FROM JAZZ FUNK & FUSION TO ACID JAZZ:

So - almost finished the book now. A few more thoughts.

Nice to see DJ Dave Hucker getting a few mentions, especially by Mark Webster. His Thursday Night "dance dive" sessions at the Sol-Y-Sombra were complete ear openers.

The DJ Charts at the back of the book - I've never heard Colin Curtis DJ so was very interested to see what tunes he was playing back then. Good to see stuff by the likes of Ed Lincoln and Sabu in there

And Chris Hill - to me he usually meant "renta santa" or this one

user posted image

- but to see the list of proper jazz tunes he was playing in the 70's was a revelation.

Also, intersting to see "the soul station" club mentioned (the one above the restaurant on Charing Cross Road) - I DJed there a few times for Jason Jules - the chap who used to run the Wednesday night Jazz sessions at the Limelight. Whatever happened to him? Surprised he wasn't interviewed/mentioned in the book though.

QUOTE (WeeGee @ August 21, 2009 01:06 pm)

So - almost finished the book now. A few more thoughts.

Nice to see DJ Dave Hucker getting a few mentions, especially by Mark Webster. His Thursday Night "dance dive" sessions at the Sol-Y-Sombra were complete ear openers.

The DJ Charts at the back of the book - I've never heard Colin Curtis DJ so was very interested to see what tunes he was playing back then. Good to see stuff by the likes of Ed Lincoln and Sabu in there

And Chris Hill - to me he usually meant "renta santa" or this one

user posted image

- but to see the list of proper jazz tunes he was playing in the 70's was a revelation.

Also, intersting to see "the soul station" club mentioned (the one above the restaurant on Charing Cross Road) - I DJed there a few times for Jason Jules - the chap who used to run the Wednesday night Jazz sessions at the Limelight. Whatever happened to him? Surprised he wasn't interviewed/mentioned in the book though.

It's an often mis-concieved impression that Hill was merely just a pantomime performer of a DJ.
For me he was one of the very first DJ's who had a very strong Jazz influence on me.
His taste in the mid to late seventies was right up there with the very best.
Chris Hill, Chris Browne, Tom Holland and Bob Jones were musically the cream of the early Mafia A list line ups. Followed by Robbie Vincent, Sean French, Tong, Jeff Young, Froggy and Greg Edwards IMO.

QUOTE (appyammer al @ August 21, 2009 01:40 pm)

His taste in the mid to late seventies was right up there with the very best.

Indeed.

That's what came across looking at his playlist.

Interesting argument put to me last night - "Most jazz dancers aren't really into jazz, it's just something for them to show off to. Ask most of them to name their favourite jazz records and they'll struggle or mention so-and-so dancefloor jazz DJ's mixtape".

QUOTE (depressing, moany old cunt @ August 21, 2009 04:16 pm)

Interesting argument put to me last night - "Most jazz dancers aren't really into jazz, it's just something for them to show off to. Ask most of them to name their favourite jazz records and they'll struggle or mention so-and-so dancefloor jazz DJ's mixtape".

Yeah... when they sweat it's not real sweat, there just putting it on. You plonker

QUOTE (Beane the Noodler @ August 21, 2009 04:19 pm)

QUOTE (depressing @ moany old cunt,August 21, 2009 04:16 pm)

Interesting argument put to me last night - "Most jazz dancers aren't really into jazz, it's just something for them to show off to. Ask most of them to name their favourite jazz records and they'll struggle or mention so-and-so dancefloor jazz DJ's mixtape".

Yeah... when they sweat it's not real sweat, there just putting it on. You plonker

I think you're missing James' point - have you read the book Beane?

The tension between what the jazz dancers wanted the DJs to play and what the DJs themselves wanted to play certainly comes across.

QUOTE (Beane the Noodler @ August 21, 2009 04:19 pm)

QUOTE (depressing @ moany old cunt,August 21, 2009 04:16 pm)

Interesting argument put to me last night - "Most jazz dancers aren't really into jazz, it's just something for them to show off to. Ask most of them to name their favourite jazz records and they'll struggle or mention so-and-so dancefloor jazz DJ's mixtape".

Yeah... when they sweat it's not real sweat, there just putting it on. You plonker

Erm... I didn't say they were my thoughts did I?

Nobhead.

QUOTE (depressing, moany old cunt @ August 21, 2009 04:22 pm)

QUOTE (Beane the Noodler @ August 21, 2009 04:19 pm)

QUOTE (depressing @ moany old cunt,August 21, 2009 04:16 pm)

Interesting argument put to me last night - "Most jazz dancers aren't really into jazz, it's just something for them to show off to. Ask most of them to name their favourite jazz records and they'll struggle or mention so-and-so dancefloor jazz DJ's mixtape".

Yeah... when they sweat it's not real sweat, there just putting it on. You plonker

Erm... I didn't say they were my thoughts did I?

Nobhead.

hahahha

nobhead - only second to poohead. The missus' favourite name to call me

Weeg - shockingly I still need to get the book. Going to make amends next week

QUOTE (Beane the Noodler @ August 21, 2009 05:12 pm)

QUOTE (depressing @ moany old cunt,August 21, 2009 04:22 pm)

QUOTE (Beane the Noodler @ August 21, 2009 04:19 pm)

QUOTE (depressing @ moany old cunt,August 21, 2009 04:16 pm)

Interesting argument put to me last night - "Most jazz dancers aren't really into jazz, it's just something for them to show off to. Ask most of them to name their favourite jazz records and they'll struggle or mention so-and-so dancefloor jazz DJ's mixtape".

Yeah... when they sweat it's not real sweat, there just putting it on. You plonker

Erm... I didn't say they were my thoughts did I?

Nobhead.

hahahha

nobhead - only second to poohead. The missus' favourite name to call me

Weeg - shockingly I still need to get the book. Going to make amends next week

Glad you realised that there was no venom intended in that 'nobhead'.

QUOTE (Beane the Noodler @ August 21, 2009 05:12 pm)

Weeg - shockingly I still need to get the book. Going to make amends next week

Shocking aint the word Beane.

It's a jazz DJ faux pas mate.

QUOTE (James @ August 21, 2009 04:16 pm)

Interesting argument put to me last night - "Most jazz dancers aren't really into jazz, it's just something for them to show off to. Ask most of them to name their favourite jazz records and they'll struggle or mention so-and-so dancefloor jazz DJ's mixtape".

I remember Lubi telling me, about 10-15 years ago, that a lot of the Leeds dancers were really hip hop heads

QUOTE (Wrighty @ August 25, 2009 03:07 pm)

QUOTE (James @ August 21, 2009 04:16 pm)

Interesting argument put to me last night - "Most jazz dancers aren't really into jazz, it's just something for them to show off to. Ask most of them to name their favourite jazz records and they'll struggle or mention so-and-so dancefloor jazz DJ's mixtape".

I remember Lubi telling me, about 10-15 years ago, that a lot of the Leeds dancers were really hip hop heads

And don't forget house...

Fusion dancing to house music was massive from the mid 80s until around 90\91 but it still remains a largely unknown fact in some circles.

As well as Jazzers who got into the house you’d be surprised how many dancers actually started with the house and either got into the jazz later or even by passed jazz altogether

Whilst the early house was massive I personally felt the early Detroit Techno was the most progressive and similar to fusion in vibe, both contain that edgy rawness and funk - perfect for foot working\floor working.

its a real pity the art is all but dead (facilitated by rave and the subsequent fragmentation of today’s multi house scenes some of which do play tune of course but usually there are no dancers) in fact according to one article in the latest Shook Magazine people in the UK don’t know how to dance ...I guess that means we may be enlightened by ‘house dance’,of course this is completely inaccurate and untrue.

Whilst on the subject Props to Colin Curtis and Tony D for the recent night they played at in Brum a couple of weeks ago as well as tunes like Jeff Lorbrer - The Samba, EWF -Runnin , Serious Intention - you don’t know and other 70s \80s soul and jazz funk bangers they also played HOUSE music namely Adonis, Nitro Deluxe, Arnold Jarvis and Rhythim is Rhythim, to the delight of the knowledgeable and great dancing crowd

QUOTE (FDA @ August 25, 2009 06:39 pm)

QUOTE (Wrighty @ August 25, 2009 03:07 pm)

QUOTE (James @ August 21, 2009 04:16 pm)

Interesting argument put to me last night - "Most jazz dancers aren't really into jazz, it's just something for them to show off to. Ask most of them to name their favourite jazz records and they'll struggle or mention so-and-so dancefloor jazz DJ's mixtape".

I remember Lubi telling me, about 10-15 years ago, that a lot of the Leeds dancers were really hip hop heads

And don't forget house...

Fusion dancing to house music was massive from the mid 80s until around 90\91 but it still remains a largely unknown fact in some circles.

As well as Jazzers who got into the house you’d be surprised how many dancers actually started with the house and either got into the jazz later or even by passed jazz altogether

Whilst the early house was massive I personally felt the early Detroit Techno was the most progressive and similar to fusion in vibe, both contain that edgy rawness and funk - perfect for foot working\floor working.

its a real pity the art is all but dead (facilitated by rave and the subsequent fragmentation of today’s multi house scenes some of which do play tune of course but usually there are no dancers) in fact according to one article in the latest Shook Magazine people in the UK don’t know how to dance ...I guess that means we may be enlightened by ‘house dance’,of course this is completely inaccurate and untrue.

Whilst on the subject Props to Colin Curtis and Tony D for the recent night they played at in Brum a couple of weeks ago as well as tunes like Jeff Lorbrer - The Samba, EWF -Runnin , Serious Intention - you don’t know and other 70s \80s soul and jazz funk bangers they also played HOUSE music namely Adonis, Nitro Deluxe, Arnold Jarvis and Rhythim is Rhythim, to the delight of the knowledgeable and great dancing crowd

Greg Wilson posted up a video on a forum, might have been this one, with jazz dancers dancing to house in Manc, and I remember seeing some at Full Circle when it was at Queens in Colnbrook.

That Colin Curtis night sounds excellent and gives me an excuse to post this

Hope that goes well for you guys

The night I posted about has just started - will post in events section re the next one

Quick heads up...

From Jazz Funk & Fusion to Acid Jazz... to DOWNUNDER

Andrew Delaney and myself will be broadcasting an hour long jazzumentary on Snowboy and the book next Thursday, 10 September at 7pm Melbourne time (10am GMT)

The show features interviews with Snowboy & Gilles Peterson.

People from around the world be able to stream the show live at www.rrr.org.au

I'll upload a podcast of the show for people to check after the live show - details to follow.

Melbournites - hold tight for a book launch.

Big love to Ennio Styles for the plug on his show today.