When most people think of acid-jazz, they conjure up thoughts of the portly character John Thompson plays in The Fast Show, Louis Balfour, emitting buzzwords such as ‘nice!’ and ‘mmm… admirable’. Essentially, acid-jazz has never been considered a genre due to its laughable overtones. Its prominent vanguard, Jamiroquai, have been churning out the hits for over a decade despite cheap criticism from the music press.
Their main figure of loathing is front-man Jay Kay; initially touted as a poor mans Stevie Wonder, he has only moved sideways for some, producing lightweight funk jams and struggling for credibility as a white soul artist. Thirteen years on and with six albums under their belt, Jamiroquai have continued to hold mass commercial appeal and Kay’s hunger for performing is still formidable.
Tonights 'Canned Heat' displays watertight funk at its best. Wah-Wah pedals interweaved with slick guitar hooks drive the insatiable melodies as Kay bolts on stage full of gusto . Kay’s vocals remain pitch perfect, at their essence signalling fun but still exhibiting a range a sweet harmonics.The indispensable salvo of ebullient tunes progressed with cult favourite 'Return Of The Space Cowboy', a hypnotic jaunt into Kay’s narcotic world interpreted through mellow keys that built into a collective jam between all band members. Recent single 'Seven Days In Sunny June' has Kay at his breeziest. The infectious strumming coupled with beatific ivories encompasses the soundtrack of the now sorrowfully distant summer.
One justified criticism towards Kay and his accomplished band is the tendency to act on a conditioned reflex, something that has functioned itself into the writing process on recent albums. Though 'Dynamite' and 'Love Foolosophy' are fine cuts separately, their combined efficacy is unnecessary and clocks in at nearly half-hour...thats asking a lot of an audience full of stoners who are having trouble focusing.
Once the extended acid-jazz noodlings are complete, it's time to revue the hit singles list and Jamiroquai’s signature tune 'Virtual Insanity' still sounds unwilted and poignant nine years on. The humanitarian subject matter is even more prominent in today’s political climate and allows Kay an obvious diatribe at George W Bush. After a rapturous finale, Kay returns to the stage for a one-song encore. The bruising 'Deeper Underground', coincidently Jamiroquai’s solitary number one, is a lavish way to conclude an exceptional night of music, whatever genre it’s filed under. In the words of Louis Balfour, ‘Grrrreat!’
Photos By Rebecca Spence
