Danceable Jazz! Classic and Recommended Albums of Acid Jazz

Lift OffGroove Collective

Lift Off Groove Collective 1996

While the United Kingdom—where the genre originated—remains the center of acid jazz, the Groove Collective featured here is a large jazz-funk ensemble hailing from New York, USA.

They were one of the driving forces of American acid jazz, and their band ensemble—staffed by highly skilled musicians—builds on the free spirit of jazz to develop a wide-ranging sound that incorporates beats across genres, from Latin to club music.

Here, we introduce the second album that cemented their reputation, 1996’s We The People.

Self-produced by the group, this album features a more diversified rhythmic palette than their previous release, which leaned more strongly into acid-jazz colors, and it exudes the confidence of an avant-garde jazz-funk outfit.

It’s a powerful classic that blends the many elements unique to New York into a cohesive, straight-ahead musical statement.

Down That RoadShara Nelson

Down That Road

If you love Massive Attack’s masterpiece debut album Blue Lines, released in 1991, you’ll instantly recall the beautiful female vocals heard on singles like Safe from Harm and Daydreaming.

The woman behind that stunning voice and expressive range is British singer-songwriter Shara Nelson, and I’d like to introduce her landmark 1993 debut album, What Silence Knows.

Anchored in refined UK soul and R&B, the record also showcases the hybrid sensibility unique to the 1990s, incorporating downtempo and trip-hop elements and earning a reputation as a classic of acid jazz and ground-beat.

All five singles released from the album made the Top 40, the album sold 100,000 copies, and it received high acclaim, including a shortlist nomination for the Mercury Music Prize.

Shara’s voice has a gentle, soothing quality, making every track a pleasure to listen to—highly recommended for music fans who enjoy female vocals.

Prince of PeaceGalliano

Prince Of Peace

Galiano, a UK group centered around vocalist Rob Gallagher, is also known as the first act signed to the acid jazz flagship label Talkin’ Loud.

Their 1988 debut single “Frederick Lies Still,” which samples Curtis Mayfield’s classic “Freddie’s Dead,” was released as the very first record on Acid Jazz Records—clear proof of their importance in the history of acid jazz.

Their second album, A Joyful Noise Unto The Creator, released in 1991, has long been celebrated as a quintessential acid jazz masterpiece.

Produced by organist Mick Talbot—famous for his work with The Style Council—the album’s hybrid sound deftly blends distinctly British, sophisticated jazz-funk with flavors of soul and hip-hop, and even elements of reggae and African music.

It’s the kind of taste and sensibility that young music fans in the 2020s should absolutely hear.

It’s a glorious stew of sounds that still comes across with unmistakably British style—utterly irresistible!

Loveless4hero

4hero – Loveless

Talking Loud, a label founded in 1990 by DJ Gilles Peterson—arguably one of the pioneers of acid jazz—spawned many classic acid jazz records.

From the mid to late ’90s, however, it also released numerous landmark drum’n’bass titles.

Among them, the British veteran drum’n’bass unit 4hero’s first album after moving to Talking Loud, 1998’s Two Pages, stands as a masterpiece that made history with a cutting-edge sound at the forefront of its time, incorporating not only drum’n’bass but also elements of nu jazz and trip-hop.

Issued as a double album, it delivers on its title by showcasing two sides of 4hero.

In the acid jazz context, I recommend Disc 1, where intricate breakbeats and extensive use of live instruments weave a beautiful ensemble that intertwines with electronic textures.

Of course, Disc 2—driven by aggressive yet coolly detached electronic tones and beats surging forward—is also supremely cool and stylish!

The Masterplan (Original Extended)Barry K Sharpe

The Masterplan (Original Extended)

In the late 1980s, alongside acid jazz, a music style known as ground beat began to attract attention.

Soul II Soul, who also scored hits in the United States, are widely recognized as emblematic of the style, which is characterized by the sound of 16th-note triplets on closed hi-hats programmed on drum machines.

An album that embraced the ground beat early on—and is also highly regarded as an acid jazz classic—is 1992’s The Black, The White, The Yellow And The Brown (And Don’t Forget The Redman).

It’s the sole album released by the duo of Barry K.

Sharp—considered one of the originators of ground beat—and vocalist Diana Brown.

Listening again today, one can confidently say that by experiencing the album’s sophisticated blend of acid jazz and ground beat, you get a real sense of the sound of the UK club scene at the time.

It’s also worth noting the participation of Mick Talbot, known from The Style Council, and Steve White, one of Britain’s most esteemed drummers.

Real LoveDrizabone

Real Love – Drizabone (1991 – Original Mix)

Those who remember their sudden comeback and new release in 2010 are likely the ones who experienced this work in real time.

Driza-Bone was a dance music group active from the early to mid-1990s.

Their 1991 debut single, “Real Love,” was a smash hit that reached No.

16 on the UK charts, and after a handful of single releases they put out the album Conspiracy in 1994.

Although it didn’t achieve major commercial success and the group quietly faded away, the album’s excellence—showcasing refined UK soul and acid jazz—has maintained a loyal following here in Japan.

Its urbane, city-slick atmosphere, charming female vocals, and sound that distills classic soul and R&B through the filter of the club generation remain impeccably stylish even well into the 2020s.

It’s a highly recommended pick for anyone looking for chic R&B and soul that’s perfect for a drive.

1975Incognito

Incognito – 1975

Speaking of Incognito, they are one of the most globally renowned bands from London, UK, known for jazz-funk and acid jazz.

This track, with its soothing female vocals that evoke classic acid jazz, is a fan favorite from their acclaimed 2010 album Transatlantic RPM.

Since forming in 1979, they’ve continued to release music consistently, and the album itself—featuring familiar favorite Maysa Leak as well as guest appearances by artists like Chaka Khan and Leon Ware—stands as a work truly fitting for their 30th anniversary milestone.