United Kingdom 
MN2S Spotlight Showcase: Dat Brass, Toya Delazy, Paigey Cakey
8 years ago
The James Taylor Quartet has established itself as a pioneering British jazz funk band, known for its distinctive Hammond organ sound and dynamic live performances.
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Request A ShowReleased various library albums, including 'Retro Acid Jazz' (1995), 'Swinging London' (2000), 'The Hustle' (2004), 'The Cinema Sessions' (2007), and 'Funky Keys' (2016). James Taylor also composed and recorded library music for the company.
Released several albums including 'Wait a Minute' (1988), 'Get Organized' (1989), 'Do Your Own Thing' (1990), and 'Absolute – JTQ Live' (1991).
Released albums including 'A Taste of Cherry' (2006), 'James Taylor's 4th Dimension: Picking Up Where We Left Off' (2007), 'Live at the Jazz Cafe' (2008), 'New World' (2009), and 'Closer to the Moon!' (2013).
Released the album 'Message from the Godfather' (2001).
Released numerous albums including 'Mission Impossible' (1993 reissue), 'The Money Spyder' (1993 reissue), 'Extended Play' (1994), 'In the Hand of the Inevitable' (1995), '(A Few Useful Tips About) Living Underground' (1996), 'Penthouse Suite' (1999), and compilation albums like 'Creation' (1997) and 'The Very Best of the James Taylor Quartet – The Gold Collection' (2000). Also released New Jersey Kings albums 'Party to the Bus Stop' (1992) and 'Stratosphere Breakdown' (1995).
Released albums such as 'Absolute – JTQ Live' (1991) and 'Supernatural Feeling' (1993).
Released 'The BBC Sessions' (1995).
Re-released 'The BBC Sessions' (1997).
Released 'Whole Lotta Live 1998' (1998) and 'Hung Up On You' (2024). Also released the New Jersey Kings album 'Uzi Lover' (2001).
Released 'A Bigger Picture' (1999).
Re-released 'A Bigger Picture' (2001).
Released 'Room at the Top' (2002) and the compilation album 'Hammond–Ology: The Best of the James Taylor Quartet' (2001).
Released 'The Oscillator' (2003).
Released 'Don't Mess with Mr. T – James Taylor Quartet Plays Motown' (2007).
Released 'The Template' (2011).
Released 'The Rochester Mass' (2015) and 'Quick Fire: The Audio Network Sessions' (2017).
Released 'Bumpin' on Frith Street – Live at Ronnie Scott's' (2016).
Released 'Soundtrack from Electric Black' (2018), 'People Get Ready (We're Moving On)' (2020), 'Baker's Walk' (2021), and 'Man in the Hot Seat' (2022).
Released compilation album 'Blow Up! – A JTQ Collection' (1998).
Released compilation albums 'Mission Impossible & in the Hand of the Inevitable' (1999) and 'Check It Out: Best of the Acid Jazz Years' (2001).
Released compilation album 'Espionage: The Very Best of the James Taylor Quartet' (2001).
Released compilation album 'The Collection' (2001).
Released compilation album 'Hammond a Go–Go: The Best of Acid Jazz' (2014).
The James Taylor Quartet, also known as JTQ, was formed in 1985 in Rochester, Kent, England. The band was established by Hammond organ player James Taylor following the breakup of his previous band, The Prisoners, and after the bankruptcy of Stiff Records. Current members include James Taylor on organ, Mark Cox on guitar, Andrew McKinney on bass, and Pat Illingworth on drums. The quartet’s early work quickly gained recognition, with their first single, “Blow-Up,” a funk-infused rendition of Herbie Hancock’s theme, released in 1987 on the Re Elect the President label, which later evolved into the Acid Jazz label. This track received support from NME and John Peel, featuring in Peel’s Festive Fifty chart in 1987. Their debut mini-album, “Mission Impossible” (1987), primarily consisted of covers of 1960s film themes like “Alfie,” “Mrs. Robinson,” and “Goldfinger,” showcasing Taylor’s Hammond organ playing in an energetic style. Their subsequent album, “The Money Spyder” (1987), served as a soundtrack for an imaginary spy film, featuring Taylor’s original compositions.
Throughout the late 1980s and early 1990s, the James Taylor Quartet developed a reputation for their live performances, known for rhythm-driven music with elements of modern dance and improvised solos. In 1988, they recorded their signature tune, “The Theme from “Starsky and Hutch,” featuring Fred Wesley and Pee Wee Ellis of the JBs, which was included on their album “Wait a Minute” (1988). The band also experienced a stylistic shift in the early 1990s, recording albums with vocalists such as Rose Windross of Soul II Soul, Alison Limerick, and Noel McKoy to engage with the soul and acid jazz scenes in the UK. The single “Love the Life” reached the top 40, and the album “Supernatural Feeling” (1993) entered the top 30 of the UK Albums Chart. Their album “In the Hand of the Inevitable” (1995), featuring guest vocalist Alison Limerick on three tracks, became the Acid Jazz label’s highest-selling album during that period. Since then, JTQ has largely returned to its original instrumental jazz funk style, continuing to integrate covers of songs like “Whole Lotta Love,” “Dirty Harry,” and “Jesus Christ Superstar” into their repertoire, alongside new original material. They received a Music of Black Origin (MOBO) nomination for their live album “Whole Lotta Live” (1998).
Beyond their own projects, James Taylor and the quartet members have engaged in various collaborations, contributing to the soundtrack of the first “Austin Powers” film. They have also worked with artists such as Tom Jones on his duets album “Reload,” and featured on records by The Wonder Stuff, Manic Street Preachers, The Pogues, Kingmaker, and U2. In 1996, the band served as the house band for Gaby Roslin’s Channel 4 chat show. James Taylor expanded into library music in the late 1990s, composing and recording for Bruton Music, with releases designed for use in TV advertisements, programs, and films. The James Taylor Quartet has also released three albums under the name New Jersey Kings, which maintain a similar funky Hammond sound but are noted for their raw, live-in-the-studio recordings. Some performances in 2005 featured an augmented horn section and were promoted as the James Taylor Funk Orchestra. In 2018, as part of the EFG London Jazz Festival, the James Taylor Quartet performed with a full orchestra at Cadogan Hall in London for the premiere of their album “Soundtrack from Electric Black,” which was subsequently released commercially through Audio Network.
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