Juryman

For over a decade, the multitalented Ian Simmonds has co-operated on numerous projects in numerous capacities. His first achievement was founding acid jazz collective The Sandals. Not bad for a first, 'eh? Simultaneously, Simmonds produced the unknown but soon-to-blow-up breakbeat duo Leftfield and the equally-as-forward-thinking downtempo funk outfit Pressure Drop. In the mid-'90s, he decided to go it alone. Juryman, his first solo project, was supported by labels Ninja Tune, ATL, Pussyfoot, and SSR. You get the vibe. As Juryman he also collaborated with Luke Gordon (aka Spacer) as (funnily enough) Juryman vs. Spacer.

In the late '90s, Simmonds dropped the Juryman pseudonym for his real name and signed to the mighty !K7 Records. His 1998 debut album, Last States Of Nature, established him as a premier league nu-jazz/dark downtempo producer. His 2001 sophomore release, Return to X, propelled him even further into the limelight. "Swingin Millie," taken from Return to X, fuses classic instruments -- jazz drums, stand-up bass, and Hammond organs -- with modern synthesis, programming, and production methods. Nu-jazz in a nutshell. Fans of Peter Kruder (Kruder & Dorfmeister) will be pleased to know that Simmonds recently remixed Peace Orchestra's "Shining." Indeed, much of Simmonds's work bears close similarity to that of his Austrian counterparts, while still retaining an individuality and originality of its own.

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