Brick – Sister Twister [1976] April 13, 2012

Cracking funk marathon from Brick, taken from their very first album “Good High”. Nothing but huge amounts of bassline, horns and twangy lead guitar business, seriously monstrous funk business.

Earl Grey – The Lick [1995] February 14, 2012

What a corker this track is. I had it on “Future Funk” (Its still in the Garage Dad!) a bloody excellent album of DnB and downtempo classics amongst other things. This is most definitely one of the stand out tracks on there, one of a core few really top shelf jazzy “Intelligent” Drum & Bass tunes. The track didnt really see a whole lot of club play, I think I heard it a few times in the chill out lounge at Goodbye Cruel World but for the most part, this is a track for the car or your lounge at 1am. The bass is pure and the break is clean and absence of any over the top synth work just make this a minimalist classic for me. Fantastic, The Lick indeed!

Earl Grey – Oblivion Express [1996] January 6, 2012

Another cracking release from Earl Grey on a heavy Jazzy DnB tip. Crisp breaks, crafty rolling basslines and truckloads of jazzy piano. Nothing not to love here, crank it up, make sure you bass is warm and you have a beer in hand. A tune to kick back with for sure.

Gil Scott Heron – Spaceshuttle [1990] December 5, 2011

A ridiculously upbeat track considering the subject matter. Its a cracking almost “Lounge House” or perhaps “Acid Jazz House” sounding tune with one of the most cutting and raw social commentaries from Gil Scott Heron. Not restraining himself to big gov’t but taking shots at all of humanity and for good reason. Strangely, while the track itself may be considered fairly dated, the lyrical content of this track is as relevant today as its always been. Full respect to Gil Scott for that, truly a visionary.

Smoove – The Revolution Will Be Televised [2003] September 21, 2011

What a track from Smoove! Taking the identical format of Gil Scott Heron’s seminal The Revolution Will Not Be Televised and turning it into an ironic social commentary was a stroke of complete genius. Whereas the original was a rallye call to everyone to stop being sedate and to race to action against the forces of oppression under the guise of Democracy in the late seventies, Smoove instead adopts a very British approach. In holding up a mirror to all the crap we all get fed day to day its a complete paradigm shift from the original. Gil Scott wanted you to stand up for what you believe, fight against the homogenisation of society, Smoove is simply showing that society hasnt moved anywhere. If not moved backwards with rampant commodification of everything including a societal revolution.

Of course, I could be reading into this too far, it could just be a track taking the piss out of the original. Regardless, the track is a blasting example of classic Acid Jazz production with a fantastic bassline and rocking break. Instant classic.

Blue Mitchell – Good Humour Man [1968] June 15, 2011

Of course, without Blue, UMC wouldnt have had a track. Taken from the album “Heads Up!”, Good Humor Man is a Jazz/Soul beast of a tune. One of the best tracks to outline a journey from start to finish, its a track you can cruise too but you want this on your ipod, walking through busy streets. Its one of my go-to tracks when im feeling the fury with humanity, cause one listen of this and your gonna be so laid back after five mins, you’ll be grinning ear to ear.

Roy Ayers Ubiquity – He’s A Superstar [1972] May 25, 2011

First off, religious connotations can be left at the door because Roy Ayers Ubiquity has a composition here that should be mandatory listening for people wanting to participate in the human race. Jesus gets mentioned, what, twice? The rest of the track is a Jazz Funk behemoth of epic proportions. How many riffs do you recognise? How many breaks to you recognise? Its a total, understated classic.

Jestofunk feat Ce Ce Rodgers – The Ghetto [1996] April 4, 2011

The fantastic Ce Ce Rodgers lends his monstrous vocal talent to this Acid Jazz banger from Jestofunk. Its only found on the B-Side of The Ghetto 96 remixes and the original Acid Jazz Records Volume 1 album. Which in my opinion is a CRIME as its a bloody incredible modern funk number that easily trounces the middle of the road House Remix by JFK. Its got great horn work, infectious baseline and driving almost tribal percussion, all bundled together with Rodger’s incredible vocals. Absolutely mint.

US3 – Cantaloop [1992] April 4, 2011

Dedicated to my good mate Moiz who’s leaving for pastures new, heading to Germany today. He dropped this classic on me a couple of weeks ago, i’d forgotten all about it too which is criminal as I used to cane the shit out of this track. Taking a massive chunk of Herbie Handcock’s “Cantaloupe Island” and sticking a quality rhyme section over the top makes this one of my all time favourite Acid Jazz tunes. Yep, I said it, Acid Jazz. Remember that? Before Jamiroquai took it all for himself and corporatized the whole genre, we had classic Jazz tracks being remixed with funky hip hop Rhythms and modern synth work? Quality stuff.

Jackie Mittoo – Hang ‘em High [1969] March 21, 2011

Basslines like only the Jamaicans can, Jackie Mittoo released this as part of his “Keep On Dancing” album back in ’69. Absolutely crackin’ funk number that was sampled pretty much in its entirety for The Freestylers’ “Hard To Stay” on the “Adventures in Freestyle Album”.