Monsters of Funk and Soul Weekender

After last weeks trip to Krefeld’s Mod Weekender, it was now time to get ‘Hot funky and sweaty’ in Düsseldorf’s Unique club as part of “The Monsters of Funk and Soul Weekender”. The promoter promised to bring together a highly charged cocktail of musical genres, Funk, Soul, Northernsoul and Acid Jazz. The DJ crew were Gerald Jazzman, Henry Storch, Michael Wink, Benne, Eddie Piller, Karlsson, and Agent OO Soul.

The Funk scene is way COOL and the “Funky Funksters” seamed to wallow in a free and easy atmosphere void of the usual night club clichés. You aint going to see any handbags on the dance floor and you aint going to see groups of testosterone fuelled Chaves glaring “Oi Oi” What you do get are the Trendy Bendy beautiful people out for a roller coaster ride through the powerful, yet forgotten back catalogues of rare black dance music.

Those steering the Acid Jazz and funk scene have winkled out some of the best, rarest and at times surprising and crazy! Dance Floor Toonz from the most unlikely of places. To find that Funky Vibe on a shiny black piece of plastic aint that easy, most finds come after thankless searching of back street record shops and record company warehouses. Time and money by the shed load has gone into this scene and if it wasn’t for the likes of Keb Darge and Gerald “Jazzman” Short’s Herculean quest for those allusive discs then the scene would not be the quality it is!

A few years ago I interviewed Keb Darge for the NorthernSoul magazine “Manifesto” Keb crossed over to the dark side of funk selling a considerable collection of NorthernSoul records to peruse BBE records. BBE and Jazzman Records have dominated the funk compilations over the last few years, with both Keb and Jazzman DJing; every were that is anywhere! Jazzman was on tonight at the Unique Club in Düsseldorf spinning his tasty box of Funky vibes.

Jazzman Records was established by Gerald Short in the 90's as a music dealer. Later he went on a mission to re-release the best and most obscure & rare tracks from the late 60's and early 70's. His aim was to bring the long forgotten sound that didn't get any recognition in that time period. Over time, as Jazzman label was running he set up two more labels, 'Stark Reality' releasing even more obscure but modern produced music. 'Funk45' was also established to reissue Deep Funk/Hammond Funk rarities.

Gerald “Jazzman” Short is one of the worlds most prolific and active figures preserving and re-issuing rare funk and jazz today. With 50 releases and rising on 7 inch through his Funk 45 and Jazzman imprints, and his two excellent double LP compilations, Gerald continues to introduce funk veterans and newbie’s alike to the never ending depths that were late 60s, early 70s, black music.

Just before jazzman took to the decks I managed to grab him for a few Q&A.

The first impression of jazzman is that he is a quiet unassuming guy with a real passion for his music, 37 years young and here by invitation from the organisers. Jazzman praises the Unique club and is well aware of its importance in Germany, tonight he will drop in his latest discovery, Sheila Wilterson – Baby you’re a jive cat.

Gerald has the records, I peep in his record box, in there is “Can't You See” by Freedom! It should have been played over and over again, it is an excellent seventies disco soul track that oozes sex appeal, I love it! “Do You Really Want to Rescue Me” - Elsie Mae an absolute stormer that could easily bring the house down at any nighter! Give this track some more plays pleaseeeeeeee!!!

Simon: How did you start?

Jazzman: I moved from my home town in Middlesbrough to London some years ago looking to get into obscure sixties and early seventies music. I was a little disillusioned with the main stream and spent a lot of time listening to new and rare stuff played by John Peele. When I arrived in London Kiss and Jazz FM were playing some well serious dance that had never been heard by the majority, I was inspired to start collecting. At first it was just for my own pleasure but as with most collectors you start to buy and sell in search of the more rarer and harder to find tracks.

Simon: Were did your quest for black plastic take you?

Jazzman: I used to get a load of stuff from “Soul Bowl” and also a load from mail order from the states. It was inevitable that the states had to be visited because one find usually leads to another; there is quite a lot of detective work to be done looking for rare records. Some times you will strike the mother load, other times you can return with a few discs. The money tag on the track aint important, what counts is the groove; it has to take you there. This is the only thing that is important. People on The Acid Jazz and Funk scene want to hear new, quality stuff and don’t get hung up on hearing the same old same old.

Simon: Were did you get the vibe from?

Jazzman: I used to go to Dingwalls in London the DJs where Gilles Peterson & Patrick Forge who where playing what I thought sounded good, funky and danceable; I never want to be pigeon holed so I try to be as musically diverse as I can. I want the dance floor to be full but I will not play it safe! The average funkster will not be as snobby as on the northern scene and I think there is an easier acceptance of newer sounds. I will flit back and forth from musical genres playing some Acid Jazz some Funk and even some Northernsoul; this is what this scene is all about, good quality rare music.

Simon: Do you play CD’s?

Jazzman: No! and I hope it never comes to that!

Simon: Have you ever played on the Mod scene and what do you want to get out of tonight?

Jazzman: I have never done anything on the Mod scene and I suppose what I want out of tonight is a full dance floor.

Simon: Thanks for talking and good luck with your spot.

I enjoyed the night, I enjoyed talking to Jazzman.

Gerald “Jazzman” short’s Top Ten

1 Manteca - Afro Funky (GRT)
2 Soul Pleasers - Baby Don't Cry (Living Legend)
3 Gladys Knight No - one Can Love You More TMG
4 Nathan Davis - Cecen Tizi (TRT)
5 Poncho Sanchez - Half & Half (Picante)
6 Charlie Rodrigues - The Theme (Triunfro)
7 The Firebolts - Everybody Party (Greenback)
8 Curtis Walker - That's the Way the World Works (Bet)
9 Elaine Brooks - I'm so Blue (Vibra)
10 Ronnie Knoller - Raunchy Rita (Alba)

You can sample some of Jazzman’s stuff on his website, give it a visit and expand your mind. Stay cool and funky! http://www.jazzmanrecords.co.uk  Click here to visit Jazzman's web site.

Simon Cuerden




 

MENU