James Taylor Quartet, Ronnie Scott's - review - Music - Arts

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The James Taylor Quartet is a well-drilled outfit that punches its full weight. Don't be misled by their neat appearance. Their jolting brand of jazz-funk is perfect for places where a DJ takes over at midnight and everybody dances till dawn.

Their leader, a feisty Hammond-organist not to be confused with the gentle US singer-guitarist who wrote You've Got a Friend, goes back 25 years to the "acid jazz" days when business suits and horn-rimmed shades were the height of hip. Last night the band were still in suits and ties, possibly the last performers beside TV newsreaders thus encumbered.

One sympathised with drummer Patrick Illingworth, toiling heroically alongside bass-guitarist Andy McKinney while Hugh Gledhill churned out those wah-wah rhythm-guitar licks from Starsky and Hutch car-chases.

Original themes such as Blow-Up and Europa followed soul classics such as Green Onions and Love will Keep Us Together, featuring husky vocalist Yvonne Yanney. And trumpeter Nick Smart and saxman Rob Townsend's admirable solos ticked all the right jazz boxes.

Taylor's only miscalculation was to keep yelling: "Everybody get up and dance!" At Ronnie Scott's, it's fair to say, people principally come to listen. And furthermore all the furniture is bolted to the floor

Until tomorrow (020 7439 0747, ronniescotts.co.uk/schedule)

James Taylor Quartet
Ronnie Scott's
47 Frith Street
W1D 4HT