GALLIANO

Almost three decades after their last release, acid jazz forefathers Galliano are back with their new LP "Halfway Somewhere" on Gilles Peterson's Brownswood Recordings.

Born in London's underground clubs and warehouse parties in the mid-1980s, Galliano released their debut single on the Acid Jazz label in 1988 - a culture that encompassed music, dance, fashion, art, design and the written word. When they emerged as the first act on Gilles Peterson's Talkin' Loud label in 1990 with "Welcome To The Story" (produced by Chris Bangs, who invented the term Acid Jazz), they captured a scene based on reinvention with Gabicci sweaters, beads and skull caps.

For their first album since "Live At The Liquid Room (Tokyo)" (1997), Rob Gallagher and his partner, singer Valerie Etienne, are supported by Galliano veterans Ernie McKone (bass), Crispin Taylor (drums) and Ski Oakenfull (keys), along with guests such as Jason Yarde (sax) and Crispin 'Spry' Robinson (perc).

While Galliano used to recycle records from the clubs, today they respond to the kaleidoscopic global jazz scene - from the Total Refreshment Centre in London to the International Anthem in Chicago. More than 40 years after their formation, Galliano are still only "Halfway Somewhere", but listening to the album, they're clearly having fun achieving that goal.