Amerigo Gazaway - D'Angelo ( Remixes) - Variations of Voodoo

Variations of Voodoo: A Tribute to D’Angelo is a remix and tribute album by American producer Amerigo Gazaway, released in January 2020 to celebrate the 20th anniversary of D’Angelo’s landmark album Voodoo. Known for his detailed and concept-driven projects such as Fela Soul (Fela Kuti meets De La Soul) and Yasiin Gaye (Yasiin Bey meets Marvin Gaye), Gazaway approached D’Angelo’s music with deep reverence and an ear for subtle reinvention. The result is not a simple collection of remixes but rather a creative reinterpretation — a thoughtful reimagining that honors the spirit of D’Angelo’s work while exploring it through new stylistic lenses.

The project blends remixes, rearrangements, and instrumental variations of key tracks from Voodoo and Brown Sugar. Gazaway uses a mix of live instrumentation, sampling, layered production, and modern beat work to capture the warmth and analog soul of D’Angelo’s sound while adding new textures and rhythmic depth. The result moves fluidly through soul, gospel, funk, hip-hop, R&B, and even house, creating something that feels like a conversation between generations of Black music.

Among the reinterpreted songs are “Devil’s Pie (Gospel Mix)”, “Left & Right (feat. Method Man & Redman)”, “Spanish Joint”, “Brown Sugar”, “Me and Those Dreamin’ Eyes of Mine”, and the short interludes “Sugah Momma” and “Cold World (Outro)”. A bonus track, “Be Here (feat. Raphael Saadiq & D’Angelo)”, appears on expanded and vinyl editions. The deluxe version also includes instrumental takes of most remixes, emphasizing Gazaway’s detailed production and his use of groove as narrative.Gazaway’s approach is marked by respect and restraint. Rather than overhauling the originals, he refines and reframes them — shifting harmonies, tweaking rhythms, and introducing new tonal colors.

His “Devil’s Pie (Gospel Mix)” leans into church-like chords and call-and-response vocals, while “Left & Right” adopts a tighter, old-school hip-hop feel. Other tracks experiment with jazz harmonies or deep, rolling house rhythms, yet always retain the intimacy and sensual pulse of D’Angelo’s music.Critics and listeners have praised Variations of Voodoo for its sensitivity and cohesion, noting that it doesn’t attempt to modernize D’Angelo’s sound superficially, but rather extends its legacy. Gazaway succeeds in creating a record that feels like an homage from within — one that deepens the emotional and musical resonance of the source material.

In essence, Variations of Voodoo is not a “new D’Angelo album,” but a lovingly curated tribute that highlights the timelessness and adaptability of his music. Amerigo Gazaway captures the essence of Voodoo and reframes it for a new moment — soulful, spiritual, grooving, and profoundly respectful of D’Angelo’s artistry.