Now you certainly understand my personal definition of Smooth Acid Jazz. The most important function of a term is to ease the search after the music you prefer. If you are addicted to this type of music, then read on...

Take an Acid Jazz compilation album and you will often find one name on it: The James Taylor Quartet.

Informations about this group are to find at these worthy sites:

• http://www.jtq.co.uk/jtqalbums.html - The official JTQ site with a comprehensive biography and discography

• http://www.ubiquityrecords.com/jtq - The Ubiquity label information page

• http://jtqgroove.com/ - JTQ fansite with much more informations, reviews and soundsamples

• http://www.sanctuaryrecordsgroup.co.uk/ - JTQ's new label

James Taylor's Hammond B3 sound is a style, born in the late '60's and the early '70's. Remember Booker T 's "Green Onion" or Simon & Carfunkle's "Mrs. Robinson". James Taylor transforms this sound to his contemporary style. His live concerts are legend. JTQ has covered a lot of old tunes like the above mentioned, from Led Zeppelin "Whole lota love" to "Mission Impossible". I will not tire you with all this stuff. Be aware that they often put the same tunes on several albums. Those, which want to know more about this group, should visit the above listed websites.

My suggestions for a quick JTQ start:

"In The Hand Of The Inevitable" (Acid Jazz Records), released in 1995, was received with critical acclaim and is Acid Jazz's current top seller having sold over 250.000 copies. It's not quite the typical James Taylor, who likes more the raw stuff ("instrumental Hammond led rocking jazz funk workouts"). But this album follows Incognito (especially the horns!) and Brand New Heavies with a splendid Alison Limerick on vocals. Further members are guitarist David Taylor, John Willmott on sax and flute, bassist Gary Crocket and drummer Neil Robinson. "Love Will Keep Us Together" kicks off the album. My instrumental favorite: "3 Mile Island". 

"A Bigger Picture" released in November 1999 (US-version 2001) is my second choice. JTQ presents a brand new singer, Yvonne Yaney. The US-version called "The Bigger Picture" has the same tunes in changed order. The Japanese Version (2000) has three bonus tracks: "House Lights", "Shifting Gears", "Believe (Mark Yarley Remix)". JTQ 's music is soften and has now some modern elements like drum programming. Comparisions are also made to Swing Out Sister and Incognito. A special artist is to find on this album: the trumpet player Dom Glover, best known as a member of the Incognito family, Citrus Sun and US3. You must see him live!

It's out! The new album "Room at The Top" was released yesterday! This is his 18th album in 15 years, but the guru of the Hammond is anything but stale on this groove-laden long-player. High on funk, long on soulful organ fills, and full of the Quartet’s trademark finesse, this album proves that there is only Room At The Top for one British jazz/R&B combo.

THE JAMES TAYLOR QUARTET
Room At The Top - Sanctuary Records
released:  17/06/2002
Cat No: SANCD117

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