Welcome To The World Of Marshall Jefferson

This first volume in a series of double-disc mix albums balances one set of house classics by a dance progenitor with another of a "contemporary" set. And there's simply no better figure to start out with than producer extraordinaire Marshall Jefferson, basically the genesis of Chicago house. Though overshadowed in Chicago's DJ realm by Frankie Knuckles and the Hot Mix 5, Jefferson proves he's no slouch as a mixer. The selection on the first disc is unsurprisingly excellent, but what's really remarkable about the mix is Jefferson's intriguing transitions; after beginning with "Can You Feel It" by Chicago's own Mr. Fingers, he cycles smoothly into another classic of moody house, "Plastic Dreams" by Jaydee. Later on, Alison Limerick's "Where Love Lives" segues into Jefferson's own "Move Your Body" (known far and wide as "the House Music Anthem") and on into another Trax Records high point, Adonis' "No Way Back." The second disc obviously suffers in comparison, but Jefferson displays a good handle on the many varied forms of contemporary dance, ranging from British club rulers Kings of Tomorrow to drum'n'bass producer J Majik to a few old friends like Jesse Saunders and Paul Johnson. The first disc includes an extra CD-ROM track with footage from a Jefferson interview. ~ John Bush