Maxwell Fraser, best known as Maxi Jazz, was a British musician, rapper, singer, songwriter, and DJ. From 1995 to 2011, and again from 2015 to 2016, he was the lead vocalist of the British electronic band Faithless.
Jazz created The Soul Food Café System in 1984 as a DJ after discovering hip-hop a year before.
He first aired the sound as a DJ dubbing it “In the Soul Kitchen with DJ Maxi Jazz” on pirate radio station Reach FM London in 1985/6. In 1987, he broadcasted this sound on the pirate radio station LWR.
Tam Tam Records, Savage Records’ dance division, signed The Soul Food Café Band in 1989. Jazz established Namu Records in 1992 to distribute the band’s material as three EPs, and the band traveled as a support act to numerous acts, including Jamiroquai in Amsterdam, Soul II Soul in Barcelona, Galliano in Switzerland, and Jason Rebello in Brazil.
Maxi Jazz and the Soul Food Cafe produced and published the album “Original Groovejuice vol.1” in Deptford, South London, with Revco Records in 1996.
Jazz worked throughout Europe after the band disbanded, taking time away to work with Jah Wobble on the Invaders of the Heart record, followed by live gigs with the Wobble Collective.
Why did Maxi Jazz leave Faithless?
Faithless is best known for their 1995 single Insomnia, which peaked at number three in the UK chart a year later when it was re-released.
The two also worked together on a number of other famous tracks, including We Come 1 and God Is A DJ.
Jazz has collaborated as a solo artist with Robbie Williams, Tiesto, and Jamiroquai on 1 Giant Leap’s hit My Culture.
Frasier formed Faithless with Rollo Armstrong, Sister Bliss, and Jamie Catto in 1995. He contributed vocals on many albums for three decades but left the band after its 2010 album “The Dance”.
