Italian label Right Tempo is headed up by Rocco Paniani. The label was born in 1993 and quickly became Italy’s leading voice in the emerging international Acid Jazz movement.
On the week they release Caviar Jazz (link to get your copy here), a jazz inflected house compilation put together by Da Funkie Junkie & Cosmic Girl, we talk to main man Rocco about the project.
LHM – Can you introduce the project of Caviar Jazz to our readers.
Rocco – CAVIAR JAZZ is a tasteful retrospective of the golden era of House Music (the ’90s and early 2000s), with a jazzy influence. It features a carefully curated lineup of iconic artists from that time. The project reflects the legacy of Da Funkie Junkie & Cosmic Girl’s influential club scene in Malaysia. CAVIAR JAZZ is distributed globally by LASGO Worldwide Media, a respected UK institution in the music industry.
What can you tell us about Da Funkie Junkie & Cosmic Girl?
Don (aka Da Funkie Junkie) is a law graduate, while Julia (aka Cosmic Girl) is a creative director at an international advertising agency. Together, they pioneered disco, garage, and soulful house music in Malaysia and Asia.
Cosmic Girl is a talented multi-instrumentalist who began playing the piano at age 8 and the clarinet at 14, among other instruments. She’s the driving force behind the duo. She is multi-faceted and multi-talented. Her artistic activity goes from DJing and music production to songwriting and singing. Da Funkie Junkie is a prolific music producer and DJ who hosted FM radio shows from 2000 to 2005. He has a deep love for black music, influenced by his father, a guitarist who, even in retirement, manages three live bands.
Are these guys DJs too?
Yes, they’ve organized several iconic music nights in Malaysia, where they performed as DJs together.
How did you first connect with these guys?
We connected through Facebook and they were huge fans of Right Tempo which had a big influence on their music. We became friends and one day, they brought up the idea for CAVIAR JAZZ and both myself and my wife really loved the music they proposed. So, because they are such pleasant people and because the project had such solid basis, we decided to make it happen.
What was the concept for them in putting the album together?
Each record chosen is like a page from Julia and Don’s life diary. For them, collecting records is like collecting fine wine. Each one has its own character, flavor and improves over time.
The selection and order of the tracks reflect a decade of thought and care. The goal behind CAVIAR JAZZ was to create something refined, warm, and organic, with plenty of live instruments to give it a vintage feel with a modern twist. The aim was also to ensure the compilation flows seamlessly.
This collection covers the golden age of house music, from 1995 to 2005. The only exception is the Jo Boyer edit of ‘Isabelle And The Rain,’ which Julia and Don did exclusively for this project. The original is a rare disco-jazz track from 1977.
Do you think they have accomplished what they set out to do?
Yes, I really do. Julia and Don have incredible taste and passion. Listening to CAVIAR JAZZ is like stepping into an amazing time machine. For those who lived through that era, it’s a great flashback. For younger listeners, it’s a way to feel the powerful vibe that defined that influential time in dance music.
What sort of work is involved in getting permissions for all of these records?
It’s a bit of a process. First, you need to identify the owners of the recordings and then present the project to them, convincing them it’s a great opportunity to revive their music. I must say, Julia and Don’s support during this phase of production was crucial.
What was the most challenging part of putting this comp together?
Each record at Right Tempo is a cultural and human exploration, a true journey. We aim for the highest quality, hoping that everyone who holds our records can feel the care, passion, and respect we put into them. To achieve this, we work with top professionals, each contributing their best, like an orchestra. From mastering to cutting, and from the vinyl’s galvanic process to pressing, every step is delicate and essential in creating a great-sounding record. In this regard, Elettroformati Milano, with its four decades of experience, has delivered a stunning-sounding vinyl record.
Producing CAVIAR JAZZtook time and extraordinary effort, with a few challenges along the way. But now that it’s finished, in every aspect, the result is outstanding and all the hard work has definitely paid off.
Right Tempo – We would love to know more about the label? When did it begin? What lead up to its beginning?
I founded Right Tempo in 1993 with the goal of representing Italy’s legacy in the international Acid Jazz movement. I wanted to create a unique blend of jazz, funk, soul, and electronic sounds, all with a distinct Italian style, contributing to the emerging global music culture.
The journey actually began in 1991 with Alta Voce, a regional radio show dedicated to the underground Acid Jazz scene, which laid the groundwork for the label’s creation.
What were some of the labels most important releases?
Through early releases under Right Tempo Classics, the label revived Italy’s holy grail ’60s and ’70s jazz legacy, reissuing key albums and compilations.
In 1995, Right Tempo pioneered the rediscovery of Italian film soundtracks and library music with the Easy Tempo series. This series featured iconic composers like Piero Umiliani and Piero Piccioni and became a key influence on electronic music and hip-hop artists, while also being featured in major films and advertising projects.
By 1997, the label expanded into electronic and experimental music with Temposphere, collaborating with artists like Painè (Spontaneous), Gak Sato (Tangram), Claudio Coccoluto (Lui E Lei remix), Vincent Montana Jr. (Heavy Vibes), Cinematic Orchestra (Panoramica remix), Rainer Truby (Nago remix), Amon Tobin (Hip Wagging, Foot Shuffling remix) along with many other influential collaborations, the highlight of which was curating a ‘Theresa Record’ retrospective with Gilles Peterson.
What do you feel has been the biggest release on the label?
Sorry, but with over 100 releases made with passion and love across various genres in over three decades, it’s impossible to pick just one. However, I can mention the five key turning-point releases from 32 years of activity:
- Various Artists – Tempo Jazz RTCL – 1994
- Easy Tempo Vol. 1 – A Cinematic Easy Listening Experience – 1996
- Piero Umiliani – Svezia, Inferno E Paradiso – 1997
- Various Artists – A Journey To The Dawn – 2003
- Various Artists – The Congregation – jazz alliance international – 2004
You have a few other labels right? Tell us a little about them.
Welcome to the story : ):
Right Tempo: Featured Nicola Conte’s Fez Club productions, including Paolo Achenza Trio and Quintetto X. Established in 1993 it entered a period of mourning in late 1996.
Right Tempo Classics: Established in 1994, it was focused on reissuing Italian jazz from the ’60s and ’70s. It stopped in 1997.
Temposphere: Established in 1997, it explored new sounds, from breakbeat and drum ‘n’ bass to nu jazz and trip-hop. It stopped in 2005.
Easy Tempo: Established in 1997, it pioneered the massive Italian soundtrack and library scene. Still active.
Mono Jazz: Born as a radio show on WorldwideFm became a label in 2021 and took over from Right Tempo Classics, releasing Italian jazz reissues but also producing new albums from Italian jazz masters. Still active.
Right Tempo Pro: established in 2024, it continues the work of Temposphere, exploring the dance music field with a kaleidoscopic approach.
The first thing that struck me about Caviar Jazz is how heavy it is. There are so many quality tracks on here. It’s a lineup of legends right?
Yes! It features some internationally acclaimed acts, like the I:Cube remix by Daft Punk, Mondo Grosso remixed by Joe Claussell and Louie Vega (King Street) and Janet Jackson remixed by Masters At Work. There’s also the digital-only Frankie Knuckles remix of ‘Bac N Da Day’ (Clepto mix), along with rare gems like Cricco Castelli’s all time classic Life Is Changing and Josma’s Voices In Los Angeles (Disco 70). It’s truly a timeless selection.
Talk to us a little about the artwork for the album.
The artwork was handled directly by Julia and Don. I only stepped in for a few minor changes. You can see it doesn’t have the typical Right Tempo style and that it reflects their personal touch. I think it fits the Caviar Jazz project perfectly.
What can we hope to see next from Right Tempo?
Caviar Jazz marks the start of a new series of dance-oriented compilations we will put out in the future. We’re currently deciding what the next volume will be and who will take the artistic helm. In October, we’re releasing the first volume of The Jazz Sinners series, focusing on cult ‘50s and ‘60s jazz tracks. In early 2026, the second volume of The Congregation series, compiled by Jazzcat, will be released. We’re also preparing a single release with remixes of the internationally acclaimed track ‘Pharoah’s Message’ by Emanuele Cisi and his quartet. So much to do… gotta run now! :))
