Various Chris Bangs Presents The Playbox (2-LP)

(BGP Records) 14 tracks

Chris Bangs' diverse and eclectic musical journey is a big reason why he was chosen to curate a compilation for Ace. With a background ranging from space rock with The Mighty Om to DJ residencies across London, Bangs' career spans numerous genres, from jazz to funk to soul. Bangs' DJ sets and parties - at venues steeped in tradition such as the Special Branch in Brentford, London - alongside Gilles Peterson, were seminal in the development of acid jazz, where “acid jazz was never meant to be more than a persiflage”. His foray into production, like the proto-acid jazz classic “Psychedelic Jack” with Peterson on vocals, cemented his legacy, but it's curation highlights like this that really excite us. Hold on tight as we sift through early acid jazz brilliance from Gunky to Vera Cruz to Brazilian Skies and Jubilation.