part of the Classen Collective, is far more beat oriented, perfect for the open minded dance floor, but still as deep and playful as the original. Tonny Svensson already released two superb 12" on Svek Records under the name of Universal Funk. King Kooba, the main act of the British label Second Skin Records, who recently released a new album, deliver the second remix. Originally coming from downbeat / leftfied circles, this time King Kooba surprise with a straight house version, that works best on the dance floor, keeping the nice sax solo and the warm vocals in the track. JCR 009 - Close To Greatness EP - 12" Classen Collective Side A: "Close To Greatness" Deep Joy Mix (8:12), "Close To Greatness" Who Took Away The Funk Mix (5:57) Side B: "Close To Greatness" Original Mix (7:15) Classen Collective is the fruit bearing union of Uschi Classen’s skills as a composer with Tonny Svensson’s creative output as a DJ and producer. Uschi Classen, head of the Collective, has been involved in a multitude of influential projects during her career. The talented composer has been working together with the well-respected Ballistic Brothers and the Black Science Orchestra, where she picked up Mark Woolford as engineer and mixer for Classen Collective. Moreover highly reputed acts such as Ashley Beedle, Maria Nayler or Andrea Parker made use of her impressive writing skills. Even Channel 4 commissioned her with the soundtrack for "High 5”, an extreme sports programme. Besides the ambitious support as a composer and performer she has given to several artists a number of interesting remix versions rank among her projects. When doing the remixes she didn’t shrink from a musical diversity that covers a wide range from British Indie Rock to Black Music and R’n B. So a series of totally different acts left their songs to Uschi Classen, among them Innercity, British teenie idols East 17, Terence Trent D’Arby, Urban Species, the Manic Street Preachers, Olive, Freakpower, Gabrielle or Jodeci. Together with Danish DJ and producer Tonny Svensson and Mark Woolford, member of the Ballistic Brothers and the Black Science Orchestra she founded the Jazz-Funk oriented Classen Collective, whose uplifting track "Close To Greatness” has successfully been tested on the dance floors of numerous clubs by London based DJs such as Gilles Peterson, Ross Allen and Ashley Beedle. Like Uschi, Tonny –as well- can fall back on a large spectre of musical experience. With his different projects he has been pursuing various styles: from conventional House to the driving vibes of Big Beat and Electro. Especially the innovative sounds of Gada-Gong, a project he had formed together with producer friend Kenneth Christensen, turned out as refreshing experiments on the various compilations where they has appeared. Besides two other projects, Skyline and Universal Funk, the Classen Collective can be regarded as one of his successful escapades into the fields of Jazz, House and Funk. Press Quotes "Uschi's done it right 4-U" XLR8R (USA) "Soppy, smooth and pretty house that feels purpose built for a hazy afternoon party. ...it also gets jazzy with those airy George Benson ‘this is sophisiticated music' licks." 7 Magazine, June 2nd 99 "This is just pure laid-back sex on a groove." Fluid, 6/99 "A great summer disco record..." London Magazine for the Japanese Community, 5/99 "The mulit-talented Uschi Classen and Co-horts, Mark Woolford and Tonny Svensson, team up for some serious New World jazz business on a stunning three tracker for the superb Jazzanova." Wax, 6/99 "The ... shimmering deep jazz blast ‘Close to Greatness' is already picking up props in all the right circles for its ace retro Original workout on Germany's Jazzanova-Compost." Blues & Soul, 5/99 "... what you get is a funky club-house groove that's big on basslines, vocals and live instruments. Add to that a deeper, mellow version and a jazzier break version and you've got a quite tasty twelve indeed." Muzik, 7/99 Classen Collective sound samples: Classen Collective - Close To Greatness (Deep Joy Mix)