Lascelle Gordon
Lascelle Gordon stands as one of the quiet architects of the UK’s underground soul and rare groove movement, a DJ, musician, tastemaker and cultural catalyst whose influence runs deep through the capital’s club history and into the DNA of British soul, funk and acid jazz.
Emerging in the early 1980s, Lascelle was at the heart of a movement that reshaped dancefloor culture.
Alongside long-time collaborator Barrie Sharpe, he became a key figure at the legendary The Wag Club in Soho, where the now-iconic Black-Market nights helped define the rare groove explosion..
It was through these nights, alongside their work at Cat in the Hat, that the term “rare groove” was formed, capturing a sound, a movement and a mindset that would go on to shape a generation.
The Cat in the Hat marked the next chapter in Lascelle’s journey. Co-run with Barrie Sharpe, it became one of London’s most important rare groove institutions, a space dedicated to pure funk and musical authenticity.
It was here that Lascelle and Barrie Sharpe’s musical vision truly crystallised, curating sounds that would inspire not just dancers, but musicians.
The club attracted a tight-knit creative community, including future members of The Brand-New Heavies, whose formation was directly influenced by the scene Lascelle helped build.
Certain records became synonymous with the dancefloor at Cat in the Hat, moments where the room would lift, connect and move as one.
Among them, “I Believe in Miracles” by The Jackson Sisters, “Across The Tracks” by Maceo & The Macks, and “Express Yourself” by Charles Wright stood out as defining anthems, records that helped shape its identity.
Beyond the decks, Lascelle stepped into musicianship, becoming part of the first incarnation of The Brand-New Heavies, a band born from the dancefloor, shaped by the grooves played at Cat in the Hat, and later evolving into one of the UK’s most successful acid jazz exports.
His contribution sits at the roots of a sound that would go on to achieve global recognition, bridging club culture with live performance.
Lascelle’s musical journey extended further through his work as a performer, including time with the jazz outfit The Sandals, as well as a two-year collaboration with singer-songwriter Beth Orton, where he played on two albums and toured extensively across America, adding another dimension to an already rich and diverse career.
He also brought his deep musical knowledge and instinct for groove into the electronic space, contributing his expertise to Playgroup, further showcasing his versatility across genres.
After stepping back from the spotlight, Lascelle’s passion for music never faded. In later years, he reunited with Barrie Sharpe, returning to the decks at Think, reconnecting with audiences and reasserting the timeless power of the music that first defined their legacy.
Today, Lascelle Gordon is recognised as a foundational figure in UK club culture—a DJ’s DJ, a selector with deep musical integrity, and a pioneer whose influence can be felt across generations of soul, funk and rare groove lovers.
