Acid Jazz Records

Acid Jazz Records is a record label based in East London formed by Gilles Peterson and Eddie Piller in 1987.[1] It's the namesake of the acid-jazz subgenre of jazz music for which it is most famously known for producing.

Acid Jazz Records
Founded1987 (1987)
FounderGilles Peterson
Eddie Piller
GenreAcid jazz
Country of originUK
LocationLondon
Official websitewww.acidjazz.co.uk

Background

The label's first signing was singer-songwriter Rob Gallagher's band, Galliano, which released the label's first single "Frederick Lies Still" in 1987, which features a sample of "Freddie's Dead" by Curtis Mayfield. The label was known in its early days for putting on club nights at Camden's Dingwalls featuring artists such as The Night Trains and A Man Called Adam.[2]

In 1989 after Peterson left in order to create his own label Talkin' Loud, Acid Jazz signed a second wave of artists including the Brand New Heavies, who released their self-titled debut album in 1990, Corduroy, Mother Earth, and Jamiroquai, who released their debut single "When You Gonna Learn" on the label in 1992.

Throughout the 1990s the label also put out a number of compilation albums, most notably the Totally Wired series which covered the range of influences and sounds within the acid-jazz genre, as well as what was being released on the label at that time.

In 1993, Piller, the label's owner purchased a night-club which he named the Blue Note.[3] Initially used as a way of promoting the record label's music, the club soon built up a large reputation and was open seven nights a week hosting various different club nights including that of musician Goldie's Metaheadz label.

After the closing of the Blue Note in the late 1990s the label somewhat shifted its focus from producing just acid-jazz and its similar genres of music to that of soul and mod. The mid-noughties saw the signing of Andy Lewis and the release of his top 40 Northern Soul inspired single "Are You Trying To Be Lonely?" featuring Paul Weller on vocals. The label also released the "Rare Mod" series, a collection of rare 7" vinyl EPs from the 60's, presented in a picture sleeves, as well as accompanying compilation albums.[4]

In the last decade the label has celebrated its 25th anniversary and re-issued a number of its best-selling records such as The Brand New Heavies and The People Tree, as well as putting out a special 6-CD boxset including an artwork book and DVD. This period has also seen the label sign more contemporary soul artists such as New Street Adventure and Men of North Country, as well as the folk-rock of British actor Matt Berry.

In 2017 the label issued a previously unreleased single by soul-singer Leroy Hutson, "Positive Forces",[5] as well as releasing an Anthology of his work. In 2018 they re-issued his two most popular albums Hutson and Hutson II and produced a short four-part online documentary about him, titled "Leroy Hutson: The Man!"[6] As part of their 30th anniversary celebrations they are set to release a jazz compilation "Jazz on the Corner" featuring song choices by Eddie Piller and his friend Martin Freeman,[7] while Corduroy released their first album in 18 years entitled "Return of the Fabric Four".[8]

Staff
  • Eddie Piller - Founder, Chairman[9]
  • Gilles Peterson - Founder[10]
  • Trevor Randall - Vice president[11]

Roster

References
  1. PAIS - Cooperative Labels, Acid Jazz
  2. "Acid Jazz Records | About Acid Jazz". www.acidjazz.co.uk. Retrieved 2018-03-02.
  3. Horan, Tom (2012-11-01). "Acid Jazz at 25: 'Everyone said we were mad to set up in Hoxton'". the Guardian. Retrieved 2018-03-02.
  4. "Acid Jazz Records | Rare Mod". www.acidjazz.co.uk. Retrieved 2018-03-02.
  5. "Acid Jazz Records | We Are Releasing Leroy Hutson – Positive Forces". www.acidjazz.co.uk. Retrieved 2018-03-02.
  6. Acid Jazz Records (2018-02-14), Leroy Hutson – The Man! Part 1: Getting A Start, retrieved 2018-03-02
  7. "Acid Jazz Records | Martin Freeman and Eddie Piller present Jazz On The Corner". www.acidjazz.co.uk. Retrieved 2018-03-02.
  8. "Acid Jazz Records | Corduroy". www.acidjazz.co.uk. Retrieved 2018-03-02.
  9. Billboard, January 10, 1998 - Page 10 Artists & Music Old Calling Drws Back Verve's Callier
    Folk/Jazz Artist Returns To Music After 16 Years BY JIM BESSMAN
  10. PAIS - Cooperative Labels, Acid Jazz
  11. Billboard, June 18, 2005 - Page 20 The Indies ADA GETS SECRETLY CANADIAN EXCLUSIVE - Todd Martens
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