Guy: Hammersmith Odeon, London
David Toop, The Times, 14 September 1991
FOR MOST British music lovers, the term "new jack swing" probably suggests a piece of automobile repair equipment. But for a gifted New Yorker named Teddy Riley, this obscure phrase must conjure images of vast sums of money. New jack swing is his invention. The basic components are a shuffling rhythm, seductive chord sequences of the soul ballad variety, gospel-influenced vocals and very loud drums. With that, the 25-year-old Riley has conquered American radio and found prestigious production work.
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