Jazzmatazz, Vol. 3: Streetsoul

Amazon.com

The third installment of Guru's celebrated Jazzmatazz series is all about soul. With names like Erykah Badu, Macy Gray, Amel Larrieux, and Les Nubians on board this time around, Streetsoul is a perfect, breezy soundtrack for all seasons. Lyrically, Guru departs from the streetwise righteousness of Gang Starr and instead focuses on affairs of the heart. The Roots lend a typically sparse beat and rhymes to "Lift Your Fist," and the old-school heads will appreciate guest spots by Herbie Hancock and Isaac Hayes. A bouncy flurry of strings and the gorgeous Angie Stone hook of "Keep Your Worries" ensures Streetsoul some crossover success. Check the opener, "Certified," for the versatile stylings of newcomer Bilal and a funky, feel-good beat from Slum Village minimalist Jay Dee. Though the production occasionally strays into more generic territory, there's enough of interest here for even the most dedicatedly anti-jiggy. --Hua Hsu