Norman Jay Returns!
October 21st, 2011 by Abby
Norman Jay is very much part of the Big Chill and his Sunday afternoon set at the Festival is always regarded as one of the highlights. Norman Jay returns as part of his exclusive residency at The Big Chill Bar in Bristol.
He is arguably one of the finest and most respected deejays in the world today whose talents and many years of dedicated service to his profession have now seen him rightfully acknowledged by the highest authority in the land.
Norman Jay became a key DJ during the ‘80s London rare groove scene, hosting a series of legendary clubs – Shake ‘N’ Fingerpop, High On Hope (inspired by New York’s Paradise Garage) and famed sessions at London’s Bass Clef (later the Blue Note) all of which built his reputation for open-minded soulful selections spanning soul, funk, disco, early house, reggae and hip hop.
Through his club nights, he was one of the first to introduce legendary US DJs like Tony Humphries, Louie Vega and Blaze to the UK. Further success followed – he was one of the founders of London station Kiss FM and ran the seminal Talkin’ Loud label alongside Gilles Peterson at Phonogram. Jay’s tireless work as a DJ has earned him many accolades – he has appeared on the BBC’s Question Time and received an MBE for his work in 2002, the first time any DJ had received such an accolade.
In the wake of his many achievements and the ongoing success of Good Times Jay has enjoyed a series of essential compilation
albums on React, Resist, Nuphonic and Azuli stretching back to 2000, as well as a recent spin-off album, ‘Good Times Australia’.
Now, the maestro returns with a special 30th Anniversary collection for Strut, another bumper set of genre-hopping classic and rare Good Times favourites. Tracks include boogie rarity ‘Dreamin’ by short-lived band Zalmac and Fries & Bridges’ ‘Forever This’, a 4×4 belter featuring an early vocal by chart superstar Cee-Lo Green. Jay touches on independent hip hop with Basement Chemist, Jazz grooves courtesy of Kira Neris and Attic Tree, skanking reggae from Jacob Miller and doo-wop soul courtesy of Little Anthony & The Imperials.
Norman Jay MBE
Saturday 26th November