VICK LAVENDER — The Essentials EP

Vick Lavender – The Essentials EP is a deep and jazzy house 12-inch released on MATE Records as catalogue number MATE010. Originally issued in 2022, the record brings together two carefully crafted productions from Chicago-born house veteran Vick Lavender: “Portuguese Love (Deluxe Dub)” on the A-side and “Solitude” on the flip. Rooted in deep house and jazz-house traditions, the release combines rich harmonic arrangements, warm house grooves and live-instrument-inspired textures with the sophisticated musicality that has defined Lavender’s work for decades. The Essentials EP is a particularly strong example of the musical territory occupied by Vick Lavender. Rather than treating deep house simply as a stripped-down club format, Lavender approaches the genre through harmony, instrumentation and atmosphere. The result is music that can function on a dancefloor while retaining the warmth and musical detail associated with jazz, soul and classic Chicago house. Lavender has been an active figure in underground house music since the 1990s. His documented discography reaches back to releases such as “Medones Thought” in 1996 and “PM Blues” in 1997, while his work has subsequently appeared on labels including Nite Life Collective, West End Records, Sacred Rhythm Music, Ocha Records, Local Talk and his own Sophisticado Recordings. Resident Advisor describes him as the founder of Sophisticado Records and notes that his music has received support from influential figures including Joe Claussell, Louie Vega, Ron Trent and Kai Alce. His musical background is also closely connected with Glenn Underground’s Strictly Jaz Unit. That connection is important when approaching The Essentials EP because the release's defining characteristic is its combination of deep house rhythm with a distinctly jazz-informed musical vocabulary. Specialist retailer descriptions specifically identify Lavender here as a veteran of Strictly Jaz Unit and emphasise the sophisticated keys, lush chords and organic instrumental qualities of the two tracks. The A-side, “Portuguese Love (Deluxe Dub)”, immediately establishes that aesthetic. The track is built around a timeless house groove, but the musical arrangement is far richer than a purely functional club tool. Majestic keyboard lines and full, warm chords provide the harmonic foundation, while a xylophone-like melodic element introduces an unmistakably jazz-funk flavour. Specialist descriptions compare the character of this instrument to the sound of Roy Ayers, a useful reference for understanding the track's blend of sophisticated jazz phrasing and dancefloor functionality. The “Deluxe Dub” designation is equally important. Rather than removing the musical identity of the original composition, the dub format places greater emphasis on the groove and instrumental architecture. The rhythm is allowed to breathe, while the keys, chords and percussion occupy the foreground. This makes the track particularly effective for DJs who want a deep-house record with genuine musical content rather than a track built around a conventional vocal hook. There is a sense of classic Chicago house philosophy throughout “Portuguese Love”. The groove is central, but it is not isolated from the harmony. Chords and melodic phrases continually provide colour and movement, creating a track that can work during an extended warm-up, a deep house session or the more soulful section of a late-night set. Its appeal comes from the balance between dancefloor utility and musical richness. The B-side, “Solitude”, takes a more atmospheric approach. The track is described by MATE's distribution partners as a beautiful, dreamlike journey that develops from its opening notes toward a closing passage characterised by fluttering flute. Where “Portuguese Love” is defined by its groove and rich harmonic framework, “Solitude” places greater emphasis on space, melody and emotional atmosphere. The flute is particularly important to the character of “Solitude”. Its presence gives the track an organic quality and creates a contrast with the electronic foundation beneath it. Rather than treating live-instrument-style elements as decoration, Lavender integrates them into the musical structure, allowing the flute to become part of the emotional progression of the track. The two productions therefore complement one another exceptionally well. “Portuguese Love (Deluxe Dub)” represents the more groove-led side of the release, with its deep house pulse, majestic keys and lush chord structure. “Solitude” moves further into the atmospheric and melodic side of Lavender’s sound, using flute and spacious arrangement to create a more reflective mood. This balance is characteristic of MATE Records' presentation of the release. The label's catalogue places The Essentials alongside contemporary deep-house material while retaining a strong connection to jazz-house and soulful traditions. Specialist retailers consistently classify MATE010 as Deep House / Jazzy House, which accurately reflects the musical relationship between the two tracks. For DJs, The Essentials EP is a record that rewards patient programming. “Portuguese Love (Deluxe Dub)” can be used to establish a sophisticated deep-house groove without pushing the energy too aggressively, while “Solitude” is particularly suited to transitions into more atmospheric or soulful territory. Neither track depends on an obvious peak-time structure; instead, both rely on musical development, texture and groove. The record is also a useful example of the continuing connection between Chicago house heritage and contemporary deep-house culture. Lavender's career has extended across several generations of underground dance music, and his discography demonstrates an enduring interest in house music as a musical language rather than simply a production template. His association with Sophisticado Recordings and collaborations across deep, soulful and jazz-influenced house have made this approach a defining part of his catalogue. For collectors, MATE010 occupies an interesting position within Lavender's discography. The original 2022 pressing introduced The Essentials EP as a compact two-track statement, and the release has subsequently appeared in repress form. Specialist retailers continue to list the record as a 12-inch with “Portuguese Love (Deluxe Dub)” and “Solitude”, confirming the physical format and original catalogue identity. The physical format is particularly appropriate for this material. Both tracks benefit from the extended space of a 12-inch, allowing the groove, harmonic layers and instrumental details to develop without the constraints of a short digital edit. The record feels designed for a DJ environment in which transitions can be gradual and musical atmosphere can be given room to develop. Vick Lavender – The Essentials EP is ultimately a concise demonstration of sophisticated deep house: two tracks, two different moods and one consistent musical philosophy. “Portuguese Love (Deluxe Dub)” brings together timeless house rhythm, rich keys, lush chords and jazz-funk colour, while “Solitude” moves into a more dreamlike space with its delicate flute-led atmosphere. Released on MATE Records as MATE010, The Essentials EP is an excellent choice for DJs and collectors interested in deep house, jazzy house, soulful house and the more musical side of Chicago-influenced electronic music. It is a record built on groove but defined by musicianship, demonstrating why Vick Lavender’s work has remained connected to the deeper, more sophisticated side of house music across several decades. Tracklist: A1. Vick Lavender – Portuguese Love (Deluxe Dub) B1. Vick Lavender – Solitude