The May-June issue of Acid Jazz News is on it's way back from the printers,
and once again here's a selection of the better bits. By the way, anyone
who has written to the database dept please be patient as they still don't
have their own computer yet.
Matthew Kershaw 21.6.95
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ACID JAZZ NEWS 17 JULY/AUGUST 1995
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THIS IS THE NEWS
Jazid Up
it's been a long time in the planning, but a date for the launch of Jazid
magazine has finally been set. On sale 27th September, the magazine will be
available in newsagents and all good record stores. Watch this space also
for details about the launch party which will be celebrated at a major
London venue and will feature top musical acts and DJs. Jazid gets you in
on the guest list!
Athletico Compilation
Having run some of the most successful one-offs of the past year, the gang
at Athletico are now planning a compilation album to be released in
September on the Athletico label via Acid Jazz Records. The album will
feature, amongst others, tracks such as Lion Rock's Packet Of Peace (Dust
Bros UK remix), which is currently exchanging hands for =A3150 and Dead
Elvis' The Opium Shuffle. So watch out. Promoter Alex Sparrow said 'We want
the compilation series to reflect the diversity of British clubbing'.
Sounds good to us.
Captain Shifty
Keep an eye out for the new single by Edinburgh band, Captain Shifty,
entitled Whatever You Do. The mellow, free spirited summer funk tune was
co-produced by AJ Don, Edward Piller, and is well worth while checking out.
Phoenix Rises
This year's Phoenix Festival promises to be better than ever for fans of
Acid Jazz. Hot news is that the big man himself, Brian Auger, will be
making his first UK appearance in fifteen years, and will be backed by
Mother Earth's Matt Deighton on guitar and Neil Corcoran on bass. Even AJ
A&R man Greg Boraman is getting involved, lending his Hammond organ to the
star. The incredible list of other acts appearing at the festival includes
Tower Of Power, Paul Weller, War, Corduroy, The Brand New Heavies, James
Taylor Quartet, Gil Scott Heron, Jazzmatazz II, D-Influence, Izit,
=46reakpower, Airto & Flora, Public Enemy, and Jhelisa.
The Phoenix Festival happens on the 13th, 14th, 15th and 16th July in
Stratford-Upon-Avon. Info:
0181-963 0940
Mother Earth Marriage Fever Strikes Again
Marriage fever has struck Mother Earth once again. Ace ivory tinkler Bryn
Barklam is to marry his Japanese girlfriend Sanae Handa (Ena for short) in
the paradise destination of Hawaii on July 3rd. They met at Club Blue in
Japan while Mother Earth were on tour.
'I saw her during a gig, and I was very taken by her. I met her later at a
club, it turned out she was a friend of a girl that Chris knows. I'm
learning some Japanese, though not very well but fortunately Ena speaks
quite good English. I have never been happier'.
The Young Mods Forgotten Story
The authorised biography of The Small Faces by Paolo Hewitt is the first
book to be published by Acid Jazz Records' new publishing company, Acid
Jazz Books. The book features over 140 black and white photos and 42 colour
pictures of the group, many of which are previously unpublished. Although
the band never achieved fame on a par with contemporaries The Beatles or
The Rolling Stones, their influence can be heard in the music of people
like Paul Weller, Mother Earth, Blur or Oasis.
It will be available in all good bookshops from the 4th July, and will be
accompanied by an EP of cover versions of Small Faces songs. Participants
confirmed so far are Mother Earth, Primal Scream, Gene and The Charlatans
but expect more big names to follow suit. All profits go to ex-member
Ronnie Lane, who is suffering from MS.
Sin In Eire
Attention Irish AJ fans, a top new night has opened at The Blue Note Caf=E9
in Dublin every Thursday. Sin will bring you the best DJ's including Norman
Jay, Kershaw, and Ross Allen.
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THE ACID JAZZ NEWS NASTY NINE
1. Freethinker EP-Mother Earth (Acid Jazz) Leaps and bounds ahead. Won't
fail to satisfy.
2. Clockwork Man-Corduroy (Acid Jazz) Tasty vibe pop, with a touch of
movie chic. Pure class.
3. The Best Of-Brian Auger (Tongue & Groove) If you don't know him by now
it's a must-buy, If you do, it's still an essential selection.
4. Marks Keyboard Repair Shop-Money Mark (Mo' Wax) My how this man can
swing. Dope Hammond funk, from an ex-Beastie.
5. Damn, Shit, Motherfucker-D'Angelo (Cooltempo) Twisted West Coast R'n'B
Jazz. Like Marvin, heavy on the lyrical content, easy on the ears.
6. Prayer 4 Unity-D-Influence (East West) If you've caught any of the
live shows, you'll know this is the album for the summer.
7. Shortening Bread-3 Pieces (Fantasy) A word to the wise-obtain at once.
Zenith of the groove.
8. The Rough And The Smooth-Outside (Dorado) Deep stuff, causing a stir in
all the right places.
9. Bananeira-Emilio Santiago (Soul Jazz) Fills floors across the globe.
Respect to Soul Jazz for the re-issue.
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FUNK FROM THE SKUNKSIDE
Matthew Kershaw talks to lead singer Aya Larkin about the band from
down-under who are soon to be up-over in the UK.
Skunkhour is probably not a name that familiar to Acid Jazz fans in
the this country, but in Australia they are top thirty material. Having
supported both Jamiroquai and Ice Cube live, they now have the UK and
Europe firmly in their sights.
> Can you give me a little of the history of Skunkhour?<
The brothers! Mike and Dean Sutherland (drummer and bassist respectively)
joined musical ambitions with Warwick Scott (guitar) in the rolling green
hills of New South Wales three and a half years ago. This threesome
meandered down to Sydney, where Del (my brother, the rhymer) and I saw
their first gig. I've known Michael sporadically for years, and this
invitation to jam live with them lead to Del and I supplanting said
vocalists. Ten months later keyboard whizzkid Paul Searles joined, and the
mongrel mix was complete. We've had a couple of convictions for petty
crimes on the numerous tours of this flat brown land, an album and two EP
releases, various attempted scams made upon us by foolish folk-all your
regular trials and tribulations. Now we've joined forces with Paul Cussen,
manager and Northern Queensland pit-bull, and we're hitting other shores.
> How did you get interested in 'Acid Jazz' style music?<
We Skunks aren't exactly sure what 'Acid Jazz' style music is, but groove
music has been integral in our upbringings. Mike and Dean's father Ned is a
jazz and blues guitarist of note. Some of my earliest memories are of
reaching from my low vantage point to grab the cover of things like Blood,
Sweat and Tears album 'Fresh', or Credence Clearwater, Santana, Osibisa off
the cabinet in a darkened Saturday living room. My first experience of this
label's catalogue was JTQ's 'Starsky and Hutch' theme-truly huge!
>There seems to be a consensus amongst Australian journalists that
your music is too diverse to be pegged down by lists of influences and
such-like. We challenge you to list your influences.<
I can't possibly list each of the six individuals' influences, though I
know they stretch from many moons ago to the expansion of nineties culture
and consciousness. The roll-call of seventies/eighties funk; Sly and the
=46amily Stone, Gil Scott-Heron, The Meters, Parliament, Funkadelic, James
Brown, Rufus, The Brothers Johnson and Prince. The Beatles, The Jam, Ska
and Motown (Michael was a little rudeboy), The Specials, Madness, Bad
Manners, The British Beat. Remember the New Age Steppers, Selector, Body
Snatchers? Bob Marley continues to inspire everyday. Hip hop is in there;
Public Enemy, Run DMC, Jungle Brothers, NWA. Del's soaked up Def Jef,
Q-Tip, Be-Bop jazz and more recently Freestyle Fellowship. Vocally, Van
Morrison, Tim Buckley, Marvin Gaye, John Lennon, Gil Scott Heron, Bob
Marley, Stevie Wonder, Bowie, Paul Weller and a hundred more. Not
forgetting Cheech and Chong, and slack dope-filled teenage years.
>How much is the scene in Australia dominated by
what is picked up from British labels, DJs and magazines?<
Moderately. Of course there's a scene here that is largely anglophile.
British street style has long held a periodic sway because the bulk of the
world's popular music obviously comes from the USA and the UK. However, a
cosmopolitan and individual community breathes somewhere under the impact
of overseas influence, cooking up its own Australian brew. The diversity is
here to be seen and heard.
>Jamiroquai's first hit 'When You Gonna Learn' is famous for its
use of the didgeridoo. Do you incorporate any native Australian elements in
your music?<
Apart from clapping sticks we haven't incorporated much in the way of
instruments. We've collaborated with Koori musicians on Skunkhour
recordings and continue to be aware of the lessons to be learnt by
embracing and integrating this central culture in this country and our
lives.
> You have said that you are diversifying away from the funk/rap
axis slightly, even incorporating bits of country music. This seems to be a
trend right across the board at the moment, from Galliano to Mother Earth.
Any ideas why this should be?<
Our country element is that slight flavour of easiness and good time you
might get from your country music. It's not a change of direction for us,
just another component.
>You have supported both Jamiroquai and Ice Cube live. Out of all
the gigs you have ever done, which is the most memorable and why?<
We touch a few bases and consequently end up playing a wide variety of gigs
either on our own or in support slots. The floor of a first floor cafe/bar
collapsed under the weight of a bouncing crowd on its opening night while
we were playing. It was like 'Uh....back up very slowly, everyone.' We've
had a lot of good times and the feeling changes all the time with different
rewards from different moments.
>I know you intend to base yourself in the UK. Why?<
We want to play live in the countries we're releasing in, and to bounce
back and forth from this beautiful far flung city to the UK and Europe
costs a bit too much for every gig, even being the incredible superstars we
are.
Skunkhour (JAZID LP/CD 113) is released July 24th.
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PLAY IT AGAIN BEN
Kevin Braddock gets the Corduroy Classic five films from the man
who knows...
On the eve of the launch of the new Corduroy EP 'Clockwork Man', lead
groover Ben Addison found time in his busy schedule to recommend five films
to AJN fans - blag, borrow or steal, but don't miss them!
1. Sweet Charity. Great songs, photography and one of the best
party/club scenes ever. Each choreographed dance is subtitled e.g. The
Aloof with their unforgettable 'Rhythm Of Life' with the Reverend Sammy
Davis Jnr. preaching his psychedelic message in a crowded underground car
park.
2. The President's Analyst. In which James Coburn launched the
corduroy suit and is globally pursued for info on the US President. Coburn
hangs out in a wig and shades with a hippie group and plays a gong at gigs.
At one stage he meets The Pudlians, an English beat group who go around
selling acid. Great photography and story. Essential watching for Corduroy
fans wanting to emulate the style.
3. Bedazzled. Peter Cook plays the devil and brings cafe owner
Dudley Moore's fantasies to life. Includes two TV pop appearances from
Eleanor Bron and Raquel Welch. Little time to breath between laughs. Under
no circumstances miss this one-cinematic excellence!
4. Thunderball. Connery at his best. Not too many gadgets and crap
jokes. Good plot, location and the lovely Claudine Auger (where is she
now?).
5. Pulp Fiction. This film picks you up by the throat, drags you
round the room and if you're lucky, puts you down gently. The most exciting
film in a long time. What more can a man say?
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GLOBAL VILLAGER
Things are gathering pace in the Mother Earth camp. Their new 4-track EP,
'Free Thinker' is released on July 17th. It includes three all-new Mother
Earth excursions as well as a cracking version of Curtis Mayfield's soul
stomper 'We're A Winner'. Meanwhile, the release of Matt Deighton's solo
album, 'Villager' was celebrated in style at The Blue Note. Greg Boraman
wouldn't have missed it for the world.
To say the least, 'Villager' is a quality selection of first class
songwriting, and Thursday 25th May saw Matt and his funky folk group
previewing a selection of songs for an audience of friends, press and
liggers.
Once past the lamb, rabbit and baby goat tethered at the entrance to the
club (!), we were treated to highlights from the album, Matt being
accompanied only by acoustic bass and drums. The Face have described the
album as 'the first truly post-Wild Wood album', and for those of you who
have yet to know the other side of Matt Deighton you can expect to hear
some beautiful harmonic sounds. And, yes, it is folk music, but it's
nonetheless funky and far removed from the 'pipe and pie' folk scene of
yesteryear.
The vibe on the night was as chilled as a freezer cabinet on overdrive-it
was quite something to hear so much sweet, mellow sounds made by just three
musicians. With waves of gorgeous noise bathing the appreciative audience,
the whole room was on a cool blissed-out vibe that was broken only by the
rapturous applause that followed each number. At the end of the set the
entire crowd rose to their feet in appreciation. Which says it all.
Villager is available now on Focus Records from all good record stores.
LETTERS
The MESSAGE
Dear AJN,
A quick word about something that happened last night=8A As a couple of DJs,
we were asked to play funk, jazz and rare in a wine bar in Ealing.
Busy-yes. Appreciated-no. Quote from the barman, 'Shittest music I've ever
heard'. Five of the tunes played:
1. Funky Jam (Hot Ass Mix)-Primal Scream
2. Baby Don't You Know-Bobbi Humphreys
3. Papa Don't Take No Mess-James Brown
4. Tres-Os Championes
5. Cry-Money Mark
Our message to all real music lovers-it's the bad nights that make the good
ones brilliant!
Yours,
Ribs and Spice
The Brum Beat
Dear AJN,
Congratulations to James Taylor and his gang for an absolutely storming
performance at Ronnie Scott's in Brum recently. An interesting choice of
venue, but a big pity about the corpses devoid of emotion and life sat
right in front of the stage, ie right in the way of a sizeable posse of
punters unable to remain still to the funky sounds from his organ.
Top marks as well for such an enlightening article on Benjamin Zephaniah in
the last AJN - what a geezer!
With reference to the Remix Wrath letter of the same issue, it is indeed a
pity that the only successful British soul singers appear under the guise
of 'accessible' remixes, often in the handbag house line of things.
However, every type of music is just as valid as the next, and for me much
certainly depends on the time, place and my mood. Unfortunately, for many
people music is a tool to make a quick buck, which is the reason why so
many promising acts totally sell out and become virtually unrecognisable.
There is always going to be a a strong opposition between the mainstream
and the credible, but anyone with any nous knows that any jazz scene worth
its salt offers a completely different level of culture and emotion.
Get busy=8A keep Sweatin'!
Joe Herb,
Solihull, West Midlands.
Readers comments are welcomed on these or any other issues, marked 'Debate'
to Acid Jazz News, 1 Hoxton Square, London N1 6NU, or email to
matt@acidjazz.demon.co.uk
Matthew Kershaw
Editor
Acid Jazz Publications
1 Hoxton Sq
London
N1 6NU
Tel 44 (0) 171 729 8445
=46ax 44 (0) 171 613 5266