Jazzie B

Jazzie B
Loz Pycock from London, UK · CC BY-SA 2.0 · source
Name	Jazzie B
Background	solo_singer
Birth name	Trevor Beresford Romeo
Birth date	1963
Birth place	London
Origin	London Borough of Haringey
Genres	R&B, soul, dance, hip hop
Occupations	Disc jockey, record producer, singer, entrepreneur
Years active	1970s–present
Labels	Virgin, EMI, Island
Associated acts	Soul II Soul, Caron Wheeler, Neneh Cherry, Beverley Knight, Floetry

Jazzie B

Jazzie B (born Trevor Beresford Romeo; 1963) is a British DJ, producer and entrepreneur best known as the founder and musical director of the collective Soul II Soul. He rose to prominence in the 1980s and 1990s through groundbreaking recordings, club nights and a distinct fusion of R&B, soul, dance and hip hop that influenced British popular music and the Black British cultural landscape. He remains active as a performer, broadcaster and mentor.

Early life and background

Born in London Borough of Haringey to Caribbean parents, Jazzie B grew up amid the postwar Windrush-era diaspora communities that shaped London’s cultural life. He became involved with sound system culture and pirate radio in the late 1970s and early 1980s, establishing connections with figures from the Notting Hill Carnival circuit and the emerging British club scene in West London. Early influences included touring and recorded practitioners from the US and Caribbean such as James Brown, Sly and the Family Stone, Bob Marley, and contemporaries like A Guy Called Gerald who were active in Manchester and London electronic music circles.

Career with Soul II Soul

In 1988 he founded Soul II Soul as a collective, club night and production outfit, assembling vocalists and musicians including Caron Wheeler and Simone Thompson; the group released the debut album Keep On Movin' (1989) featuring the international hit "Back to Life (However Do You Want Me)" with lead vocals by Caron Wheeler. The collective’s second album, Vol. II: 1990 — A New Decade, consolidated success with singles and tours across UK, United States, and Europe, earning the group multiple chart placements and visibility on programmes like Top of the Pops and festivals including Glastonbury Festival. Soul II Soul’s sound incorporated elements of hip hop, dub, house, and lovers rock, and the collective’s rotating membership model influenced later UK acts such as Massive Attack and The Brand New Heavies.

Other musical projects and collaborations

Beyond Soul II Soul, Jazzie B worked with a wide range of artists across genres, collaborating with Neneh Cherry on remix and production work, supporting vocalists like Beverley Knight and groups like Floetry through guest appearances and live shows. He remixed and produced tracks for labels and artists including Island signees and independent labels active in the late 1980s and 1990s, and he performed alongside internationally known DJs such as Paul Oakenfold and Leftfield at club residencies and international events. His radio work included shows on BBC Radio 1 and BBC Radio 6 Music, where he promoted emerging artists from the UK garage and drum and bass scenes.

Production, entrepreneurship, and label work

Jazzie B co-founded the Soul II Soul label and associated imprints, managing releases, licensing and artist development for the collective and affiliated acts; the label worked with major companies including Virgin Records and EMI for distribution. He ran club nights that became incubators for talent and venues, and he established production partnerships with studios and publishers operating in London, New York City, and Los Angeles. His entrepreneurial activities extended to radio broadcasting, event promotion at venues such as The Fridge, Brixton and festival stages like Royal Albert Hall, and mentorship programmes linked to local arts colleges and community organisations in London.

Style, influences, and legacy

Stylistically Jazzie B is associated with polished, groove-based production, deep basslines, and an emphasis on soulful vocal performance layered over dance rhythms; this aesthetic draws lineage from soul pioneers and contemporary house music producers. Soul II Soul’s mix of club culture, streetwise production and melodic songwriting influenced later British and international artists including Sting, Soulfire Revolution, and urban acts across UK and Europe. He is credited with helping to mainstream Black British music in commercial charts and shaping the soundtrack of late 20th-century London alongside contemporaries like Tricky and Zero 7 while paving the way for subsequent generations including Craig David and Mark Ronson.

Awards and honours

Jazzie B and Soul II Soul received multiple accolades, including Grammy recognition for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals, and nominations at the BRIT Awards and Ivor Novello Awards for songwriting and production. He has been honoured by civic organisations and cultural institutions in London for contributions to music and community work, and he has been invited to speak at industry events hosted by bodies such as PRS for Music and Musicians' Union.

Category:British DJs Category:British record producers Category:Black British musicians