LTJ Bukem
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LTJ Bukem is the stage name used by the drum and bass musician, producer and DJ Danny Williamson (born 1967, London). He is most associated with the jazzy, atmospheric side of drum and bass, and his record label Good Looking, which defined and remains near-synonymous with the subgenre.
History
Williamson was raised in Watford, England. He was trained as a classical pianist and discovered jazz fusion in his teenage years, having a jazz funk band at one stage. However by the late 1980s he decided to become a DJ, and gained fame in the rave scene of the early 1990s. As a producer, he released a series of classic jungle tracks such as Demon's Theme (1991), Atlantis and Music (1993). He was one of the first to use the amen break in jungle.
He then dipped in visibility as a producer, with his work running legendary London club night Speed and his record label Good Looking coming to the fore. A series of compilations entitled Logical Progression highlighted a jazz and ambient influenced side of drum and bass. The style became widely known as intelligent drum and bass, although Bukem himself maintained opposed to the moniker, unhappy with the implication that other styles of jungle were not intelligent. Bukem also explored the downtempo end of electronic lounge music, with sister label Looking Good and the Earth series of compilations. Some of the artists who rose to fame under Good Looking in this period include Blame, Seba, Big Bud, Blu Mar Ten, Future Engineers, and Artemis.
In 1997 he remixed the James Bond theme for David Arnold's concept album of James Bond music. In 1998 he finally released a debut solo album, the double-CD Journey Inwards. The album heavily emphasised his jazz fusion influences. 2001 saw a remix of Herbie Hancock.
He DJs extensively around the world, often under the Logical Progression or Progression Sessions banner, with other Good Looking artists and house MCs Conrad and DRS.
Selected discography
- Logical Progression (a label compilation series)
- Earth (a seven volume compilation/remix series)
- Journey Inwards (2000) (first solo album)
External links
- Official site (http://www.glo.uk.com/)
- LTJ Bukem (http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:lg09kextjq70) at the All Music Guide
- Discography (http://www.rolldabeats.com/artist/ltj_bukem) at rolldabeats