Directions
The venue is 50m from
Camden Town Underground and 250m from Camden Road
British
Rail
Public Transport
Underground Camden Town British Rail
Camden Road
Parking
Limited on street parking only.
Strongly advise public transport.
Box Office Information
Phone
Ticketmaster (UK +44) 020 7316 4709Box
Office No (UK+44) 020 7916 6060 for information and restaurant
bookings
Hours
Box Office open 10.00 - 18.00 hrs Mon -
Sat Closed Sunday. The Restaurant seating is only bookable through the Jazz
Cafe direct on 020 7916 6060.Table bookings include admission. Please do not
purchase tickets prior to reserving a
table
Payment
Cash, cheque and credit
card
Collection
Collect Tickets from the Jazz Cafe itself
(not the Ticketshop next door) on the night from 7pm. The cardholder must
take the credit card, the Ticketmaster reference number, and sign for the
tickets before they will be released.
General
Information
General Rules
No video cameras, cameras or
recording devices allowed.
Childrens Rules
Strictly NO
under 18s.
Special Needs
A full access information sheet
will be available by the end of 2002. Call Sharon Reuben at Mean Fiddler Head
Office on 020 8961 5490 for more details.
Miscellaneous
The Restaurant seating is only
bookable through the Jazz Cafe direct on 020 7916 6060.Please do not purchase
tickets prior to reserving a table. General admission standing tickets
downstairs are available through Ticketmaster.
Time: 19:00
(7 pm) 20, 21, 22 Jan.
Price: £10.00
Positively Beautiful wishes you all a
positively beautiful, 'Stoned' experience at the Jazz Cafe this week!
Trivia Question
Here's where you get to answer a question for which there are no
prizes even if you're right:
Which fabulous musician who we all know and love is reported to
be celebrating his birthday at the Jazz Cafe tonight?
Lewis on Radio: Past and Present (and
Future?)
Past: The Lisa I'Anson Show on Radio London at 4 pm
GMT, January 16/03
Mark Ede, at the fan forum:
Lisa I'Anson's
was a particularly good show - she is obviously a huge fan and asked all the
'right' questions. She raved about the 'Marvin' feel of the first album, but put
it in the right way. As in, being compared to Marvin being a good thing as Lewis
has enough of himself in what he does that anyone with half an ear could
understand that Lewis is anything but a Marvin wanna be. Lewis confessed as
being a not particularly huge Marvin fan per se but that 'Trouble Man' had
nonetheless inspired the debut record which Paul O'Duffey had lent him to play.
Lewis mentioned Sam Cooke as being more of a singer he listened to. He also
revealed 'Stardust' as being a fav tune. Lewis sang 'Song' on acoustic -
fabulous, probably as good a version as I've heard. He plays around with the
tune quite a bit but the melody line he used on this particular vocal version
was on the money. Great little session which must have lasted a good half hour
or so. He also did an acoustic Lucky in to the bargain!
Past: The Richard Allinson Show on Radio2 at 10:30 pm
GMT, January 16/03
Jake, at the fan forum:
Missed I'Anson, listened to the Richard Allinson show. After a
short introduction Lewis played accoustic version of 'Song'. after that, they
had a chatty interview, Allinson asking about what's up with the Elton John
story (Allinson's producer having bought Stoned Pt.1 after watching him
plug it), and LT explaining the man has been extremely supportive from debut on.
I remember they talked a little about production, where Lewis told nowadays
Sabina would be the one telling him this or that could or should change in a
recording, where earlier he used to be kind of a control-freak and keep the
entire process in his own hands. Richard played Lovin U More saying he
loved that one; Lewis revealed his favs on the album were Send Me An
Angel and Lovelight. After in conclusion Allinson asked Lewis where,
next to the Camden-gigs, people could go and see him, he answered 'Anywhere
where they'll have us' - in other words give us a call and we'll come
over.
Present: Lewis' Maida Vale Session on Gilles
Peterson's WorldWide Show
Beginning January 22, 2003 (midnight to 2 am), Lewis' session at
BBC's Maida Vale studios will be broadcast on Gilles Peterson's WorldWide
show, BBC Radio 1. This broadcast will be available every night for a
week - enjoy!
Here's what Phil Mulford, bass player in Lewis' band, had
to say about the session:
Radio 1 Session, Wednesday
Hi All,
We recorded a Radio 1 Session on Saturday for the
Gilles Peterson Show 'WorldWide' which is Broadcast this Wednesday at Midnight.
We recorded Shame, Lovelight, Stoned and Lucky. It was great fun playing with
Lewis again. The Band vibe is getting stronger and this was recorded straight
down, no overdubs. The version we played of Lucky actually carried on longer
than you will hear as Broadcast, as we were just having a great time! I'm
looking forward to the three nights at the JC. Gavin Harrison is playing drums
on the Gigs, another really fine drummer and a great musician. Please come up
and say 'Hi' at the JC, 'may the groove b with u',
Phil
Mulford
Speaking of Gilles Peterson, his site presents the "definitive,
alternative, left-side, WorldWide, All Winners chart for 2002 - as voted for by
Radio 1 listeners." Noted at the site is the fact that well over 5000 votes were
collected... and Lewis'
Stoned | Part One came in at number 26
(out of 50). Congratulations, Lewis! The album is number 7 in '
Gilles'
Record Box', and all of this can be seen at
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/urban/peterson/allwinners2002.shtml.
Future?
Seems that often Gilles Peterson's featured guests
- some with associated Maida Vale sessions as well
- are posted in his
'From The Crate' section. We
wouldn't be a bit surprised if Lewis' live interview and Maida Vale session
appear in these online archives in future. Keep an eye on Gilles' site!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/urban/peterson/features_archive.shtml
Gig Reviews
Lewis Taylor at London's
Subterania, November 19, 2002
The word has been in on Lewis' Subterania gig for a long
time now: 'outstanding!' However, that could be considered a rather
bland adjective to describe what some have called THE gig of 2002.
From the fan forums
MarkRB
My take on it all.....
On he bounced in his suit looking
energised and happy. The band had sounded tight playing a couple of
instrumentals - including the George Benson version of 'World is a Ghetto',
but however tight the chops were, the audience could sense that it was an
appetiser and no more.
The band looked and sounded fluid - with special
props to Phil Mulford who really wrapped his bass around Lewis's songs new
and old. Also, it's the first time I've seen Ash Soan play, great enthusiasm
and animation, really driving the rockier sections of the night
along.
Lewis was his usual bashful self and I suppose it's kind of both
nice and, on past experience, expected - although it's certainly not
necessary - the mature Lewis is not stepping into musical clothes that don't
fit. It is his sound, his mood and the paying audience were there to hear and
adore him. Saying that, he's no longer 'hiding' behind his guitar and he
looks more comfortable moving around the stage.
Set-wise last night we
were treated to almost the whole new album to kick things off - what can you
say, live the songs sound really strong with great dynamics and a strong
rock-soul groove. What was also apparent was that with an album of new
material this strong Lewis is really spoiled in regards to material to play.
I think he's got enough quality material on his 3 albums (not to mention the
b-sides) to really make future live shows a real guessing game, the omission
of 'thinking all about it', a live favourite being a case in point. Some
artists take years to build up such a repertoire or are consigned to
replaying the two or 3 killer cuts of their debut ad nauseam. The new
material was great - with 'sheneverdid' and 'Lovelight' standing out for
me.
Following the 'Stoned part 1' session Lewis kicked in with the
full-on Jam length version of Lucky, along with 'Song' and 'Track' ( I can't
remember the order, mind!) . It was great to hear the stripped-down version
of these two tunes - the focus on the voice and guitar playing had the revved
up audience silent with true appreciation.
I also believe that I agree
with Lewis' statement that this was his best band to date, but lets focus on
the man himself - his singing was immense, 100% on the ball, soulful and loud
enough in a really good mix. I don't think I've heard him sing
better.
What can I say - Lewis is a really special artist and I'm having
a real hard time reconciling an artist that I hold so dear to me being a)
alive, b) current and c)..damn it, from Barnet! Detroit I expect..Barnet - I
don't think so.
Roll on January and the Jazz Café. What happened at
the aftershow - work commitments messed that option up for me
unfortunately!
Cheers
MarkRB
editor's note: the aftershow was
cancelled due to the late hour by the time the gig ended & everyone had left
the Subterania.
Online Subterania Review by Dotmusic.com
In 'Indie' (originally was on the front page) at
http://www.dotmusic.com/Lewis Taylor
- Subterania, London
Lewis Taylor was last seen playing the Hanover Grand
some two years ago, launching his cunningly-titled second album 'Lewis II'.
His debut, 1996's 'Lewis Taylor', had been the sort of record that united
critics in gushing praise/prose - a dark, funky and melancholic masterpiece
of love gone wrong. Island Records released it on the strength of the demos
while Elton John compared him to D'Angelo and bought about 80 copies - one
for every room in his house.
Despite such patronage, the album sold
poorly. Island were clueless how to market their musical genius and people
seemed more interested in buying Oasis records than Taylor's falsetto. 'Lewis
II' offered more of the same - if anything it was even more musically
extravagant. The critics' fanfare sounded again, but it suffered the same
fate. Despite taking the roof off the Grand that night, the label dropped him
soon after.
By the way he bounds on stage tonight, all smiles and
geezerish charm, it's obvious such past history is hardly weighing on
Taylor's shoulders. He jokes with the crowd like he saw them last Tuesday and
simply proceeds to play his new album in its entirety. The first song,
'Stoned Pt 1' - also the LP's title - sounds monumental, fleshed out with the
filthiest guitar sounds and some glorious female backing. It's totally
funkadelic and everything you imagined John Squire would write after The
Stone Roses split but didn't. (If he'd been produced by Eddie Kendricks that
is).
The new material is generally more accessible than before. The likes
of 'Send Me An Angel' are pure Motown, without any hint of darkness. They
even sound like potential hits, though that thought probably occurred to
Mr Island some six years ago. Occasionally, Taylor lapses into 'Baby,
Baby, Baby' territory - lyrics are not his strong point, it must be said -
but then the music twists and turns and yelps and we're flying
again.
Indeed, the best is saved for last when Taylor plays a solo
acoustic version of 'Track' from his debut. The backing singers troop on and
join in for the 'Friends say I should get over this.' bits and it all falls
apart in laughter. It still sounds amazing. They finish with 'Song', 'Lucky'
and 'Bittersweet', which is only marred by an eternal fret battle, a slap
bass exploration and a drum solo. (Note to Lewis: that was this humble
scribe screaming 'NO' when you asked if we minded if you jam). But it
doesn't matter.
He's back. He's better. He plays a mean guitar. But it
anyone listening this time?
Viewables
Stoned | Part One - Album
Reviews
The Daily Telegraph
Saturday, November 9, 2002
arts.telegraph.co.uk
Lewis Taylor Stoned: Part I
(Slow Reality, £13.99)
_________________________
Further proof of the idiocies of the British consumer, or
perhaps of the British music industry. North London-born Lewis Taylor made one
of the albums of 1996 with his eponymous debut for Island but it sank with
little trace. It should be acknowledged that the idea of a multi-instrumentalist
with a sweet voice whose music recalls Marvin Gaye, Jimi Hendrix, the
Temptations and Prince brings two words to mind: Lenny Kravitz. But where Lenny
has the tight buns, retro-fabulous crash-pad in Miami and the boorish rock
tendencies, Lewis has the songwriting imagination and finesse. Stoned: Part One
flags in the middle, but if there's a more splendid moment in pop this year than
when the liquid guitar splurges over the opening title track in psychedelic
fashion at 49 seconds, I haven't heard it yet.
Caspar Llewellyn-Smith
November 24, 2002
Posted at the fan forum by gimp that
'Computer Music' magazine had a very brief mention that Lewis had released
another album.
December 12, 2002
Posted at the fan forum by gimp that
'Music Week' had a bit about the success of Stoned | Part One
along with a comment from Lewis in its 'Off the Record' column.
January 3, 2003
posted by ribot at the fan
forum:
another article in the Times
supplement
'if you're looking for a soul
album which genuinely offers a peak into a world of altered emotional
perceptions, then Stoned by Lewis Taylor could well be your bag of mushrooms.
The London based thirtysomething veteran of many a derailed campaign, Taylor is
one of those maverick talents who seems to operate in a space/fashion continium
of his own devising. Like Prince and Lenny Kravitz, he takes a monomaniacal
approach to the studio opting to produce, score, sing and play every instrument
and burying himself so deep in the details of his songs that it takes the
listener a while to get any sense of seeing the wood for the trees.
Wah wah guitars, a hip-hop beat,
phasing effects and a blast of Beatles harmonies all vie for attention on the
title track. But there is beauty within the carefully sculpted mayhem, not least
in Lewis' sweet falsetto voice voice as it weaves it's way through the bluesy,
psychedelic mist of Lewis IV. "What kind of love affair have i been pulled
into?/ Baby my heart is open wide", he sings in a voice so yearning and
stretched that it all but turns to elastic.
This is the first time he
only gets 3/5 & amusing quote abuot 'a veteran of many a derailed campaign'
made me chuckle!