RE: What Is "Acid-Jazz"???

Mark Allerton (MAllerton@img.seagatesoftware.com)
Mon, 20 Jul 1998 03:41:33 -0700

About the only bit of that I'd disagree with is the bit about "Northern
Soul", which as it's name suggests was, umm... a northern thing. People
like Gilles P. and Norman Jay came from a London jazz funk & soul scene
that was (as far I can tell - you'll have you'll have to take my London
bias into account) a bit more eclectic. "Northern Soul" was a term which
I'd occasionally see while reading Blues & Soul, but that was the _only_
place I'd see it. I'm not suggesting there's no influence, but it's not
that direct.

-----Original Message-----
From: Rick Martinez [mailto:dopejazz@webtv.net]
Sent: Monday, July 20, 1998 9:28 AM
To: Patrick Saunders; acid-jazz@ucsd.edu
Subject: Re: What Is "Acid-Jazz"???

I'd have to say it all goes back to the Nothern Soul scene, where UK
youth were getting into Soul music of the 60's/70's and throwing
all-niters at warehouss, rec. centers, and dancehalls circa late 70's
early 80's. Dj's like Dr. Bob Jones, Norman Jay, Keb Darge, and more
notably Gilles Peterson starting to do club nights where the mixture of
60's soul jazz, 70's rare jazz, funk, soul, and Latin/Brazil sounds were
spun to frenzic groovy dancers. That was in the mid- 80's when rare
groove parties were all the rage. Gilles Peterson started to do pirate
radio and these old funky & groovy tunes influenced a whole new
generation. Bands started to emerge in the late 80's with the similar
style of their influences. Around 88-89 the Acid-House scene was blowing
up in Manchester & London, and Gilles saw this and thought of a clever
name for his new label (w/ Eddie Pillar). He called Acid Jazz and bands
such as Cordouroy, Brand New Heavies, Mother Earth, James Taylor
Quartet, Galliano, and Jamiroquai were bands who appeared on their
label. He split from Eddie Pillar and started Talking Loud where Young
Disciples, U.F.O., Galliano, Omar, The Roots, and many others have
appeared on. In the early 90's hip hoppers ie. Guru (of Gangstarr0, A
Tribe Called quest, Digable Planets, and De La Soul came over and saw
the big jazz ressurgence happening over in England and grooved off it
too. Acid Jazz got too big too soon by '94-'95 and it kinda went
mainstream, so to speak. The same people that started this revival were
one step ahead, instead of seeing the majors steal it away they searched
for new and unusual sounds such as Kruder & Dorfmiester (Austria),
Massive Attack, Portishead, Dj Krush, Masters At Work (Nu Yorican Soul),
Goldie, 4 Hero, Roni Size, Kid Loops, Alex Reece, Wax Doctor, Jhelisa,
Coldcut, Wise Guys, and labels ie MoWax, Ninja Tune, Dorado/ Filter,
Wall of Sound, Cup of Tea, and the drum & bass of Metalheadz, Moving
Shadow, Reinforced, Renegade, Creative Source, and Looking Good, They
all got fused in Dj's sets all over the world. I wouldn't call it acid
jazz, more like freestyle jazz!!!!?!!? Anyways that's my interpertation
of it. Hope you all enjoyed it.

To find out more about Rare Groove and Drum & Bass, check my Hip Joint
site outta Phoenix, AZ.

DJ Essential: The Hip Joint Website
http://sony.inergy.com/HipJoint
Dope Jazz Recordings/ Soulution Network
FUNKTION: Rare Groove, House,Future Funk, and Drum & Bass (July 17 th)
Fridays (except in Aug. when Studio will have the 2nd Friday) @ Higher
Ground Cafe, Tempe. Az USA