Jimpster
The son of Shakatak’s drummer, Jamie Odell has run Freerange Records since 1996 and released deep house as Jimpster for nearly three decades.
- British producer and DJ Jamie Odell, from Braintree, Essex.
- Started Freerange Records in 1996; runs it and Delusions of Grandeur with Tom Roberts.
- Albums include Amour (2006), Porchlight and Rocking Chairs (2013) and Silent Stars (2017).
Jimpster has been releasing music since the mid-1990s, and running a label for just as long. Jamie Odell’s Freerange began with jazz-tinged downtempo and moved into club-friendly deep house.
A drummer’s son
Odell is the son of Roger Odell, drummer of the jazz-funk band Shakatak. His early records mixed jungle, acid jazz and electronica. His first albums came out on other labels: Martian Arts (1997) on Instinct Ambient, then Messages from the Hub (1999) and Domestic Science (2002) on Kudos. From 2002 to 2007 he also played in The Bays, a live electronica band.
Freerange
He started the London-based Freerange Records in 1996, with his own music as Jimpster and Audiomontage on the first releases. The label’s early sound leaned on downtempo and jazz; by its tenth year XLR8R described a shift to more club-friendly deep house, with artists such as Stateless, Hanna, Trevor Loveys and Switch. The collapse of its main distributor, Ideal, nearly closed it. “We, as well as the artists, lost a lot of money,” Odell said. Freerange survived, and DJ Mag named it Best British Label in 2007. With Tom Roberts he also runs the sister label Delusions of Grandeur, home to his Forever and a Day (2010) and Painted Lady (2014) EPs.
The deep house years
His own output moved with the label: Amour (2006) on Freerange, “Square Up” (2006) on Buzzin’ Fly, then “Dangly Panther” (2008) and “Sleeper” (2009). In 2010 he won two Beatport awards, Best Deep House Producer and Best Deep House Remix. Porchlight and Rocking Chairs (2013) was his first studio album since Amour. Freerange marked twenty years in 2016, including a collaborative EP with Kuniyuki. Silent Stars followed in May 2017, a nocturnal deep house album with vocals from Florence Rawlings, Khalil Anthony and Jinadu.
In the mix
His productions suit long, warm sets: jazz-inflected chords, careful grooves, vocals used sparingly. He has also remixed Bob Marley’s “400 Years”. For more deep house from the same years, read about Motor City Drum Ensemble and Dixon.
FAQ
Who is Jimpster?
Jimpster is Jamie Odell, a British producer and DJ from Braintree, Essex, who runs Freerange Records. He has also recorded as Audiomontage and Franc Spangler.
When was Freerange Records founded?
In 1996. Odell runs it with Tom Roberts, alongside the sister label Delusions of Grandeur. DJ Mag named Freerange Best British Label in 2007.
Is Jimpster related to Shakatak?
Yes. His father, Roger Odell, is the drummer of the jazz-funk band Shakatak.
