What Is Acid Jazz? A Beginner’s Guide

Acid Jazz emerged in the late 1980s as a fusion of jazz, funk, soul, hip-hop, and electronic dance music. Born on London’s club scene and christened by DJ Gilles Peterson, the genre took its name from a compilation series on the Acid Jazz Records label founded by Eddie Piller. Unlike traditional jazz, acid jazz was designed for the dancefloor — groovy, funky, and accessible. Artists like Jamiroquai, Incognito, and The Brand New Heavies brought the sound to mainstream audiences worldwide, while DJs and producers continued to push boundaries in underground clubs. Today, acid jazz lives on through nu-jazz, broken beat, and the enduring influence of its founding artists.