Re: Re[2]: Quick!
elson trinidad (elson@westworld.com)
Tue, 30 Sep 1997 19:15:17 -0700
> perspective being a dj, but it's really nice to be able to mention a tune
> most people have heard (in l.a. at least) and say that it's part of what i
> play--acid-jazz is still a really problematic term here.
>
> t-bird
Um, "Acid Jazz" is still a really problematic term *everywhere*, my
lesser-traveled friend. :) In NYC, just browse the Giant Step website
(www.giantstp.com) and count how many times you actually see the words
"Acid Jazz." (Answer: 1, and that's just from a quote from _Billboard_
Magazine.) Even in San Francisco the people who are most deeply-rooted in
the scene rarely use that term; hence Ubiquity is not an "Acid Jazz" label,
but a label that specializes in, "New trip hop, turntable, electronic jazz
and groove music." (quoth their website) And even in England, where the
whole damn scene began in the first place, though "acid jazz" was somewhat
of a household word, nowadays, outside of any of the record store ads, the
words "Acid Jazz" hardly ever appear in a typical issue of _Straight No
Chaser_. Organ ginder James Taylor describes the music as, "Jazz that's
suitable for the dancelfoor." Even for the guy who started all, Gilles
Peterson, if you said the words "acid jazz" to him, he'd probably turn
around and kick you in the acid jazz.
Ironically, all the places that do have active scenes either have a problem
with or are reluctant to use the AJ term.
Don't get me wrong, I'm basically on your side as far as the need for a
term for people to identify - I mean no one has a problem with the "Ska"
music label; in fact just about every ska band in the world I've heard
seems to *proudly* proclaim themselves as a "ska" or "ska-_(fill in the
blanks with another genre)__ band". Ska labels openly proclaim themselves
as so, and all the rude boys and rude girls go to Ska clubs. Perhaps we can
all learn something by that example.
E