James Taylor Quartet

When the Medway Valley’s psychedelic-mod hopefuls <a href="spotify:artist:4M2DWCrKQRiRJDie92zzcc">the Prisoners</a> disbanded in 1986, organist <a href="spotify:artist:5obkR2ACtbDCiq0RUDMO6e">James Taylor</a> vowed to move into the realms of jazz, and away from rock. Assembling a quartet from Kent, England, comprising fellow <a href="spotify:artist:4M2DWCrKQRiRJDie92zzcc">Prisoner</a> bass player Alan Crockford and ex-Daggermen personnel Simon Howard (drums) and <a href="spotify:artist:5obkR2ACtbDCiq0RUDMO6e">Taylor</a>'s brother David (guitar), the band recorded a BBC session for disc jockey John Peel before <a href="spotify:artist:5obkR2ACtbDCiq0RUDMO6e">Taylor</a> retired to Sweden for a break. However, the broadcast made such an impression that the band was signed to new "mod" label Re-Elect the President. A mini-album of cover versions, Mission Impossible, featured "organ groovy" '60s soundtrack instrumentals like the single "Blow Up," with <a href="spotify:artist:5GXruybcLmXPjR9rKKFyS6">Jimmy Smith</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:2vDV0T8sxx2ENnKXds75e5">Booker T. & the MG's</a> providing the strongest influences. The Money Spyder took the theme a stage further; while <a href="spotify:artist:6VeL8VhaMjHTPc5uovFl3h">the Damned</a> had mocked the psychedelic soundtrack as Naz Nomad & the Nightmares, the JTQ reminisced on the beat and jazz age. <a href="spotify:artist:5obkR2ACtbDCiq0RUDMO6e">Taylor</a> become frustrated with the band's limitations, and by the time Wait a Minute appeared on <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Polydor+Records%22">Polydor Records</a> dance offshoot, <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Urban%22">Urban</a>, in September 1988, only his brother remained with him in the group.

For a powerful remake of "The Theme from Starsky and Hutch," new jazz musicians and ex-<a href="spotify:artist:7GaxyUddsPok8BuhxN6OUW">James Brown</a> horn players were recruited, as the JTQ found themselves central to a new, London-based acid jazz movement. Howard and Crockford, meanwhile, provided the rhythm section for ex-<a href="spotify:artist:4M2DWCrKQRiRJDie92zzcc">Prisoners</a> guitarist <a href="spotify:artist:1y0pjlvtIcDtuz8Ud9ZbOb">Graham Day</a>'s new project, <a href="spotify:artist:6xShdMB45eSU1AYcOSouBj">the Prime Movers</a>. A further development for the JTQ came with the recruitment of two rappers for May 1989's "Breakout." This single hinted at a move away from jazz toward the dance charts, but Do Your Own Thing combined both elements, alongside a continuing debt to the original fusion of jazz/dance and rare groove, not least on their rousing rendition of the '70s club favorite, "Got to Get Your Own." A long overdue live album, Absolute, was released in 1991 on the <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Polydor%22">Polydor</a> subsidiary, <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Big+Life%22">Big Life</a>. While ex-<a href="spotify:artist:3loflELg7MzgrOyNqERolN">Style Council</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:3Y5lR4HRnhZcWzG7rV9zdw">Jazz Renegades</a> drummer Steve White served in the JTQ for a time, <a href="spotify:artist:5obkR2ACtbDCiq0RUDMO6e">Taylor</a> himself has also made several guest performances, including appearances for <a href="spotify:artist:0Uo1d5A6BR1I155GlD9WYo">the Wonder Stuff</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:2wzMOQwNT6ZvVB4amvhFAH">the Pogues</a>, and <a href="spotify:artist:51Blml2LZPmy7TTiAg47vQ">U2</a>. More permanent members of the JTQ include Gary Crockett (bass), Neil Robinson (drums), <a href="spotify:artist:6H1AadrK3PbhAgMjxNhn8E">Dominic Glover</a> (trumpet), and John Wilmott (saxophone, flute). "Love the Life" and "See a Brighter Day," featuring new lead singer <a href="spotify:artist:1DG9SecxFUWpI9U8jxWpwj">Noel McKoy</a>, saw them bid for chart success in 1993, but once the spurious acid house bubble had burst, <a href="spotify:artist:5obkR2ACtbDCiq0RUDMO6e">Taylor</a> was able to concentrate on making music without the pressure of following a trend. The band's subsequent work, which has been released on a variety of labels including <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Acid+Jazz+Records%22">Acid Jazz Records</a>, <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22JSP%22">JSP</a>, and <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Gut%22">Gut</a>, has seen a return to the Hammond groove-jazz style of <a href="spotify:artist:1A0QR12gcj2L5hYh1WWDeh">Jimmy McGriff</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:5GXruybcLmXPjR9rKKFyS6">Jimmy Smith</a>. In 1997, <a href="spotify:artist:5obkR2ACtbDCiq0RUDMO6e">Taylor</a>'s composition "Austin's Theme" was featured in the hit movie Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery.