Hand On The Torch is the debut album for jazz-rap group Us3. It received much attention because of its mix of jazz and rap, using live jazz musicians. All samples used on the album are from Blue Note classics, the most famous being Herbie Hancock's Cantaloupe Island and others from Art Blakey, The Jazz Messengers, Lou Donaldson, Thelonious Monk, Grant Green, Bobby Hutcherson, and Horace Silver.

• Universal Must Vinyl Series
• Double LP 180 Gram Audiophile Vinyl
• Cut from Original Masters of Universal Music
• Lacquer cut at SST Bruggemann GmbH in Germany
• Pressing from Pallas in Germany
• Deluxe Multi-Fold 6 panel Cover
• Poly-lined inner sleeves
• Officially Remastered
• Bonus track Cantaloop (Flip Fantasia) (Instrumental Version)

Us3 is the brainchild of London-based producer Geoff Wilkinson. Formed in 1992, alongside production partner Mel Simpson, Us3 rose from the ashes of 2 previous incarnations. The first was a limited edition white label 12” release in 1990 called “Where Will We Be In The 21st Century” featuring rapper MC Honey B and jazz pianist Jessica Lauren.

This brought the attention of a (then) fledgling indie label, Ninjatune, and the result was NW1’s 1991 12” “The Band Played The Boogie.” By sampling one of the biggest dancefloor tunes of the burgeoning jazz dance scene, Geoff had unknowingly started a chain reaction. The tune he sampled was Grant Green’s “Sookie Sookie,” originally released on Blue Note Records.

London’s Kiss FM playlisted “The Band Played The Boogie” and Geoff received a call summoning him to EMI’s offices in London. Knowing the sample had not been cleared Geoff was nervous, but somehow talked himself out of being sued and into the Blue Note vaults. By allowing complete access to their legendary back catalog, Blue Note went back to the future.

“It was a brave decision by Bruce Lundvall (Blue Note President),” says Geoff, “but he made me record some demos first, to prove I could do it.” One of those demos, recorded in March 1992, was the Herbie Hancock sampling “Cantaloop (Flip Fantasia).” Exactly two years later it was sitting in the US top ten. The resulting album Hand on the Torch subsequently become a global phenomenon. It was the first Blue Note album ever to achieve Platinum status (1,000,000 sales) in the US.

The worldwide success of Us3 took everyone by surprise, and proved a point to Geoff. “I always thought there was a huge potential audience for jazz amongst younger people, and I wanted Us3 to be a point of access for them. By sampling classic jazz tracks, mixing them with beats and raps, and having younger jazz cats playing on top I was acknowledging the past, staying rooted in the present, and looking forward to the future, all at the same time.”


Musicians:

Mel Simpson, keyboard, programming
Geoff Wilkinson, samples, programming, scratches
Rahsaan, rap
Kobie Powell, rap
Tukka Yoot, rap
Gerard Presencer, trumpet
Dennis Rollins, trombone
Mike Smith, tenor saxophone
Ed Jones, soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone
Steve Williamson, soprano saxophone
Tony Remy, guitar
Matt Cooper, piano
Marie Harper, backing vocals

Track Listing:

LP 1 Side A
1. Cantaloop (Flip Fantasia)
2. I Got It Goin' On
3. Different Rhythms Different People
4. It's Like That

LP 1 Side B
1. Just Another Brother
2. Cruisin'
3. I Go To Work

LP 2 Side C
1. Tukka Yoot's Riddim
2. Knowledge of Self
3. Lazy Day

LP 2 Side D
1. Eleven Long Years
2. Make Tracks
3. The Darkside
4. Cantaloop (Flip Fantasia) (Instrumental version)

Click here to listen to samples on AllMusic.com ♫