James Taylor, one of the great British instrumentalists of his generation has taken his trademark howling Hammond sound to the masses for over 25 years; still famed for its upbeat, energetic live shows… with no sign of slowing down.
The band’s relentlessly entertaining tunes take inspiration from the rare-groove style funk, and boogaloo funk of the 60s and 70s and, the band is, without a doubt, one of the most important jazz-pop crossover outfits in British live musical history today.
After the collapse of mod legends The Prisoners in the 1980s, James recorded some demos with brother David on guitar, the bass player from The Prisoners, and a drummer from down the road… and thus The James Taylor Quartet was born playing music similar to the rare-groove jazz-funk then in vogue around London.
By the early 90s, that movement had spawned acid jazz, and JTQ found itself at the forefront of a vibrant young club scene and it wasn’t long before the first single, Blow Up, had been released, the band were in the studio rehearsing for the Mission Impossible EP, gigs were booked, and the late great John Peel was offering a session.
JTQ’s fired-up signature tune, The Theme from Starsky and Hutch, cemented its reputation as master of the jazz-funk-r’n’b workout; 60s spy themes, psychedelic and free-form jazz all added something to the band’s distinctive sound.
The band’s debut album, predominantly consisting of covers of 60s film themes such as Alfie, Mrs Robinson and Goldfinger. In the early 1990s, the single Love The Life reached the Top 40, and the accompanying album, Supernatural Feeling, settled in the Top 30 UK charts. After releases on Polydor and Big Life Records, JTQ returned to Acid Jazz, and In The Hand of The Inevitable remains the label’s biggest selling album to date.
In 1997 James had the chance to fulfil a dream when he was asked to score the theme tune to Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery, the spy spoof starring Mike Myers and Elizabeth Hurley. JTQ’s Whole Lotta Live album was nominated for a MOBO award in 1998.
On Saturday night (October 13) The James Taylor Quarter will be in situ at Bedford Esquires.
Awesome headliners aside and the night will feature the return of DJ Crip who after a lengthy hiatus has agreed to dust down his box of tricks to provide the pre, middle and aftershow sounds.
DJ Crip is one of the original turntable stars of some legendary past Esquires club nights in the mid to late 90s being a regular fixtures at The Magic Bus, Blow Up & Explosion club nights as well as the odd night at The Pad Nightclub, and promoters can’t wait to welcome him back!
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