Funky and groovy. Energetic and energizing.
Philly in New York | 04/25/2008
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Famed for their upbeat, energetic live shows, British jazz-funk stalwarts the James Taylor Quartet return with a live CD : "Don'T Mess With Mr. T".
Taylor's driving Hammond organ has been leading the group for nearly twenty years, and with albums and live shows constantly in the offing, the 'JTQ' show no signs of slowing down. Their relentlessly entertaining tunes take their inspiration from the rare-groove style funk and boogie-woogie of the sixties and seventies, and they are without a doubt one of the most important jazz-pop crossover bands in British musical history.
"Don't Mess With Mr. T: James Taylor Quartet Plays Motown" is a series of 12 cover tracks from Marvin Gaye to Stevie Wonder.
The quartet itself, which comprises Taylor (Hammond organ), Nigel Price (guitar), Andy McKinney (bass) and Adam Betts (drums), is augmented for this record by four more musicians: a full horn section and an extra percussionist. As well as the expected fiery instrumentals, the band is joined by leading soul vocalists Omar, Hil St Soul and Donna Gardier who each add their own notable contributions to the proceedings.
The album kicks off with a superb version of one of Motown's earliest hits, "Money (That's What I Want)".
James makes it his own, and the new lineup of Adam Betts on drums, Andrew McKinney on bass and the superb Nigel Price on guitar are pumping! What a groove! Horns aplenty too, and the excitement level just goes up and up and up. What a fantastic start!
Next up is a cracking version of Marvin Gaye's "Got To Give It Up", closely followed by the Stevie Wonder classic "Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I'm Yours)". This features a first taste of guest vocalist Donna Gardier (Raw Stylus), along with Joy rose and Tyrone Henry.
Taylor, as ever, remains the ringmaster behind his Hammond organ, the classic instrument that has defined the retro sound of the group since they arrived at the birth of the acid-jazz scene in the mid-1980s with their stylish reworkings of film and TV theme tunes such as "Mission: Impossible" and "Starsky and Hutch".
The Motown spirit is moulded into a similarly fresh and funky shape, especially on a stellar performance of the Supremes' hit "Come See About Me", featuring the honeyed voice of Donna Gardier. However, Omar's soulful performance of Marvin Gaye's "After the Dance" is one of the highlights.
Jamie Anderson's sax on the funky-as-hell "Cleo's Mood" is just like thick clotted cream coming out the speakers. One of the standout tracks, this is pure JTQ class of the standard to which we have become accustomed.
We then slow things down a little and are treated to another superb guest vocal in the form of Hil St Soul with a beautiful version of Smokey Robinson's "You Beat Me To The Punch".
All the musicians hammer through some ultra-funk gems including the gorgeous closer, the title track, Marvin Gaye's "Don't Mess With Mr T", featuring the vocals of Tyrone Henry, from the movie "Trouble Man".
Forget for a while the distinctive but repeated efforts from Michael McDonald and give this LIVE CD a try.
You will not be disappointed.
Motown
Motown Two
Soul Speak
Reachin' Back"
Almost as Good as Julie McKee's Debut - Nigel Price Twice!
Robert Knowles | Cardiff, Wales, UK | 05/29/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I'd probably take issue with the other reviewer at Amazon.co.uk in that Nigel Price's superb guitar-work on this album is evident from track one onwards. One of Nigel's strengths, however, and admittedly, is to show proper musical restraint - very much serving the song rather than vanity. Perhaps nowhere is this more apparent than in Nigel's appearance on Julie McKee's superb debut release (about to come out - see amazon.co.uk) entitled, What A Woman Shouldn't Do, a must for anyone interested not only in Nigel Price but in genre-redefining new projects generally.
Anyway, back to Don't Mess with Mr. T! There's no doubt about it, James Taylor is a master of his craft. Nobody could call this an album of covers since it so thoroughly reinterprets the tracks in question. Money (that's what I want) is a superb upbeat number with solos from James himself, from Nigel Price, and from Jamie Anderson on sax. This really is a tight performance - sound production is excellent too. Next up it's Got to Give it Up, a more laid-back number with a truly magical groove. just try not getting up to dance to this one! James' Hammond organ is the most prominant on this track - except for the rhythm section that is. The next track is Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I'm Yours). Another brilliant performance with an amazing pace-increase towards the end. Next it's Function at the Junction - impossible not to dance to this. Here, Nigel Price really shines in an extended solo - style prefiguring that of his later appearance on Julie McKee's album. The next track is a complete change - slowing things down considerably. More of a smoocher this - aptly entitled After the Dance, and featuring Omar. Jimmy Mack ups the pace once again - this and the previous track are more 'vocals' orientated. Next, Nigel opens for us again on Machine Gun. Absolutely superb this - brilliant rhythm section. You could remake the entire series of Shaft with guest appearances from Huggie Bear to this. Come See About Me, featuring Donna Gardier, is a great punchy vocals-focussed number. Nigel Price again opens for us on Cleo's Mood - though it is the sax that really shines here and throughout the track. You Beat me to the Punch, featuring Hil St Soul slows things down again. A lovely sing-a-long track this. Vocals centred. You're All I Need to Get By, only slightly up's the pace. Superb Summer-drive laid-back number - again featuring Nigel Price's superb blues-jazz licks against the background of James' Hammond. Another smoocher, Don't Mess With Mr. T, the title-track, is a remarkably laid-back, mildly melancholic Marvin Gaye number. Great mid-track solo from James Taylor but - if anything it's Nigel Price who shines yet again - hence my mild disagreement with the other reviewer.
Overall, a superb effort - almost as good as Julie McKee...! In fact, the two albums Don't Mess with Mr. T and What a Woman Shouldn't Do well accompany one-another - the one excelling within a genre (JTQ), the other redefining a genre (McKee). Just imagine a gig with these two bands head-lining together - and with the added benefit of getting Nigel Price twice!!"
Track Listings (12) - Disc #1