World electronica jazz sounds like a natural to me, and world electronica jazz made by Jason Miles, DJ Logic, Karl Denson, MeShell NDegeocello, Herb Alpert, Billy Martin, Vernon Reid, John Popper, Bernie Worrell, Cyro Baptista and Christian Scott sounds like something that ought to kill. But, history has shown that there comes a tipping point when more good players does not equate to more great art, and Global Noize hits that point. Many of the tracks are pretty cool when heard in isolation—solid grooves, interesting textures, cogent musical statements—but as a whole, it fades into the background too easily. The vibe seems to be the star, and the talent is to be there to give the groove and vibe a reason to continue. If that’s the case, it’s an interesting extension of the hip-hop aesthetic, but something should emerge from the tracks, a moment that surprises or pulls you back to the album. A performance that defines the track. I’d like to chalk this up to remarkable discretion, but considering that neither Miles nor Logic has bowled me over with a knack for memorable work despite intriguing ideas, it could be them.

All that said, I’d definitely see some incarnation of this live. The live presence of the players should produce a more animated incarnation of this music.