James Taylor Quartet: Hammond A Go-Go The Best Of Acid Jazz

Rating: ★★★

Record and Artist Details

Musicians:

Noel McKoy (v)
Rose Windross (v)
Alison Limerick (v)
David Taylor (btb)
Simon Howard (d)
Allan Crockford (b)
James Taylor (ky)

Label:

Not Bad Records

March/2015

Catalogue Number:

BAD2CD014

RecordDate:

1987-1997

Taylor needs little introduction, his Hammond work cornering the late 1980s acid jazz boom. This is a bona fide collection in that it's licensed from Acid Jazz, which grew out of the band's original label, Re-Elect The President. So the core of this 30-cut, double CD are the classic ‘Mission Impossible’/'Money Spyder’ tracks, although the signature ‘Starsky and Hutch’ theme is held over to close the package with a live version. CD 2 moves into the 1990s and a more soulful, vocal-led collection, best epitomised by the aptly monickered ‘Love Ballad’. With its Beat Girl cover, this is a perfectly amenable intro to the JTQ, even now it's hard not to strut your stuff when the band larrup their way through ‘Blow Up’, ‘Green Onions’ and ‘The Cat’. Of late, Taylor's piano work, his personal soul searching and fascination with classical music have led to very different projects, but the JTQ will live on wherever micro minis, kohl eyes and white polyester boots are worn.

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