James Taylor (Acid Jazz, Funk)

Hammond-ology is, at last, a truly comprehensive JTQ anthology: 35 tracks, including material from all the group's albums,
culminating in a new and previously unreleased track. The disintegration of Medway modernists the Prisoners in 1985 saw
shaven-headed Hammond hammerer James Taylor form instrumental mod squad the James Taylor Quartet. Their early material consisted of Booker T-inspired groovy movie soundtracks and kitsch TV themes, typified here by "Blow Up" and "Mission Impossible". As Taylor became increasingly inspired by soul jazz pioneers such as Jimmy Smith and Brother Jack McDuff, he gradually piloted the band in a funkier direction. This transition into soul jazz territory, with added brass and percussion, is exemplified by the hyper-tweaked wah-wah and afro-funk of "Starsky and Hutch", and a frantic reading of Gene Ammons "Jungle Strut". It was thanks to these funky organ grooves that JTQ soon found themselves figureheads of London's burgeoning acid-jazz scene. In an attempt to tinker with the formula, the chaps recorded their 1993 album, Supernatural Feeling with--shock! horror!--a vocalist: the rasping tonsil-led Noel McKoy, scoring a chart smash with "Love the Life". Since then, JTQ have generally stuck to their urban jazz imprint, with the occasional vocal foray. --Chris D King

There are many JTQ compilations but this is the first time a truly comprehensive anthology, covering material from all the
group's albums, has been put together. Hammond-Ology features 35 tracks, including all the favourites like "Blow Up",
"Mission Impossible", and "Theme From Starsky & Hutch". It culminates in a new and previously unreleased track, "Message From Sicily", which gives a taste of the brand new studio album to be released by Sanctuary Records in 2002. At the centre of JTQ is Hammond ace James Taylor, who has lent his distinctive sound to such musical giants as U2, Manic Street Preachers, Tom Jones and Nitin Sawhney.

Starsky & Hutch Theme, Theme from Dirty Harry, Mission Impossible. The Album has from the outset got " Cool " "funky " and
buy me I am cool & funky written all over it!! The feel of the first of the 2 CD's is spies; sports cars; gadgets & retro soundtracks !
This band have been doing their own thing around the world for well over 15years and this album is as the title suggests a
bite size feast of their best moments. This album is worth getting just for the one track you may have heard of. This double
CD covers myriad of music genres -Rock; Funk; Jazz ; Soul and then mashes them through a Hammond organ to produce a unique flavor of music that is live, raw & funkified. I think the music press probably came up with the term Acid Jazz AFTER listening to JTQ. The big hits are all here, ones that are instantly recognisable even to a non JTQ fan, believe me. Track 1 - "Blow Up" a reworked version of Herbie Hancock's , " Bring down the birds " or to you & me the 90's hit " Groove is in the heart " has that " oh that's where I heard it " feel to it. Blow Up was the band's first released track back in 1987! Be prepared the pace is fast and furious especially CD 1.
The Big anthems for me that also bring out some of UK's finest musicians like saxophonist Steve Williamson on the track "
Grooving Home ", Noel Mckoy on "Love the Life "and Alison Limerick on " Love will keep us together "
Certainly CD 2 holds the maturity of the tracks with the more commercially successful tracks. These include the corker of a
cover of Led Zeppelin's , "Whole Lotta Love" The clever thing about this album is the choice of having the B sides of the Hits included, like the swinging "Down by the River" . All in all a great album that is packed to the teeth with music ( 35 tracks ) to impress your friends an ideal Cd for the Lounge bar and Jazz dancefloor alike. What are you waiting for! You are buying into History!!

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