Maxwell Fraser (14 June 1957 – 23 December 2022), better known by his stage name Maxi Jazz, was a British musician, rapper, singer, songwriter and DJ. He is best known for his role as the lead vocalist of British electronic band Faithless from 1995 to 2011 and 2015 to 2016.

Music career[edit]

Hip hop beginnings[edit]

Maxi Jazz was born Maxwell Fraser in Brixton, south London.^[1] Jazz founded The Soul Food Café System as a DJ in 1984, having discovered hip hop a year earlier. He first aired the sound as a DJ calling it “In the Soul Kitchen with DJ Maxi Jazz” on pirate radio station Reach FM London from 1985 to 1986. He transferred this sound to pirate radio station LWR in 1987.

In 1989, The Soul Food Café Band was picked up by Tam Tam Records, which is the dance wing of Savage Records. Jazz founded Namu Records in 1992 to release the band’s material in the form of three EPs and the band toured as a support act to various artists, including Jamiroquai in Amsterdam, Soul II Soul in Barcelona, Galliano in Switzerland, and Jason Rebello in Brazil. In 1996, Maxi Jazz and the Soul Food Cafe recorded and released the album “Original Groovejuice vol.1” with Revco Records in Deptford, South London. After the band dissolved, Jazz worked throughout Europe, and took time out to collaborate with Jah Wobble on the Invaders of the Heart album, followed by live dates with the Wobble Collective.

Faithless[edit]

In 1995, Jazz met Rollo Armstrong in a studio and went on to form Faithless, together with Jamie Catto and Sister Bliss. As a Soka Gakkai Buddhist, his strong beliefs and the band’s own strong individual beliefs contrast with the name ‘Faithless’, which was chosen during the writing of the song “Salva Mea“. Armstrong had asked Jazz to write a song about frustration, which was something to which Jazz could relate from his own experiences. The subject matter of Jazz’s lyrics range from upbeat to melancholic. His work covers a range of personal and social issues, including current affairs and social commentary.

In 2006, Jazz provided the vocals for the hit Tiësto track “Dance4life“. He also sang alongside Robbie Williams on the single “My Culture” from the collaborative album 1 Giant Leap.

In 2009 he raised £1,440,000 for the UK charity Comic Relief by singing non stop for 24 hours .

Jazz celebrated his 50th birthday on 15 June 2007 in Hyde Park, London by headlining that year’s O2 Wireless Festival. In the encore, he was greeted by thousands of fans wishing him happy birthday.

He performed and recorded with Faithless from their founding in 1995 until 2011. He re-joined the group in 2015 and 2016 as they performed under the Faithless 2.0 banner. His final live appearance with the band was at Ibiza Rocks on 31 August 2016.

Maxi Jazz and The E-Type Boys[edit]

In 2015, he began fronting a newly assembled band of musicians named Maxi Jazz & The E-Type Boys. Jazz provided lead vocals and also played guitar in the band. They made a number of festival appearances, including some at the same events at which Faithless were billed.

Other[edit]

On 20 October 2018, he performed on stage as part of the Gatecrasher Classical event at Sheffield Arena, celebrating 25 years of the Gatecrasher brand.

In 2022, Jazz provided vocals on the Vintage Culture single “Commotion”.

Cars and racing[edit]

Jazz was very fond of cars and his collection was featured on Sky One‘s Vroom Vroom motoring show. He owned a Subaru Impreza P1, a Ford Escort Mk2 RS2000, a Ford Fiesta Zetec S, a Ford Sierra Cosworth, and a Marcos LM500 R. He also owned a Nissan 350Z, which is referenced in the 2010 Faithless song “Flyin’ Hi”.

Jazz founded Maxi Jazz Racing in 2000 when he asked Rae Claydon to enter him in the Ford Fiesta Championship for the 2000 season,^[2] but was only able to race occasionally due to his musical obligations.

On 9 December 2001, Jazz was involved in a serious car accident, causing several of Faithless’s UK tour dates to be postponed.^{[citation needed]} In 2005, he raced a Ginetta, and in 2006 and 2007 a Porsche 997 GT3 Cup in the Porsche Carrera Cup GB.^{[citation needed]}

Personal life and death[edit]

Jazz lived in West Norwood, in the London Borough of Lambeth. A Nichiren Buddhist and member of Soka Gakkai International, he advocated the work of the Burma Campaign UK.

A lifelong supporter of Crystal Palace F.C., in September 2012 he became an associate director of the club.^[3]

In 2011, a portrait of Jazz was painted by British artist Joe Simpson; the painting was exhibited around the UK, including in a solo exhibition at the Royal Albert Hall.^[4] The portrait was shortlisted for the 2011 BP Portrait Award and exhibited at The National Portrait Gallery.^[5]

Jazz died “peacefully in his sleep” at his home in London, England on 23 December 2022 at age 65.^[6]

Discography[edit]

With Faithless[edit]

With 1 Giant Leap[edit]

• 2002 “My Culture” (with 1 Giant Leap and Robbie Williams)

With Soul Food Cafe[edit]

• 1991 “Through the Mirror / Standin’ in My Dust” (with Soul Food Cafe)
• 1996 Original Groovejuice (with Soul Food Cafe)

With the E-Type Boys[edit]

• 2016 Bitter Love / Mass Destruction EP (as Maxi Jazz & the E-Type Boys)
• 2016 “Change Our Destiny” (as Maxi Jazz & the E-Type Boys)
• 2016 Simple..Not Easy (as Maxi Jazz & the E-Type Boys)

Solo[edit]

• 1989 “Rock to Dis” (with Jamaica Mean Time)
• 1990 “Do Your Dance”
• 1992 “Summertime” (with Jason Rebello)
• 1992 The Maxi-Single (More of What You Need)
• 1992 5 Track E.P.
• 1996 “Brixton (Baby)”
• 2006 “dance4life” (with Tiësto), No. 3 NL, No. 5 BEL, No. 10 FIN
• 2011 “Where the Heart Is” (with Benji Boko)
• 2012 “Tomorrow’s Day” (with Trenton and Free Radical)
• 2014 “In My Brain” (with The Hempolics)
• 2022 “Commotion” (with Vintage Culture)^[7]

References[edit]

External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Maxi Jazz.

• Faithless official website
• Maxi Jazz Racing
• Maxi Jazz discography at Discogs
• Maxi Jazz at IMDb