RE: Terry Callier


Richard Hawkins (rhawkins@stark.co.uk)
Mon, 4 Oct 1999 19:24:23 +0100



I'm not sure that Terry Callier has ever been marketed as a "legend of
acid jazz". The story I heard was that the term 'Acid Jazz' was thought
up by Gilles Peterson and friends because they were djing around the
time that acid house was the big thing. It went on to be used to
describe some of the groups that came out of that period such as
Galliano and Brand New Heavies but was never intended as anything more
important than a description on a club flyer to signify jazz with
attitude.

I never see myself as a fan of acid jazz as it makes me think of
Corduroy and some of the other bands of the time which I'm not that into
anymore. No disrespect to them, my tastes have just changed. However,
the term probably does apply to people like Jazzanova and Innerzone
Orchestra who are combining JAZZ with ATTITUDE as much as to Mother
Earth or Groove Collective. Is Jamiroquai still acid jazz or disco? The
joy/problem with music is there will always be someone willing to step
outside the boundaries of a label.

I know what you mean about guys being reeled out and reissued left,
right and centre. But TC was part of the scene at the start although
even he didn't know it. His records were played to huge satisfaction and
Acid Jazz records licensed a couple of them for their early releases. A
friend of mine played me 'Dancing Girl' about six years ago and I'd
never heard anything like it. Sometime after that TC played the Brighton
Jazz Bop to about 2000 people who went ballistic (while he was largely
unknown in the States). In fact it was Russ Dewbury, who ran the Bop,
who went on to release 'The New Folk Sound...' when he took over BGP
records.

After several years of sellout gigs Gilles Peterson offered him a
contract and he brought out Timepeace, a selection of brand new material
which stands up well with his 70s material (how many artists can you say
that about?). He is still gigging and still has the ability to create an
electric atmosphere.

Sorry if this rants a little but he is one of my musical gods,

Richard

-----Original Message-----
From: Shakehip@aol.com [mailto:Shakehip@aol.com]
Sent: 04 October 1999 17:43
To: acid-jazz@ucsd.edu
Subject: Re: Terry Callier

In a message dated 10/4/99 7:25:42 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
LBradley@neuk.co.uk writes:

<< "the new folk sound
 of...". >>

Yeah, I haven't gotten this one too..... He seemed quite folky to
me, not
to say that he isn't an awesome talent (he is !) or that I've heard all
his
tracks. Is the implication he's black, therefore he's funky ergo he's
the
father of acid Jazz, or is there something I'm missing on ?

It seems to me, some labels are so desperate to find new retro-stars to
release, there willing to take anything ever recorded between 1969 and
1977
and market it not only market the artist as a "legent of acid jazz" but
also
claim the group was a forerunner in the sound, as long as there are
atleast
two black members in the group. A bit exploitational at times, don't
you
think ?

What I'm wandering is when THESE groups are going to get reissued (or
have
they already) - - RASPUTIN STASH, BLACK HEAT, VOICES OF EAST HARLEM
(available in Japan), ICE (Prestige group, do a mega funky song called
SUICIDE).

Ed



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