Despite being incapable of doing anything more than a desultory shuffle on the dance floor nowadays, I’ve always had a thing for the niche 70s/80s Jazz Dance movement. Individual dancers and troupes like IDJ performed incredible dance routines to complex latin and funk jazz tunes, many by obscure artists on records impossible to get hold of these days without very deep pockets.
I’ve spent a few days putting together a playlist based on DJ Paul Murphy’s ‘Jazzifunk’ classics from his Electric Ballroom sets in the late 70s and 80s (published in the book ‘From Jazz Funk & Fusion to Acid Jazz’ by Mark ‘Snowboy’ Cotgrove. There are 128 tracks on the Spotify playlist (see below) and I found a further 43 tracks on You Tube Music if anyone wants a link.
Enjoy and don’t blame me if you twist something!
Jazz Dance anyone?
by 12 Comments
Here’s the Spotify Playlist:
I’m more of a strictly ballroom dancer myself, but I do know some Latin steps (Cha-Cha, Rumba, Salsa, Pasodoble, and so on). And I was an early adopter of Acid Jazz, so I will have heard a lot of these tunes down at the Blue Note. I’ve probably seen Snowboy doing some of them.
Ah, to be young again… although I still ballroom dance.
I don’t think I’ll be doing too much dancing. But I look forward to a good listen.
A fair number of Brazilian artists which is always good.
The sun just came out.
If you want a flavour of the music but don’t want the whole thing just check out the last track – “Ecue” by Louie Bellson and Walfredo de los Reyes. It starts off fairly sedately and then at the 2 minute mark goes absolutely nuts for the last 10 minutes. Mayhem!
@jazzjet
Last track seems to be Shakin’ by Dom um Romao…am I looking in the wrong place? Thanks.
Edit: got it! Does the preview above only allow 100 tracks?
I think the preview does only allow 100 tracks. There are 128 tracks in the actual playlist.
If you like the track Ecue, you will love the album it’s taken from – Ecue Ritmos Cubanos. There are some top notch Cuban musicians in the band.
I think everyone on the AW should shake their booty to a bit of defiant jazz
THANKS @Feedback-File.
That clip is quite magnificent. It really made me keen to see a whole episode.
It’s a standout moment for me. Great series – has a bit of that surreal 60s vibe of The Prisoner or Avengers (the Diana Rigg years of course!)
I’m absolutely loving this playlist!