Funky jazz and howling Hammonds come to Durham

(Press release)

The James Taylor Quartet, who have set the standard for the coolest sounds in acid jazz for over a quarter of a century, are coming to Gala Theatre on Saturday 4 June at 7.30pm.

James Taylor, one of the greatest British instrumentalists of his generation, has taken his trademark howling Hammond organ sound to the masses since the 1980s.

The quartet have produced a bulging catalogue of remarkable albums and show-stopping gigs that continues to see them in hot demand everywhere from Ronnie Scott’s to Rome.

The band’s 2013 Closer To The Moon album release saw James Taylor’s impassioned musical curiosity lead to an ambitious and exciting project bringing together the worlds of jazz and classical music.

Taylor’s infectious trademark stylings, trusty Hammond and the group’s ever-alluring horns converse with a wild array of classical instrumentation, including celeste, vibes, harp, zither, gong, glockenspiel and even tubular bells.

Two years later, The Rochester Mass album pushed the boundaries even further. Recorded in just one day with the forty-strong Rochester Choir, the album is the first time that funk music and a religious mass have been fused. With numerous other albums to their name the band have also touched on genres as diverse as soul, rock and even rap!

The quartet’s relentlessly entertaining tunes, as well as upbeat and energetic live shows, have seen them hailed as one of the most important jazz-pop crossover outfits in British live music.

It was 1986 when the first Quartet coalesced after the demise of psychedelic mod scenesters the Prisoners. Notice of their dexterity in updating the cinematic jazz sound of the ’60s and ’70s, from spy themes to freeform jazz, was duly served with the debut single ‘Blow Up,’ followed by the ‘Mission Impossible’ EP. John Peel was soon offering a Radio 1 session.

The ensuing quarter-century has produced a bulging catalogue of remarkable albums and show-stopping gigs that continue to see JTQ in hot demand everywhere from Ronnie Scott’s to Rome. Along the way, there’ve been chart entries (notably the 1993 hit ‘Love The Life’ featuring Noel McKoy and the parent album ‘Supernatural Feeling,’ both of which nestled in the top 40), a MOBO Award nomination for 1998’s ‘Whole Lotta Live,’ and guest appearances by James with everyone from the Pogues and Manic Street Preachers to Tom Jones’ multi-platinum chart-topper ‘Reload.’

In a career that has embraced jazz, soul, rock, funk and often tipped its hat to classic detective and action movie soundtracks, JTQ delivered their own filmic moment in 1997, contributing ‘Austin’s Theme’ to the score album for ‘Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery.’ In 2007, the band completed their full-scale Motown tribute, ‘Don’t Mess With Mr. T,’ featuring guest vocalists Omar, Hil St. Soul and Donna Gardier. The same year brought both the spinoff project James Taylor’s 4th Dimension and a Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Award nomination for JTQ.

Tickets are £17.50 or only £15 for Gala Friends and can be purchased online at www.galadurham.co.uk , in person at Gala Theatre’s box office or by calling 03000 266 600.