UK -Japan Jazz Dance Session: British Council Tokyo

Snowboy & The Jazz Dance Posse at the British Council, Tokyo

It was standing room only at the British Council in Tokyo for the first engagement of Snowboy’s Japan tour as people turned out in great numbers to see him talk about the history of UK Jazz Dance. This was just the first in a series of events organised for the launch of the Japanese edition of his book. In the crowd were Shuya Okino, Raphael Sebbag, Masato Nakamura (Sleep Walker), Yusuke and "Mattz" from quasimode, Goto from Sound Cream Steppers, DJ Tomi The Jazz Monk and more, all keen to hear Snowboy speak.

The talk gave a general overview of the history of the Jazz Dance scene in the UK and was animated with displays of video clips from the 80s through to the modern day featuring dancers such as IDJ, Brothers In Jazz and the Floor Technicians, as well as some recently discovered footage from the Electric Ballroom, getting its first airing in Japan.

Musically, the mood was set by Lincoln (BeBop Square), playing some classic tunes both before and after the talk, and for the second half of the event the audience was treated to a dance performance by two of Tokyo’s top dance groups ~ Stax Groove and ADSL. Having originally agreed to do a brief demonstration, the atmosphere was such that the dancers actually performed for close to half an hour.

Story: Sean Smith

Sound Cream Steppers - Japan's Original Jazz dance crew '94

Snowboy.. & Stax Groove, Broken Sport @ Tower Records Shibuya, Tokyo 09

Classic IDJ... always inspiring!

BROWNSWOOD - SNOWBOY KICKS OFF SOME SERIOUS DISCUSSION!

OK... wanna check some serious banter on Snowboy's book... look no further than http://brownswood.5.forumer.com/index.php?showtopic=24571
Over 5000 people have logged in on this thread! Respek is due.

DUSTY GROOVE... The Word from the Windy City!

RESPECT TO THE CREW AT DUSTY GROOVE - this is what they say about Snowboy's book...

"A really incredible book -- and one of the best accounts of any music scene we've ever read! The whole thing was lovingly put together by Mark Cotgrove -- aka Snowboy, a UK DJ and musician who's had an undeniable influence on the British scene himself for more than a few decades. Yet instead of leaning on his own ego, Snowboy really opens the doors to let in hundreds of other voices -- an amazing range of people who helped shape the sound of UK funk and jazz from the 70s to the present -- and not just well-known figures, like Gilles Peterson or Eddie Piller, but a host of musicians, DJs, promoters, record dealers, and other individuals who helped shape the sound of the music in the UK. Snowboy interviews most of the people himself, and their personal recollections are priceless -- the kind of copy you'd never find in more glossy histories -- and alongside the writing, there's a lot of rare images too -- further illustrating this unique story. Our hat's off to Snowboy for really managing to capture the complexity of the UK scene -- and the book's essential reading if you want to acquaint yourself with the folks who've inspired our digging for the past few decades! 288 pages, softcover, with black and white images."

From Jazz Funk... back on sale!

At last... Snowboy's 'From Jazz Funk & Fusion To Acid Jazz: The History Of The UK Jazz Dance Scene is back on sale... just as we thought the Japanese edition would beat us to the street, the re-print has dropped. You can order it right now by clicking on the book icon on the right... it should take you straight to the Authorhouse on-line...

Let's take it worldwide... check the discussion on http://brownswood.5.forumer.com/index.php?showtopic=24571... over 5500 headz have checked this.

Snowboy's off to Japan tomorrow... safe travelling and have a wikkid trip.