Norman Jay MBE’s legendary Good Times Sound System makes a much anticipated annual return to the Notting Hill Carnival 2007 on Sunday 26th August and Monday 27th August, taking centre stage once again as the main event of the Bank Holiday Weekend.

Tied in with this annual event is the release of Norman Jay presents Good Times 7 - Let the Good Times Roll, the maverick Notting Hill DJ's official 2007 festival soundtrack, also to be showcased at festivals Wakestock, The Big Chill and V Festival North & South. His long-standing residency at the world's largest street party is of course what Norman is best known for and 'Let The Good Times Roll' offers the fun, vibrancy and proud eclecticism of Carnival - The Good Times Sound System has become such a popular fixture it has ultimately become synonymous with the event itself.

On Let The Good Times Roll, Norman returns to his roots, once again selecting the best old and new soul, funk, reggae, disco, hip hop & house and all manner of surprises in between. The compilation is action-packed with the usual rare nuggets that a Norman Jay DJ set delivers - his DJ'ing motto is to make the obscure sound familiar and the popular sound cool. There are choice contemporary cuts from 4 Hero with the standout "Morning Child", Nicole Willis & Soul Investigators sixties’ pastiche "A Perfect Kind Of Love", Lupe Fiasco’s conscious rap "Kick, Push", Bare Knuckle Soul's vocal group r&b "Just Right" and the show-stopping "Soweto" from Joy Denalane. Soulful heritage classics come from Nina Simone’s beautiful take on the Beatles “Here Comes The Sun", Salena Jones soul-jazz '69 classic "Morning Dew", Fela Kuti's classic 70's afro-funk "Water Got No Enemy" and Northern soul gem "Time Will Tell" by Eddie Holman on Salsoul.

Norman's understanding of music has been shaped by a passion for investigation. More than that, as an open-minded cultural chameleon, he’s been lucky enough to have been present at the heart of key periods in dance music's history. From the early days of hip hop and electro in New York to dancing to the crystalline system at Larry Levan's Paradise Garage and being an integral part of the early UK house and Acid Jazz scene as well as the main man in the warehouse movement which preceded it. Norman's expansive knowledge of music and its place in time over the last 30 years is unrivalled. With this knowledge at his fingertips he is able to programme a faultless musical journey into the club/ dance music’s heritage past, present and future

Norman is a consistently positive spokesman for the Carnival and the climax of his Monday set is broadcast live every year on BBC LONDON 94.9. Whilst his highly regarded Giant 45 show broadcast each Sunday 6-8pm on BBC LONDON continues grow, as Norman delivers his inimitable sound to an ever increasing and appreciative audience. Norman also guests and hosts special shows and have produced series on BBC RADIO 2 including James Brown, Luther Vandross, Quincy Jones, and Barry White & The Story Of Disco.

GOOD TIMES WITH NORMAN JAY
Another Carnival is over, and itzcaribbean.com catches up with 'Good Times', Norman Jay MBE - 2006
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