JAVONNTTE Schallplatten & CDs

Review: On paper, this looks like a match made in heaven. On one side of the studio, experienced Italian deep house don Deep88; on the other, soul-loving Detroit house sort Javonnte. In its original form, "Fly Away" offers a superb hybrid of both producers' styles, with Javonnte's impassioned vocal and rolling beats working well with Deep88's Larry Heard style chords and bassline. Deep88 gets a chance to explore this avenue further on his dreamy and on-point Adriatic Mix, while Javonnte weighs in with a slightly chunkier Dub. Arguably best of all, though, is the seductive jazziness and soul-flecked deep house positivity of Melchior Sultana's impeccable rework.

Review: DJ, crate digger and Blend-It Records boss Patrick Gibin is arguably better known for his work as Twice, particularly a string of strong collaborations with the likes of Kaidi Tatham and Clara Hill. Here he resurfaces on Eglo with two tracks made in cahoots with MdCL (AKA Kiwi keys-man Mark De Clive-Lowe) and sultry deep house specialist Javonntte. "Cloud Nine", in particular, is superb: an effortlessly soulful rush of deep house bliss whose fizzing jazz-funk synth solos and rich chord progressions reminded us of classic Phil Asher productions during the original broken beat era in the early 2000s. Speaking of broken beat, there's a genuinely jazzier shuffle to flipside "I Like To Show You", which also boasts oodles of killer boogie and P-funk style synths courtesy of the fast-fingered De Clive-Lowe.

Review: Here's something you don't see all that often: high-grade Motor City deep house pressed to a seven-inch single. It comes courtesy of Brian Garrett AKA Javonntte, a veteran Detroit producer who rarely fails to deliver. He's certainly on form on this release, smartly adding sci-fi synth sounds, manipulated vocal snippets and elongated chords to crunchy drums and jazzy bass on A-side 'Abstract Love'. Equally as impressive is flipside 'Star Talk', a deeper, warmer, smoother and more soulful number rich in immersive synthesizer chords, eyes-closed vocal phrases, distant piano riff and mid-90s, US garage style Korg M1 lead lines. It's deluxe retro-futurism for those who like their deep house toasty and comforting. We're down with that.

Review: More works by Brian "Javonntte" Garrett offered up here by Quintessentials, following up his How Is Club246 EP for the imprint earlier this year. For the uninitiated, the Detroit native has worked with local legends such as Andres and Amp Fiddler, in addition to touring as a dancer for the legendary Aretha Franklin back in the day. The Private Party EP nails that classic Motor City house vibe - soulful, understated and deeply emotive. From the moody and hypnotic opener "20 Million Of The Planet", dusted down and smoothly executed mood lighting as heard on "Detroit 9" to the life-affirming moments of truth as heard on "In My Soul" that's just perfect for solitary dancing.

Review: Deep house don Brian Garrett has been blazing a trail through the scene via a huge swathe of releases for labels like Sistrum, NDATL, Quintessentials and Skylax, with this year being a particularly prolific one. Now he shores up on Earl Jeffer's Melange with a three tracker steeped in his smooth and sultry sound, leading in with the sax-and-vox-soaked funk of "Let The Music Play." "Day" takes a more sultry approach, locking into a tightly shuffling groove peppered with bugging chord chops and breathless vocal murmurs. "Touch" amps up the soul for the EP closer, riding high on a life-affirming organ line and soaring strings.

Review: The tenth release on Sebo K's Scenario label comes from Brian "Javonntte" Garrett, a producer who has been in fine form since returning to action in 2016 following nearly two decades out of the game. As you'd expect, the standard of the four tracks is up there with the best U.S deep house around. We're particularly enjoying the crunchy, bass-heavy bustle of "Vibe" and the sweet, head-in-the-clouds goodness of closer "Berlin", where jazzy electric piano notes rise above another crunchy, no-nonsense rhythm track. That said, the classic deep house haziness of opener "The J Mix" - all rolling riffs, Chez Damier beats and cut-up soulful vocal samples - is also hugely endearing.

Review: It would be fair to say that Javontte (AKA original '90s deep house producer Brian Garrett) has been making up for lost time. Since returning to action in 2016, he's released no less than ten 12" singles, all of which have been packed with high quality material. Predictably, it's hard to find fault with the five fine tracks featured on Garrett's first contribution to the Let's Play House "White" series. Check, for example, the bumpin' '90s deep house warmth of opener "Just Listen", where ascending electric piano lines rise above toasty chords and sneaky vocal samples, and the feel-good roll of "Capricorn". Elsewhere, we recommend the spacey bounce of "City to City People", which also features a wobbly, D&B style bassline, and the laidback dancefloor jazziness of evocative closer "Organic J Mix 2".

Review: Javonntte may hail from Detroit but his sound more naturally aligns with the likes of Kai Alce and that soulful, bumping Atlanta vibe. This 12" for Troubled Kids makes for a perfect case in point, not least on killer opening track "Walking In The Rain" with its irrepressibly funky groove and on-point vocal turn. "Yes House" takes things in a more stripped direction without compromising on warmth, while "United We Dance" heads towards an even more club-ready approach full of booming bass and sharp swinging drums. That's just the A-side, and with even more soul-powered goodness spilling out of the flip, there can surely be few house heads out there that wouldn't find a loving home for this record.

Review: Sounds Of The City continues to fly the flag for soul enhanced house music from unsung heroes as Javonntte joins the fray with some absolutely un-missable grooves. "Fantasy" seems to capture some of the heated romance of the Cassio Ware classic but reworks it into a fresh, bumping concoction of the highest order. "Late Night People" meanwhile heads into slinkier territory with its killer chord flourishes and tightly wound beat, and then "MRDJ" turns the heat back up with a powerful lead hook purpose-built to get hands held aloft. This is the best kind of upfront house music, oozing soul and sophistication while keeping things utterly funky at all times.

Review: Madrid-based label Mate makes a strong first impression with this assured slab of deep house goodness from Jesus Gonsev and Javonntte. Javonntte needs little introduction - the US producer and vocalist has forged a strong legacy in just a short time from NDATL and Sistrum Recordings to Skylax and Quintessentials. Gonsev has been active for many years, previously appearing on labels like Troubled Kids and more recently deepArtSounds and Altered Moods. As you might expect then, the vibe is heartfelt and mature on this 12", not least when the two team up for the bumping "Feel The Beat In The Air".

Review: The latest joint on Minneapolis Exchange welcomes Detroit house master Javonntte on one side, and Minneapolis' Lowry Boys on the flip. Javonntte is on impeccable form, unfurling his cool and smoky strain of soul on "Say it" and amping up the emotion with the heartfelt "Tears". "Acid House" isn't quite a jacker, but more of a curious diversion into deep house with a 303 undercurrent. Lowry Boys' "Minneapolis Funk" is a blunted bumper - packing loads of swing but keeping the chord hook submerged. "Shag Carpets" is a sweet, piano-sprinkled delight, and "Pure Uncut Acapella" gives you the vocal sample from "Minneapolis Funk" to drop in wherever you want to.

Review: Spanish label Mate are back with more excellent house cuts from different corners of the scene. The endlessly prolific Javonntte is in control on the A side, sounding as iconic as ever with the rousing thump of "Quantom". "Mr DJ" is a more soulful track with a catchy vocal hook you'll be humming to yourself for weeks after hearing it. On the flipside, Simon Garcia's The Blaxploited Orchestra is in heavy edit mode on "Ready To Go", bringing a full-frequency funk and sizzling house drums to the fore with a classic sample or two. "Explicit" has a lower tempo, allowing even more space to sink into the pocket and feel the groove from start to finish.

Review: ***B-STOCK: Sleeve damaged but otherwise in excellent condition***


REPRESS ALERT: After a strong opening bout, Chubby! steps back in the ring with more quality-assured deep house roundhouses from heavyweight prize fighters. Trinidadian Deep did such a fine job on the first Chubby! they've invited him back to unfurl a transcendent wooze of tumbling percussion and heady organ tones. Vincent Floyd steps up on remix duties, turning "Rebel Fract" into a more sharply rendered strutter buoyed by the original's radiant synths. Detroit don Javonntte drops in on the B side with the utterly classy "Jazzy Day", which funks and bumps with an unmistakable Motor City ruffness and some gorgeous melodic flexing over the top. Patrice Scott then steps in for a remix that finds the veteran producer wriggling into a stunning house shuffle with a piano line to die for.