The James Taylor Quartet

The James Taylor Quartet is a group from Rochester, United Kingdom, active since 1985. It is led by James Taylor, who is a founding member of The Prisoners.

Formation and early releases

The group forms after the bankruptcy of Stiff Records. Its first single, Blow Up, appears in 1985 on the Re Elect The President label, linked to Acid Jazz. The track becomes a success, gains support from John Peel, and appears in his Festive Fifty chart. After a run of 13 weeks in the Indie Singles Chart, the band records a mini-album called Mission Impossible. This debut album appears in 1986 and centres on Taylor’s Hammond organ, with versions of 1960s film themes and instrumental funk pieces.

Live reputation and major label years

As the group’s audience grows, it shifts focus towards live performance. It plays extensively on the London club circuit and builds a large following through dance-oriented shows. This leads to major label interest and a long-term deal with Polydor. The James Taylor Quartet releases three albums on Polydor, and these include hit singles such as Theme From Starsky & Hutch.

Move to Big Life and soul influences

In 1991 the group releases its first live album and moves to Polydor subsidiary Big Life. The album includes guest vocals from Rose Windross of Soul II Soul and Noel McKoy, and it marks a move towards the soul market. Noel McKoy then becomes the quartet’s lead vocalist in 1992. That year the band performs more than 150 shows in 15 countries, including Thailand, Japan and the USA, and headlines at Brixton Academy in London in front of 5,000 people.

Acid Jazz and later work

In 1994 the band returns to Acid Jazz. Its first album for the label receives critical acclaim and becomes the label’s top-selling release, with more than 200,000 copies sold. The group also releases the retrospective BBC Radio Sessions LP, and Taylor’s music is issued in the USA through Hollywood Records. Around this period, the band’s 10th album returns to instrumental Hammond-led jazz funk, moving away from commercial pop and soul material and restoring the stripped-down sound associated with its early work.

Performances, projects and collaborations

In 1996 the quartet plays two sold-out weeks at London’s Jazz Cafe and another sold-out show at Brixton Academy, while also touring in places including Brazil and Yugoslavia. In 1998 Taylor composes a theme for Austin Powers, the film spoof starring Mike Myers. He also sets up JTI Records and releases a compilation featuring artists he has worked with and respected, including Simon Bartholomew of the Brand New Heavies, The Prisoners, New Jersey Kings and The Apostles. That year the band tours the UK and Europe and releases a new live album. Taylor later appears on Tom Jones’s duet album and performs with him on the National Lottery Show.

Style and membership

The James Taylor Quartet is associated with acid jazz and jazz, and its sound is built around Hammond organ-led jazz funk, punk funk and instrumental dance music. Named members associated with the group include Wolf Howard, Gary Crockett, Allan Crockford, Andrew McKinney, Noel McKoy, Neil Robinson, David Taylor, James Taylor, Dave Williamson and Yvonne Yanney.