> Speaking of what's active and what's not, I'd
> like to know what's happening with the original acid
> jazz artists that got this whole thing going. People
> like Brand New Heavies, UFO, Outside, Jhelisa,
> Federation, Groove Collective, the various record
> labels. What new artists are carrying the torch, and
> if there's anything left of the original spirit on the
> scene. If enough people catch onto what Remy Shand is
> doing, maybe it will re-ignite some interest. I hope
> acid jazz doesn't go the way of disco.
i think the acid jazz era is dead. it has definitely evolved and segregated
into smaller sub-genres. people got bored and so did the producers and
manufacturers of the music. snowboy doesn't do those posh songs like 'girl
overboard' and chris bangs doesn't make stuff like 'quiet boys' anymore and
james taylor (of jtq - even though he still drops the funk) doesn't make
same style of brassy funk he used to.
i think that the era of acid jazz is gone, been gone since 1996-7. the most
modern thing I picked up that was remotely close to the term 'acid jazz' was
cooly's hot box original material album on dome and I really got sick of it
quick. the singing was great and arrangements were great but it totally
felt like it should have came out in 1996 (rumour has it that it was made a
long time ago but was held back). just came out way too late when
everybody's musical tastes were changing - there might have been a fanbase
but it might have been much stronger back about eight years ago.
as for these bands:
brand new heavies - supposed to be making a new album but we've been hearing
that for, what, three years now.
ufo - still making great music although their sound is completely different.
check their new album 'v' on the japanese avex/cutting edge label (never to
be released outside of japan, sadly). great album, a little dry in some
spots but the mark murphy collaboration is stunning. of course, the jon
lucien remake is great too.
outside - not much is going on with them after their last album with filter.
they had a really great track called 'blue sky' two years ago.
jhelisa - did a collaboration with block 16 for 'find an oasis' last year
for their album.
federation - no clue but i hope they don't return. :) (i never liked
federation too much)
groove collective - i know they released an album awhile back but it wasn't
anything special - well it's hard to top 'dance of the drunken master', that
was their best album as far as i'm concerned, truly a incredibly harmonius
blend. nappy g is playing his percussion around nyc. fabio morgera does a
lot of studio work. itaal shur recently did another one-off solo outing but
this time on wave as 'milk & honey' after his whole 'big muff' thing.
abstract truth - i think they are done with too. monique bingham sings with
jay denes for the blue six. i believe she was the vocalist for 'pure' and
'sweeter love'.
galliano - well rob and valerie do things a lot. they are like a jimi and
nicole. rob is earl zinger, aquina tunebelly and whatever he decides to be
and valerie does a lot of great collaborations, her voice is a godsend! not
sure about the rest of the band. oh yeah, rob is 1/2 of two banks of four.
young disciples - can't exactly remember what is going on with jnr. nelson
from the band but snr. demus is the other half of two banks of four. he
also concentrates on his solo thing called 'numbers', check for his
excellent hybrid album called 'safety in numbers' on main squeeze.
carleen anderson - the beautiful voice from 'apparantly nothing' by young
disciples. well, she is starting to do more collaborations just recently.
'ballad of mardou fox' for numbers and 'runaway - getaway' for agent k.
that's all i've heard from her though.
acid jazz the record label - not doing much but still trying. i keep seeing
ads in the straight no chaser and they really are trying to resurrect the
whole vibe but it ain't working.
ubiquity - still around, making the best of quality dancefloor-ables. more
geared towards the newer breed and still showcasing some great san fran
talent. wish they'd issue more goodies on luv and haight but they did a lot
back then.
dorado/filter - i dunno, future's pretty grim for them. no music coming out
there end as of late.
tongue and groove - many don't know what happened with this label. tongue
and groove went in the way of the dodo and hospital emerged from the ashes.
they tried their uptempo house thing with galactic disco but they decided to
just keep on hospital (drum n bass and two step).
talkin loud - obviously still around but may not be for long.
All the best,
Jason
JJB/opSN
"I got into a fight one time with a really big guy and he said, 'I'm going
to mop the floor with your face.' I said 'You'll be sorry.' He said 'Oh
yeah. Why?' I said, 'Well, you won't be able to get into the corners very
well.'"
-Emo Phillips
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