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Acid Jazz

"...perched precariously amidst the second world war bomb sites, derelict buildings and culture-free zone, the club was credited with paving the way for the whole Hoxton/Shoreditch explosion of the late nineties."

Formed back in the heady days of 1987 at the start of the ‘acieed’ explosion, Acid Jazz was the first of the groundbreaking new indie labels and paved the way for the likes of Mo Wax, Wall Of Sound and Talkin' Loud…

Initially a simple bedroom operation established by Eddie Piller and Gilles Peterson, within three months of the first 45 release (Galliano’s Frederic Lies Still), the label had grown rapidly, acquired premises in London’s east end and laid out a unique manifesto of alternative club sounds – jazz, street-soul, funk, latin, reggae and jazz poetry all put in an early appearance. Galliano, Chris Bangs, The Night Trains, The Last Poets, A Man Called Adam and Snowboy & The Latin Section were amongst the first wave of label signings and they all appeared live at groundbreaking jazz themed nights at London clubs like the WAG in Soho and Camden’s legendary Dingwalls.

By ’89, Peterson had left the label to establish his own Talking Loud imprint and Piller soon moved the operation to Denmark Street, London’s original Tin Pan Alley, into the former EMI music office. The next wave of signings included D Influence, Jamiroquai and The Brand New Heavies. Chart success quickly followed as the label spread its numerous tentacles around the world. The sound of the label became the name of choice for the scene that had established in its wake and by the early ’90s, Acid Jazz was booming out of a succession of speakers from Sweden to Singapore, Hamburg to Hobart, Shibuya to Sheffield and everywhere in between. International tours followed as the label expanded through the 90′s, gradually increasing their musical influences to include daisy-age hip hop, garage psyche and trip hop.

By the mid-90′s Acid Jazz had revived the careers of legends like Terry Callier, Brian Auger and Gregory Isaacs, established three subsidiaries (Focus, All Seeing Eye and Roots to cater for progressive indie, drum and bass and roots and culture respectively) and signed yet another wave of successful independent artists which included the likes of Corduroy, Mother Earth, The Humble Souls, Goldbug and a dozen more.

In 1994, the label took the plunge and opened the first ‘non-house’ based night club in London. Based on the site of the Bass Clef, a down-at-heel and eventually semi-derelict jazz club in Hoxton – perched precariously amidst the second world war bomb sites, derelict buildings and culture-free zone, the club was credited with paving the way for the whole Hoxton/Shoreditch explosion of the late nineties. Indeed, the club was rarely less than full seven nights a week hosting events from the likes of Goldie’s Metalheads, Talvin Singh, Coldcut, Ab-ashanti, Athletico and the label’s own Magic Bus. The Blue Note closed its doors at the end of the decade and Acid Jazz went back to what they do best: releasing records.

Jumping forward to 2014 and we find the label firmly ensconced in their office at the top of Brick Lane and after celebrating their 25th Anniversary the label is as vibrant and vital as ever. The current roster includes the critically acclaimed, prog folk fusions of Matt Berry, new indie hopefuls Dexters, the soul meet the Streets stylings of New Street Adventure and ex Bluetones lead singer Mark Morriss, whilst the highly acclaimed Rare Mod series has discovered and released previously unknown works by everyone from The Riot Squad featuring David Bowie to the Small Faces Steve Marriott.

In short after over a quarter of a century Acid Jazz remains one of the UK’s most important independent labels.

Visit Acid Jazz Shop

Acid Jazz listings

Circles The Ultimate Fleur De Lys (Double Vinyl)

Fleur De Lys

Circles The Ultimate Fleur De Lys (Double Vinyl) - 2021

£24.00

Cover: NEW

Disc: NEW

Jazz On The Corner Two

Martin Freeman

Jazz On The Corner Two - 2020

£24.00

Cover: NEW

Disc: NEW

TBNH

The Brand New Heavies

TBNH - 2019

£24.00

Cover: NEW

Disc: NEW

Soul On The Corner

Martin Freeman

Soul On The Corner - 2019

£24.00

Cover: NEW

Disc: NEW

Gbeti Ma Djro' / 'Angelina II

Orchestre-poly-rythmo De Cotonou Dahomey

Gbeti Ma Djro' / 'Angelina II - 2021

£9.00

Cover: NEW

Disc: NEW

Ungodly War (Al Kent's Heavenly Edit) / Get Up And Praise The Lord

Lamont Butler

Ungodly War (Al Kent's Heavenly Edit) / Get Up And Praise The Lord - 2021

£9.00

Cover: NEW

Disc: NEW

It's Time - Purple Mountain Majesty' / 'Purple Mountain Majesty

Dean Parrish

It's Time - Purple Mountain Majesty' / 'Purple Mountain Majesty - 2021

£9.00

Cover: NEW

Disc: NEW

The Blue Elephant - Limited Edition Mustard Vinyl LP

Matt Berry

The Blue Elephant - Limited Edition Mustard Vinyl LP - 2021

£17.99

Cover: NEW

Disc: NEW

Why (The Knower) / When You Lose Your Groove

The Tom - Emmanuel And Ron Experience

Why (The Knower) / When You Lose Your Groove - 2021

£9.00

Cover: NEW

Disc: NEW

Get The Music Now / Africa

Ipa-boogie

Get The Music Now / Africa

£9.00

Cover: NEW

Disc: NEW

Circles - The Ultimate Fleur De Lys (CD)

Fleur De Lys

Circles - The Ultimate Fleur De Lys (CD) - 2021

£11.00

Cover: NEW

Disc: NEW

You Have Been Watching (Gatefold Lilac Vinyl Reissue)

Mother Earth

You Have Been Watching (Gatefold Lilac Vinyl Reissue) - 2021

£17.99

Cover: NEW

Disc: NEW

The Blue Elephant - Black Vinyl LP

Matt Berry

The Blue Elephant - Black Vinyl LP - 2021

£16.99

Cover: NEW

Disc: NEW

The Blue Elephant - Softpack CD

Matt Berry

The Blue Elephant - Softpack CD - 2021

£11.00

Cover: NEW

Disc: NEW

The Blue Elephant - Limited Edition Cassette

Matt Berry

The Blue Elephant - Limited Edition Cassette - 2021

£10.00

Cover: NEW

Disc: NEW

Time Is Long / Closer To Me

Rick Hickman

Time Is Long / Closer To Me - 2021

£9.00

Cover: NEW

Disc: NEW

Live In Tokyo 1992 - Shibuya 357 (CD)

The Brand New Heavies

Live In Tokyo 1992 - Shibuya 357 (CD) - 2021

£12.00

Cover: NEW

Disc: NEW

Live In Tokyo 1992 - Shibuya 357

The Brand New Heavies

Live In Tokyo 1992 - Shibuya 357 - 2021

£20.00

Cover: NEW

Disc: NEW

Honey / Take What You Can Get - Black Vinyl

Makin Time'

Honey / Take What You Can Get - Black Vinyl - 2021

£10.00

Cover: NEW

Disc: NEW

Got to Live / Living Version

Soul Revivers Ft. Earl 16

Got to Live / Living Version - 2021

£8.00

Cover: NEW

Disc: NEW

Midnight Rock's Secret Tapes

Various

Midnight Rock's Secret Tapes - 2021

£16.99

Cover: NEW

Disc: NEW

Dreams Fulfilled

Nimbus Sextet

Dreams Fulfilled - 2020

£16.00

Cover: NEW

Disc: NEW

Rep Pop Du Benin ‘Unité Africaine’

T. P. Orchestre Poly Rythmo De Cotonou

Rep Pop Du Benin ‘Unité Africaine’ - 2021

£18.00

Cover: NEW

Disc: NEW

Benin 'Vol. 4 - Yehouessi Leopold Batteur'

T.p. Orchestre Poly-rythmo De Cotonou

Benin 'Vol. 4 - Yehouessi Leopold Batteur' - 2021

£18.00

Cover: NEW

Disc: NEW

Rhythm & Soul LP

Makin' Time

Rhythm & Soul LP - 2020

£16.99

Cover: NEW

Disc: NEW

Phantom Birds

Matt Berry

Phantom Birds - 2020

£11.00

Cover: NEW

Disc: NEW

Source And Deliver

Lightning Orchestra

Source And Deliver - 2020

£9.99

Cover: NEW

Disc: NEW

Martin Freeman & Eddie Piller present Jazz On The Corner Two (CD)

Various

Martin Freeman & Eddie Piller present Jazz On The Corner Two (CD) - 2020

£11.99

Cover: NEW

Disc: NEW

Segla

T.p. Orchestre Poly Rythmo De Cotonou - Rep Pop Du Benin

Segla - 2020

£18.00

Cover: NEW

Disc: NEW

Phantom Birds

Matt Berry

Phantom Birds - 2020

£16.99

Cover: NEW

Disc: NEW

Dreams Fulfilled

Nimbus Sextet

Dreams Fulfilled - 2020

£9.99

Cover: NEW

Disc: NEW

Source And Deliver

Lightning Orchestra

Source And Deliver - 2020

£16.99

Cover: NEW

Disc: NEW

Life Worth Living

The Spitfires

Life Worth Living - 2020

£16.99

Cover: NEW

Disc: NEW

It's Time For A Change

Lamont Butler

It's Time For A Change - 2020

£16.00

Cover: NEW

Disc: NEW

Life Worth Living

The Spitfires

Life Worth Living - 2020

£9.99

Cover: NEW

Disc: NEW

Beautiful / Getaway

The Brand New Heavies

Beautiful / Getaway - 2020

£9.00

Cover: NEW

Disc: NEW

In From The Cold

The Prisoners

In From The Cold - 2020

£16.00

Cover: NEW

Disc: NEW