Friday, March 9th. 20:00–22:00
The one and only Norman Jay MBE, in the 1BTN bunker with Steve KIW.
What more do you need to know about Norman Jay? Ok, for those that may not know.
Norman is unquestionably one of the finest, most respected and influential DJ’s in the world. One of England’s foremost DJs ever since his Good Times Sound System debuted at London’s Notting Hill Carnival in 1980, Norman Jay pioneered the sound of rare groove, house, and acid jazz during the heady days of Britain’s increasing ascendancy in the global dance scene. A native of London (though he was born of first-generation West Indian parents). Norman and his brother Joey got together, merging their interests in DJ sets that ranged from soul and funk to reggae and dub to disco, broadcast over Joey’s re-christened sound system Good Times. After several years playing the Notting Hill Carnival Norman made the move into radio in 1985. With Gordon Mac, he co-founded Kiss FM, London’s best-known pirate station, and Jay’s quickly spreading fame helped the station lure in other soon-to-be-famous DJs like Gilles Peterson, Danny Rampling, Trevor Nelson, Jazzie B, and Judge Jules. His own program, “Original Rare Groove Show,” helped spawn a movement around the capital, as younger club-kids began looking back to the sound of ’70s funk maestros like Roy Ayers, Fela Kuti, and Lonnie Liston Smith, among others.
During the mid-’80s, Norman hosted some of the first warehouse parties — later to morph into the rave scene — under the promotional handle ‘Shake’ and ‘Fingerpop’. Along with Gilles Peterson, Norman was one of the most important trendsetters as rare groove became Acid jazz during the late ’80s and early ’90s and once London’s club underground went mainstream during the mid-’90s, Norman assumes the role of elder statesman, as apt to be found playing out at any Wolrdwide, far-flung super-clubs as at a general day-out like the Notting Hill Carnival itself. Norman has an MBE for his contribution to Music. A bonafide legend of the UK Music scene. No question.
UPDATE: Here is the recording of the show: