Jumpin' Jack Frost

Biography

One of the original drum'n'bass DJs and subsequently one of the most legendary, Jumpin' Jack Frost played an important role in the early-'90s development of drum'n'bass as both a DJ and as the co-owner of V Recordings. In particular, Frost's V Recordings label has been central to drum'n'bass' development throughout the '90s and into the 2000s, releasing records by some of the U.K.'s leading producers: Roni Size, Krust, Dillinja, Lemon D, Ray Keith, and others. Despite his devotion to the V label with co-owner Brian Gee, Frost continued to be one of the U.K.'s most visible drum'n'bass DJs, championing the latest V releases as well as many of the genre's classics.

Frost originally spun reggae, funk, and rare groove back in the '80s before the rise of acid house and subsequently drum'n'bass. He met Gee, and the two began broadcasting a show on Passion FM, based in Brixton, that showcased the duo's funk and reggae roots. When acid house swept through the U.K. in 1987/1987, the two championed the new sound and followed its quick evolution into hardcore. During this era of drastic change, Frost spun at a number of influential clubs in the U.K. such as Sunrise, Heaven, Labryinth, and Desire. Around 1993/1994, when hardcore began splintering into different styles such as breakbeat techno and drum'n'bass, Frost stuck with the latter and became one of the first major drum'n'bass DJs, turning legions of future DJs and producers onto the exciting new sound.

In 1993 Frost and Gee formed V Recordings, which would become one of the most influential labels of the '90s alongside Metalheadz and Ram. However, where the latter two labels explored the darker and techier side of drum'n'bass, retaining the alienating and claustrophobic sound of early-'90s hardcore, V explored a more organic, jazzy, and soulful side of drum'n'bass. In particular, Roni Size, one of V's longtime in-house producers, went on to popularize the V sound on major-label albums such as New Forms (1997). As the '90s became the early 2000s, in addition to his regular DJing duties, Frost continued releasing trend-setting drum'n'bass through V and other labels such as Full Cycle and Philly Blunt. He also appeared on a high-profile DJ mix CD, Fine Tuning, Vol. 1, which helped popularize his DJing outside of the U.K., where he spent most of his time. ~ Jason Birchmeier, All Music Guide