Kev Beadle

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DJ, radio presenter, producer, label boss Kev Beadle’s bio reads like a journey through the halcyon years of the jazz, jazz funk and soul scene in the UK from the early 80s right through to the recent revival and rebirth through modern manifestations of nu-jazz, broken beat and deep house.



From early dj experiences working with fellow spinners Paul Oakenfold and Trevor Fung in the mid/late 80's, and then hooking up with Gilles Peterson and playing alongside him at various legendary events including Dingwalls, The Wag, Special Branch and The Fez to name but a few, as well as helping to set-up pirate jazz radio station K-Jazz.



Through the early nineties Kev put together a serious number of compilations for various labels. These included six albums for the 'Essential Argo/Cadet Grooves' series for Charly Records, which also included a ‘Best Of Terry Callier’ compilation which many believe helped kick start Terry Callier’s recent revival, and the very successful 'Capitol Rare' series for Blue Note.



In the mid 90's while working in various record shops in London's West End, Kev set up his own label Clean Up Records, and began releasing low-budget singles from the likes of Koop, Aquasky and more famously Line Of Flight who went on to become the Sneaker Pimps. Clean Up was then picked up by forward thinking independent label One Little Indian and for next five years Kev, as A&R/label head helped nurture the Sneaker Pimps to sell over 1 million LPs worldwide as well as signing other top acts like Valerie Etienne (ex-Galliano) and commissioning some very well received remixes including the Armand Van Helden anthemic remix of the SP's 'Spin Spin Sugar'. More compilations followed - Nu Jazz Generation 1 for his own Clean Up label and a follow-up Vol.2 for BBE.



Aside from his many DJ residencies and worldwide guest appearances over the years, Kev has maintained a radio presence through the ever increasing demand for quality radio services in its new multimedia formats. His current weekly show can be heard every Monday/Tuesday midnight – 2am on Solar Radio – Channel 0129 on Sky Digital to Northern Europe and worldwide at www.solarradio.com and can be heard as a ‘play on demand’ stream via www.straightup.com.au/home

He is also one of the longest-running dj residents at the legendary Southport Weekender where he is also the main musical consultant for the events most cutting edge room – the Beat Bar.



Aside from these Kev has been involved on his own productions and remixes, formerly as the TD Project (alongside Chris Bangs) for the Dadhouse label and now as one half of a production team called Messengers (alongside Darren Moss). Recent production and co-writing credits include a track for Ian Brown, as well as various productions and remixes distributed through the now defunct Goya Distribution.

He has been back in the studio recently working on the Messenger Edits series and looking to produce some more new music for 2010.



With all this under his belt, Kev is not content to sit on his laurels, preferring to push the musical boundaries, create and showcase innovative sounds. His dj’ing musical style is always jazzy and soulful incorporating everything from jazz & soul to latin, afro, funky, broken beats, hip-hop, house, drum and bass, as well as jazz, soul and funk from the last 30 years and still remains one of leading tastemakers in his field.



DISCOGRAPHY – COMPILATIONS



ESSENTIAL ARGO/CADET GROOVES VOLUMES 1-5 (CHARLY RECORDS)

BEST OF TERRY CALLIER (CHARLY RECORDS)

BEST OF LOU DONALDSON (CHARLY RECORDS)

CAPITOL RARE VOLUMES 1-3 (BLUE NOTE)

BEST OF GRANT GREEN (BLUE NOTE)

NU-JAZZ GENERATION VOL. 1 (CLEAN UP)

NU-JAZZ GENERATION VOL. 2 (BBE)



DISCOGRAPHY – PRODUCTION/REMIXES



TD PROJECT – SPIRITUAL (DADHOUSE)

ELEVATOR SUITE – I FEEL MUSIC – MESSENGERS REMIX (BULLETPROOF SONICS)

MESSENGERS – HOW TRUE (WHITE)

MESSENGERS - BEAUTIFUL SUN

MESSENGERS - SPECTACULAR

IAN BROWN – NO I.D. (KISS YA LIPS) – CO-WRITE/PRODUCTION

MESSENGER EDITS VOL.1

MESSENGER EDITS VOL.2