25 years of Trevor Romeo OBE.

Better known as Jazzie B, founder of Soul II Soul. 25 years ago this week, their debut album, Club Classics Vol.1 brought him to the world’s attention. But like most “overnight sensations”, his success was far from instant. He worked for years in recording studios and built an amazing sound system. He called it Soul II Soul and then hauled it around London, always playing the best, best music. The Soul II Soul club night at the Africa Centre was so good that I’d go just to hear what he was playing, so I could try to find those tunes and play them at Le Beat Route the following Friday. A few years later, with assorted musicians and vocalists, he produced that hugely influential album. 25 years on, Jazzie continues to inspire and remains a musical hero, deservedly getting a namecheck here from the great Ella Fitzgerald. Listen carefully around 2.11.