Galliano

Galliano is a London-based acid jazz group, originally active between 1988 and 1997. Galliano was the first band to record for Eddie Piller and Gilles Peterson's Acid Jazz label, and later the first to sign to Talkin' Loud, the label Peterson had just created. Original member Robert Gallagher (vocals, credited as Roberto Galliano) was joined by Constantine Weir (vocals) and Crispin Robinson (percussion), who performed spoken-word pieces influenced by the Last Poets. Michael Snaith (The Vibe Controller) joined the now-expanded trio for the tour supporting their first Talkin' Loud album, In Pursuit of the 13th Note, which featured Roy Ayers and received a Popular Edison songwriting award in 1992.

After an initial tour of Japan, a core line-up formed around Valerie Etienne, who took part in the recording of all their subsequent albums, alongside Mick Talbot on keyboards, Crispin Taylor on drums, Ernie McKone on bass, Mark Vandergucht on guitar and Steve Ameedee, aka Uncle Big Man (dancer). Ski Oakenfull, from K Creative and also on Talkin' Loud, replaced Mick Talbot on keyboards in 1994. The band split up in November 1997 after a farewell concert at the Dingwalls club in Camden. The band announced its return in 2023 and completed a UK tour, capped by a sold-out show at the Shepherd's Bush Empire in November 2024.