*****(EVENT CANCELLED)*****
Salvo’s Salumeria An evening featuring Mark ‘Snowboy’ Cotgrove
Author of From Jazz Funk & Fusion to Acid Jazz (The History of
the UK Jazz Dance Scene)
(published by Chaser Publications)
Mark Cotgrove, aka ‘Snowboy’, musician, author, journalist, historian of British culture from the 40’s onwards and bandleader of Europe’s most in demand Latin jazz orchestra will be joining us for one night only for supper and to talk about his book, a 10 year labour of love about the little known British jazz dance scene which started in the 70’s and chronicles Black British social history and youth culture through music and dance.
Mark will also bring with him some rare video footage showing some of the countries top jazz dancers of the period.
THE HISTORY OF THE UK JAZZ DANCE MOVEMENT
This is the first time the the history of the uniquely British 'Jazz Dance' scene has been documented in such depth, 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.
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