James Taylor Quartet • A Few Useful Tips About Living Underground

Review by Glenn Swan

The mostly instrumental albums of British keyboardist James Taylor are as diverse as they are accomplished, running the spectrum between skinny-necktie '60s (The Money Spyder) and contemporary jazz (In the Hand of the Inevitable). This time he hits an especially satisfying nostalgic niche: a faithful jazz-rock fusion that hearkens back to the classic '70s TV cop shows and the high standards of the Mahavishnu Orchestra, Weather Report, Herbie Hancock's Headhunters, and various other sorely missed demi-gods of the genre. Taylor lays triple-thick hot fudge on most of the tracks in (A Few Useful Tips About) Living Underground -- the original (and superior) import version of the album that would later become the U.S. release Creation, trading out a few tracks along the way. "Selectivity" crashes through the speakers with polished brass arrangements, congas, and rhythm guitar, and "Creation (Fanfare for a Third Millennium)" belts out fantastic energy, with blistering keyboard solos on the Hammond B-3. "Staying Active" only adds fuel to the fire, an up-tempo and relentless show-stopper that makes the ears sweat. "It's Your World" is a groovy, soulful stroll along a Malibu sunset, and "The Theme From Dirty Harry" turns Lalo Schifrin's original score into a relentless chase with burning flute solos and Latin jazz pounding through the veins. "Summer Fantasy" features a synth melody line cruising the streets in the spirit of Chuck Mangione as an undercover vigilante with great sideburns. "Check It Out" is a celebration in clichés -- a low-rider Cadillac stuffed with gold chains, fur coats, lovely ladies, turntable scratches, and the spirit of Bootsy Collins at the wheel -- even stiff necks will loosen up as the groove chugs along. Here, there, and almost everywhere, Taylor's production values are crisp without being dry, striking the perfect balance between yesterday's live improvisational energy and today's front-row center-stage acoustics. With solid musicianship at every turn and a commitment to excellence, this album is delightfully retro without being a joke. Simply put, it makes you feel good.

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Reseña de Glenn Swan

Los álbumes, en su mayoría instrumentales, del teclista británico James Taylor son tan variados como consumados, abarcando el espectro entre los Skinny-necktie '60 (The Money Spyder) y el jazz contemporáneo (In the Hand of the Inevitable). Esta vez se encuentra en un nicho nostálgico especialmente satisfactorio: una fiel fusión de jazz y rock que se remonta a los clásicos programas de televisión de los 70 y a los altos estándares de la Mahavishnu Orchestra, Weather Report, Herbie Hancock's Headhunters, y otros semidioses del género que tanto se extrañan. Taylor pone el "hot fudge" de triple espesor en la mayoría de los temas de (A Few Useful Tips About) Living Underground - la versión original (y superior) de importación del álbum que más tarde se convertiría en el lanzamiento estadounidense Creation, intercambiando algunos temas a lo largo del camino. "Selectivity" atraviesa los altavoces con arreglos de metales pulidos, congas y guitarra rítmica, y "Creation (Fanfare for a Third Millennium)" desprende una energía fantástica, con ardientes solos de teclado en el Hammond B-3. "Staying Active" sólo añade combustible al fuego, un up-tempo e implacable show-stop que hace que los oídos suden. "It's Your World" es un paseo genial y conmovedor a lo largo de una puesta de sol en Malibú, y "The Theme From Dirty Harry" convierte la partitura original de Lalo Schifrin en una persecución implacable con ardientes solos de flauta y jazz latino golpeando en las venas. "Summer Fantasy" presenta una línea melódica de sintetizador que recorre las calles con el espíritu de Chuck Mangione como un vigilante encubierto con grandes patillas. "Check It Out" es una celebración en clichés - un Cadillac de bajo bordo relleno de cadenas de oro, abrigos de piel, damas encantadoras, arañazos de tocadiscos, y el espíritu de Bootsy Collins al volante - incluso los cuellos rígidos se aflojarán a medida que el surco se abraza. Aquí, allá y casi en todas partes, los valores de producción de Taylor son nítidos sin ser secos, logrando el equilibrio perfecto entre la energía de improvisación en vivo de ayer y la acústica de primera fila del centro del escenario de hoy. Con una sólida musicalidad a cada paso y un compromiso con la excelencia, este álbum es deliciosamente retro sin ser una broma. En pocas palabras, te hace sentir bien.

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Tracklist
1 Selectivity 2:51
2 Creation (Fanfare For A 3rd Millennium) 4:13
3 Staying Active 4:46
4 It's Your World 3:51
5 The Theme From 'Dirty Harry' 4:34
6 Summer Fantasy 4:27
7 Don't Let Money Be Your God 5:21
8 Nutrition 5:12
9 Serenity 6:05
10 Check It Out 4:00
11 Grass Is Not Greener 5:15

Credits
Bass – G. Crockett
Drums – N. Robinson
Guitar – D. Taylor (tracks: 1 to 10)
Keyboards – J. Taylor (tracks: 10)
Percussion – M. Townson (tracks: 11), M. Ravelico (tracks: 1 to 10)
Saxophone – J. Willmott (tracks: 1, 4 to 6, 8 to 10), R. Gaskins* (tracks: 11)
Tabla – N. Sawhney (tracks: 5)
Trumpet – D. Glover (tracks: 1, 4 to 6, 8, 9)
Organ – J. Taylor (tracks: 1 to 9, 11) 

 

 

 

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