Originally formed by James in Rochester, Kent in 1987 following the break-up of his former band The Prisoners in the wake of Stiff Records’ bankruptcy, the current line-up of the James Taylor Quartet comprises Taylor himself (Hammond organ) Chris Montague (guitar) Andrew McKinney (bass) and Adam Betts (drums) with both recordings and live performances usually supplemented by John Willmott (tenor sax/flute) and Nick Smart (trumpet) alongside vocalist Yvonne Yanney. Indeed, released through the groundbreaking Audio Network label and originally intended for production use only, “Soundtrack From Electric Black” - prestigiously recorded with a full orchestra at London’s world-renowned Abbey Road Studios inside Studio Two (The Beatles’ studio) takes the listener through an ever-evolving creative musical journey that ranges from the menacing and elaborately dramatic, blaxploitation-edged opener “Electric Black” and the Brazilian Rio-style glamorous- millionaires’-playground vibe of the galloping “Making Tracks” to the irrepressibly funky “Shaft In Africa”-influenced “Black Belting” and the cooking organ, stabbing horns and tough drums of “The Frug” which marks the band’s British-flavoured salute to America’s bona fide Hammond king Jimmy Smith. Which in turn marks the culmination of over three decades of James holding on to a musical vision that was first developed within him as a small child growing up in 1970’s Britain. Which, finding Hammond player Taylor taking his inspiration from such celebrated film music composers as Quincy Jones, Lalo Schifrin, Henry Mancini and Bernard Herrmann, comprises eight instrumental tracks of exciting, cinematic and orchestral music that grooves hard while retaining an identifiable UK vibe.

Having over the last 30 years, via dozens of well-received albums and legendary gigs both at home and around the world, set the standard for the coolest sounds in funky acid jazz, Britain’s James Taylor Quartet release a milestone album in “Soundtrack From Electric Black”.

Rahsaan Patterson 1997 Rar