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FROM JAZZ FUNK & FUSION TO ACID JAZZ:

The History Of The UK Jazz Dance Movement

by Mark ‘Snowboy’ Cotgrove (published by Chaser Publications)


This is the first time the the history of the uniquely British 'Jazz Dance' scene has been documented in such depth, written over a period of ten years by Southend based Latin musician, recording artist, band leader, disc jockey and journalist Mark 'Snowboy' Cotgrove.

It follows the scene's fast-flying footsteps through its inception in the powerful, country-wide Jazz Funk movement of the 1970s onto the deeply underground, predominently Black British Jazz Dance scene of the Eighties.

Snowboy initiates us into a world of innovation, of thrilling and unique dance steps and country-wide dancefloor battles to the fastest Jazz Fusion, Afro Latin Jazz and Bop! We get to see how Jazz Dance flourished against a back-drop of Rare Groove, Chicago House and even Rave, before becoming absorbed by the mammoth 'Acid Jazz' scene - which generated a world-wide explosion in the phenomenon before contributing to its subsequent decline through misunderstanding, misinterpretation and mediocrity by the mid 90's.

With an introduction by Professor Robert Farris Thompson of Yale University - one of the world's leading authorities on Atlantic Studies and Afro related Art, History and Music - this then is the largely untold story of 25 years of British Black Music club culture.

It features the music, the dance styles, the fashions, the barrier breaking DJs and the musicians, and it is graphically illustrated throughout with rare memorabilia and photos. Over 200 interviews we encounter the most important innovators and champions such as Colin Curtis, Chris Hill, Bob Jones, Paul Murphy, George Power, Graham Warr, Robbie Vincent, Eddie Piller, Pete Tong, Nicky Holloway, Gilles Peterson, Chris Sullivan, Robert Elms etc as well as most of the country's top Jazz Dance pioneers (IDJ, Brothers In Jazz, Foot Patrol, Floor Technicians, Perry Louis, Bulldog, Trevor Shakes, Paul 'Trouble' Anderson, Kevin 'The Penguin' Haynes.

Not only does this exciting story give important information on the club culture associated with UK Jazz Dance scene it also provides a vital insight for those interested in street style, Black British youth culture, Northern Soul, The Hacienda and Factory Records, the origins of Acid House and Rave Culture, Jazz Funk and the roots of the New Romantics, the second wave of Mods, two tone and ska, Break dancing and Electro and the Acid Jazz scene. Whether you are a crate digger or a student of dance and cross-cultural studies this large format, 290 page book is an essential read.

What people say about 'From Jazz Funk & Fusion to Acid Jazz:
The History Of The UK Jazz Dance Movement:

"The writing is direct, free of affectation or pretense. Cotgrove talks to us in his own level voice, drawing us in, Djing points. Shakespeare himself, who once poked fun at at Norman over-elegance in favour of direct Anglo-Saxon, would have been proud of this lad. In sum, the cultural significance of this text is immense. It is a classic in the field of dance and music." Professor Robert Farris Thompson - Yale University

"Couldn't put this book down - there's a lot of history here! A fine piece of work - respect to Snowboy for reminding me of a large chunk of my dj life" Gilles Peterson - BBC Radio 1: Worldwide + Brownswood

"The story of a culture that didn't have one look, one sound, one path. A subculture that wouldn't fit nicely into a box and too often got written off before it got written down. It's not just that I'm enjoying reading this book. I am thrilled to be reading it." Damian Rafferty - FlyGlobal

"A really incredible book - one of the best accounts of any music scene we've ever read. Snowboy opens the door to let in hundreds of voices - an amazing range of people who helped shape the sound of UK funk and jazz from the 70s to the present and their personal recollections are priceless." Dusty Groove - Chicago.