Acid jazz flash

It is rather incredible, and even a little bit disturbing to read this in January 2004, especially in a student newspaper:

Those who are familiar with the late versions of acid jazz will know these musicians very well: US3, Jazzanova, Incognito, Groove Collective, Brand New Heavies, St.Germain or Brooklyn Funk Essentials. All of these bands have raised the standards of the genre to such a high level that no other band without sufficient knowledge and experience of jazz can survive. The listeners are not only known for their loyalty, but they are also very picky and even priggish to some extent. Many bands who thought they could survive and look just as cool as Bluey of Incognito in the industry have been kicked out immediately. It is not an easy territory to operate in; it is very selective, indeed.

Oddly enough, this genre has been dominated by the English. Moreover, the record label 'Talkin' Loud' has gathered almost everyone in the field, building another barrier to entry. This poses a question. Assuming all I just jotted above is true, do you think a German band from Dusseldorf who does not even ask for electronic assistance can survive? The answer is yet to come, but listening to 'Xaver Fischer Trio' might make you realize that this is not just a random band with a modest bit of a talent.

US3? Talkin' Loud??? Talk about a blast from the past. Also, calling St. Germain or US3 (I don't know the others) "high level" and necessitating "sufficient knowledge and experience of jazz" is laughable. Not that I don't like them, but come on. One would assume college students writing about music to be hipper than this.