This Christmas bash is losing none of its appeal after the first one back in 2004 and last year’s ‘Revival’.

After Perry got out McCoy Tyner’s ‘Love Samba’ (Milestone Records, Cat. No.MI 55002) the scene was set for the 100mph Jazzdance massacre that we love so much. Once again, Peterson dug out ‘Magic Theatre’ by Barry Miles, which got a great reaction from the dancers but my friend’s mate said it sounded like a giant Stylophone on heat. Actually, that’s fairly spot on!

Great interest in ‘Shazam’ by David Lahm/Janet Lawson of Real Jazz For The Folks That Feel Jazz along with the usual jazz-latin-funk madness of the likes of Horace Silver, Jon Hendricks, Flora Purim, Airto and Mr. Herbie Hancock.

And the interest in jazzdance has been very strong this year what with the release of Sunday Afternoon at Dingwalls, Murphy’s own album of the year The Trip and the latest Adrian Gibson/Louis Perry Messin’ Around — A Decade Of Dancefloor compilation that was recently released on Freestyle to celebrate 10 years of Messin’ Around club night, which started in 1996 and continues at the Jazz Cafe.

The Messin’ Around album features ‘Get Off The Ground’ by Baaska & Scavelli (who sounds very similar to Janet Lawson) that was previously known as ‘The Bottom End’ and has recently been ‘found by’ DJ Seymour Nurse. You may recall Peterson got excited about the find on his show a couple of years ago and Freestyle had the good sense to release it in the summer on a 12” (also well worth checking for the B-side, ‘Floating’ for some odd modal 70s space jazz psych).

What I didn’t know was that Chris Bangs had found the original of this track (bought for 10p in Notting Hill) in 1981. He sold it onto Murphy who then sold it onto Peterson who made it the ultimate jazz dance battle and “The Tune”.

What I didn’t know was that Chris Bangs had found the original of this track (bought for 10p in Notting Hill) in 1981. He sold it onto Murphy who then sold it onto Peterson who made it the ultimate jazz dance battle and “The Tune”.

By coincidence, I also had the pleasure of meeting Simone who was a regular at Bangs’ nights in Bournemouth in the early eighties and it’s about time the old regulars got their act together (Mr Peddon are you out there?)

Anyway, back in Soho, the basement venue at Freedom itself hasn’t got many fans judging by GP’s MySpace blog, although its attempt at being the club with the most mirror balls in the world is commendable.

So it’s been another healthy year for the jazzdance scene and it can only get better with news of Dom Servini starting a night in Camden Town (8th January at Proud), you might even find DJ Gerry Hectic spinnin’ a few tunes!

Merry Christmas one and all.

17th December. Shiftless Shuffle @ Freedom Soho (In The Basement), 60-66 Wardour Street, London W1.

Links:
www.jazzcotech.com
www.Thebottomend.co.uk
www.donbaaska.com
www.freestylerecords.co.uk
www.myspace.com/messinaroundclub
Rolf Harris — the Stylophone — brought electronic music to the masses in 1970.
www.myspace.com/atpround
Bustin’ Loose Club Nite Xmas Special This Friday, 23rd December, 2006
“Bustin’ Loose club night, at the Hat Factory in Luton. We have 2 rooms of unbelievable tunes: The Jazz Room, with host DJ and Promoter Perry Louis, alongside Guest DJ Barney J. The two of them will spin those Dancefloor Jazz tunes that gets everyone moving and going nuts on the floor. The Boogie Room will bring you JazzFunk, Soul and Rare Groove, with very special guest, Lee Drummond from BBC 3 Counties Radio. Bustin’ Loose has been going for 2 years now so if you’ve not been there before, you’re missing out! Well worth the drive up the M1 from London! Usual door price is £6: The venue has agreed to a special drinks give-away between 9 and 11 so get there early! The Hat Factory, 55 Bute Street, Luton (Right next to Luton Train Station and Luton Bus/Coach Station). 9pm — 2am.
Gilles Peterson :: Tracklisting 03/04/05 : : Box of Delights
Martin Cambell — Wicked Rule (Jah Works)
Ijahman Levi — I am Levi (Basic Replay)
The Bottom End — ‘The Bottom End’ (White)
Valli Scarneni — ‘Get Off The Ground (Lambada Records)