Two decades ago, child psychologists wondered about popular entertainment’s long-term effect on young minds. Thanks to the James Taylor Quartet’s latest, Creation (Acid Jazz/Hollywood AJ 68054-2; 53:53), we now know how it affected at least one adolescent viewer-namely the keyboard-playing leader of this
Bri#t sextet (the name notwithstanding). References to classic movies and television (“Theme from Dirty Harry,” for example) spice up the JTQ’s latest offering. A disc-opening version of “The Theme from Starsky and Hutch,” sets the tone for the rest of the set, an organ-and-horn heavy affair that could easily pass for a “Mannix” underscore. Or, as in the case of “Austin’s Theme,” written for the Mike Myers’ satirical “Austin Powers” vehicle, a ’90s secret agent spoof. Though the band slips into some acid jazz cliches from time to time, “Summer Fantasy,” their action-flick theme, helps buoy what turns out to be a fresh, funky ride through the cop-chase archives. Who loves ya baby?
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