Jazze Pha的第一張專輯──1990年的Rising to the Top

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沒錯，2001年開始以上述為slogan的Jazze Pha所製作的歌曲便開始大量的充斥在黑人流行樂界，和幾乎同時期的Lil' Jon成為兩個以呼口號賺大錢的吸金機器人。

大多數人對Jazze Pha的印象停留在他幫Nelly、Lil' Wayne、Murphy Lee、T.I.、Ciara等南岸嘻哈音樂，但耳朵靈敏一點的人可能會注意到，Jazze Pha在2003年幫Ruben Studdrad的Soulful專輯製作了幾首歌曲，再往前推一點，2002年Aaliyah的I Care 4 U專輯，2000年Changing Faces的Visit Me專輯與Rasheeda的Dirty South專輯；再推到1999年Dave Hollister從BLACKstreet單飛後的第一張專輯的Ghetto Hymns，再推推推，推到1998年TQ的They Never Saw Me Comin'專輯。以上所列的大概都是以R&B為基調的藝人與專輯，這指出兩個現象：

一、從2003年之後，Jazze Pha把製作重心擺到HipHop上頭。
二、其實Jazze Pha似乎有作靈騷音樂的能力。

聽黑人音樂的必備選項之一是「好奇心」，Jazze Pha很明顯的不是這位大個子的本名，從一些歌曲的詞曲者欄位可以發現，有個叫P. Alexander或Phalon Alexander的人可能是我們尋找的對象，於是乎有了個好的開始：咱們從Phalon這個名字下手。

線索一：http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jazze_Pha
這裡我們可以瞭解Phalon和Jazze Pha之間的關聯。很有趣的地方是，原來Phalon的父親是70年代Stax唱片的大團the Bar-Kays貝斯手James Alexander，喔，越來越接近Jazze Pha能夠製作R&B的那個已經髒掉的引線，所以線索二就顯得特別珍貴。

線索二：Jazze Pah & Cee-Lo
Jazze Pha & Cee-Lo兩個大個子最近合作了一首單曲Happy Hour，在一個宣傳訪問中，Jazze Pha將Phalon Alexander的故事給說了出來：
http://atlanta.creativeloafing.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A21393
節錄這篇訪問值得注意的地方

Far from random and anonymous, Jazze Pha's beats unmistakably carry his imprint. They are usually elegant and plush, evoking playalistic sounds of early '80s funk and R&B like Eumir Deodato's work with Kool & the Gang on "Ladies Night" and "Too Hot." While slightly derivative of R. Kelly's "Step in the Name of Love," Jazze Pha's beat for David Banner's "Touchin'" single sways with a grace all its own. The same combination of easy, open drum patterns and finely strummed bass licks can be found on T.I.'s "Let's Get Away" and Ludacris' "Area Codes."
（Bass licks，這應該來自他父親的影響）

Jazze Pha's freshness as a hip-hop personality belies his years of musical experience. Born Phalon Alexander, he's the son of James Alexander, bassist for Memphis soul veterans the Bar-Kays. In addition to scoring two decades worth of its own R&B and funk hits, that group (along with Booker T. and the MGs) created Stax Records' famous Memphis sound, and backed Isaac Hayes and Otis Redding on those singers' classic recordings.

"I was really raised by mother," says Jazze Pha. "My pops, he was out there doing his thing, putting it down. They separated, and they weren't together. I saw him when I could. I saw him more when I was older. I think every kid wants to see his dad. But he was out there doing his thing.

"My dad used to bring me here [to Atlanta] for the Jack the Rapper convention every year," he continues. At one convention in the late '80s, he met future urban icons like Sean "Puffy" Combs, who had just begun his legendary stint as an executive at Uptown Records. "When I was a young cat, I was like, 'I'm going to move out there," he says. And he did in 1993.

Besides some teenage gigs building roofs in California, where he and his mother relocated after the divorce, Jazze Pha hasn't had a job outside of the record industry, much less a regular 9-to-5 gig. By the age of 21, he already had a deal with Elektra Records as an R&B singer. A debut album, Rising to the Top, appeared under Phalon in 1990, but it sold poorly.

The label dropped him. "I was crushed in the beginning, like anybody would be," he says. "You know, when you call somebody and say, 'I have a record deal,' that's kinda big. But I got over it quick."

Shortly after, Jazze Pha had an epiphany when he bought a drum machine. On his solo album, he says, he often dictated the arrangements he wanted to his producers, but didn't get any credit for his contributions. "Once I started touching the equipment, I realized, 'Oh, OK. I don't need five people to make a song. I can make the song myself.'" Besides, Rising to the Top's lack of success discouraged him from pursuing another deal as a singer. "I wanted to get paid," he says. "I knew I could do beats." So he decided to remake himself as a producer.

Perhaps Jazze Pha is still figuring out what the album's true concept will be. If Ciara evokes teenage glamour, then what will his album, his first shot at headliner stardom since that Phalon album dropped more than 15 years ago, represent? What will its image be?

（Blowup！Jazze Pha真的出過一張唱片！）

現在正式進入主題

1990年，Jazze Pha於Elektra唱片發行了首張也是迄今的惟一一張專輯，Rising to the Top。這張唱片完全是一張R&B唱片，而且是充滿New Jack Swing曲風的動感唱片，假如不是唱片封面斗大的PHALON紅字，我想這是一張吸引不了人的普通光碟片。翻開專輯內頁，Phalon參與了這張專輯絕大部分工作，九首歌曲很有質感的串連出一個動靜皆宜的聽覺意象，而且從第七首歌Jazze's Thing和第九首歌Dance Floor of Lift (Jazze's House)透露出後來Phalon變成Jazze Pha的前因。

所以囉，年輕的Phalon Alexander和現在的Jazze Pha簡直是完全不同的兩個人，無論是唱片風格和體型，而萬中選一的相同處，就是這「兩人」都展現了製作唱片的能力。


誠如它自己所說，假如Phalon沒有失敗，Jazza Pha就不會誕生，可是難保成功的Phalon不會是另一個Teddy Riley呢？現在的Jazze Pha將自己搞成hit maker，聽到他18年前的專輯，會不會給人有「啊怎麼差那麼多」的驚嘆呢？

但Jazze Pha到底是1975年出生還是1990年時為21歲？上文中的兩個網站又給了我們另一個funny trivia。

Phalon - Rising to the Top (1990)

01 Rising to the Top
02 Don't Cha Wanna
03 Ready or Not
04 Dance Floor of Life
05 Fall into the Groove
06 Just 'N' Time
07 Jazze's Thing
08 Go Pinto
09 Dance Floor of Life (Jazze's House)