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In the liner notes of the album
"Bosh!" of the group The Quiet Boys you can read:
"HMMM...This Acid
Jazz thing seems to have got a bit out of hand just lately.
Dead?, Booming?, Convinient? It depends on who you listen to,
but one thing is certain; no one can pin it down. No one has
ever given a definitive definition, and that's because you
can't. It's never really meant anything, it's just that people
always want to attribute a multitude of things on its ethereal
shoulders, to define the indefinable. Well, all well and good,
but where did it come from?..."
In my essay I try to
clear the fog and to show up some typical spearheads of this
genre, especially these Smooth Acid Jazz artists.
 The Brand New Heavies
are counting to the pioneers of the London Acid Jazz scene. The Brand New Heavies
are Simon Bartholomew (guitar), Jan Kincaid (drums, keyboards)
and Andrew Levy (bass). Originally formed in 1985 as an
instrumental group, N'Dea Davenport (vocals) joined the band in
1987. Davenport split from Brand New Heavies in 1994, and
continued to develop her solo album, an effort she had put on
the back burner for several years. Her self titled debut
appeared in 1998. She was replaced by Siedah Garrett in 1996,
most of our readers known by Quincey Jones' master album
"Back On The Blocks". Siedah Garrett was the featured
singer on the album "Shelter"(1997). But after this
album Siedah Garrett left the band in 1998 again and was
exchanged by Carleen Anderson. She joined The Young Disciples
for their hugely influential self titled album. This group
appeared on FFRR, the same label of The Brand New Heavies. In
2001 N'Dea Davenport
re-united with the group. What a turntable.
Recommendable for a
first survey about the group are these websites:
I didn't find an offical
website. But if you want to know, which albums The Brand New
Heavies have released, I suggest to visit Amazon.com. They have
a huge selection of all their albums including special
collections, remixes etc. Listening to some of their albums, one
cannot find a clear line. The Brand New Heavies are melting
Funk, Disco, Hip-Hop, Acid Jazz, Soul, R'nB and what else is
grooving.
Essential for friends of
Smooth Acid Jazz are their most known and best-selling albums
"Brother Sister" (1994) and "Shelter"(1997).
With
"Brother Sister" The Brand New Heavies buildt a new
platform for the Funk by mixing elements of Pop and Acid Jazz
into it. A very successful realisation is "Have A good
time". A true captivating earwig is "Dream On
Dreamer". "Midnight At The Oasis", a great song
of David Nichtern, was a chartrunner. Enumerous artists covered
this theme like Bob James ("Joined At The Hip"),
Hubert Laws, Kim Waters ("Love's Melody"), Steve
Oliver ("First View") or Martin Taylor ("Kiss
& Tell"). "Mind Trips" is a good Soul II Soul
adaption. "Spend Some Time" is a groovy dancefloor
hit. You also find at this album some reggae like "People
Giving Love". All in all many strong tunes lifting the
album on a top level.
"Shelter" was a great commercial success for the
group. Especially the singles "You Are The Universe"
and "Sometimes" were hits in UK and Germany. The album
shares the Acid Jazz evolution to smooth out the music. Anew the
band mixed Soul, R'nB, Acid Jazz, Urban and more to an
irresistible style. If you ask me, which track is my favorite, I
couldn't give an answer. Singles like "Sometimes",
"Shelter" or "You are The Universe" were
great hits and chartbreakers in Europe. The album is very
mainstreamed and I absolutely cannot share the opinion of Leo
Stanley - AMG ("There are no standout singles on
Shelter"). I give the word to a genious anonymous reviewer,
who can better describe the album than me:
"... But as the
lolloping 'Highest High' breezes on by and the mellow vibe of
Steely Dan fills the proceedings, 'Shelter' just demands to be
pumped out of an expensive car stereo while cruising down your
local high street. Reeeeeally slowly. But where will you
actually hear it? Well, if cheesy smoochathons like 'Crying
Water' have their way, at The Taboo & Stiletto's Grab A
Granny Night. But more than likely, 'Shelter' will be blaring
out of a radio near you. Why? Because The Brand New Heavies
possess a singer with the tonsils of an angel, a rhythm
section who belt out samey-but-eminently-arse-shaking grooves
yet - and listen up, 'new grave' fans - make lush, fruggable
music that is 110 per cent perfect for the oncoming summer
months. Comfortable, lightweight, airy and luxurious... Why
wear Corduroy when you can wear silk?"
http://www.nme.com/reviews/1176.htm
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