The James Taylor Quartet (GB)

About

Also known as: JTQ, James Taylor & His Quartet, James Taylor Quartet, James Taylor Quartett, The James Taylor Quartett, The James Taylor Qurtet

Formed out of the ashes of the Prisoners and the collapse of Stiff Records, the James Taylor Quartet built their reputation on the Hammond organ wizardry of founder James Taylor. Their 1987 debut single "Blow Up", a funked up take on Herbie Hancock's theme from the classic 1966 film, landed on John Peel's Festive Fifty and helped launch what would become the Acid Jazz label. The debut mini album Mission Impossible tackled 1960s film themes like "Goldfinger" and "Mrs. Robinson" in a rough, almost punk driven style, while their cover of "The Theme from Starsky and Hutch" with Fred Wesley and Pee Wee Ellis became a signature live moment. In the early 90s they pivoted toward soul and acid jazz, scoring a top 40 single with "Love the Life" and a top 30 album with Supernatural Feeling. Their 1995 album In the Hand of the Inevitable remains the biggest seller on the Acid Jazz label. Since then they have settled back into instrumental Hammond led funk workouts, contributed to the first Austin Powers soundtrack, and collaborated with Tom Jones, U2, the Pogues and Manic Street Preachers along the way.