A Rare British Treasure - Lewis Taylor Preview @ Jazz Cafe (London)

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Preview

To me Lewis Taylor is something of a mystery: A UK soul act, that after his near-perfect debut Lewis Taylor, is sure to breakthrough to the mainstream in the UK and US, but somehow doesn't quite - a fact that must surely change at some point, if there is any justice in this World.

It's 1995, I'm listening to JazzFM, and on comes this amazing track - Bittersweet by Lewis Taylor. A few days later, I purchase the album "for a friend" (we've all done it!), realise I need to own it, so buy it myself a while later. Later that year, I see him - or more correctly - the last few songs of his act - whilst he is supporting Courtney Pine at the Forum in Kentish Town (you know the routine: undisclosed support acts... and we turn up fashionably late).

I was impressed with the performance - so much so that I make a point of going to see him at the Alleycats in Reading. I'd be exaggerating if I said there were more than 30 people there (at one of his first headline gigs?) - not that it stopped him and the band from playing a blinder.

The next year, whilst at "Jam in the Park" in Finsbury park, I realise I have become either one of his groupies or a stalker, when I manage to see him there.

So, you can now put this preview in context: I am a fan!

His follow-up album - cunningly titled Lewis 2 saw him being a little more frenetic than his more laid back debut. Yet again, he is playing every instrument, and producing the album - which should - but doesn't mean - the album won't be that good. Yet again, it breaks that rule, being a very good album. He cleverly uses a similar melodic theme to link a number of tracks (somewhat similar to Marvin Gaye's "I want You" and "Let's get it On").

Those two albums were released in '95 and '98 respectively - both on the Island label. Leaping into present time - and away from the Island label - comes "Stoned - part I" - his first after departing Island - and only available (at the time) through HMV - but now quite hard to come by. This album is something else! Not a bad track to be found, no matter how hard you look. He has matured into a soulful singer, accompanied by sometimes funky, sometimes jazzy backing (presumably 100% Lewis, but the sleeve notes do not let on). You would bet your life that an album of this quality would propel him into the soul stratosphere alongside soulful acts such as Maxwell, Eric Benet, Rahsaan Patterson etc.... if only it was released in more shops.

His latest, Stoned - Part II (he really isn't great with album names, is he?), is partly "Stoned - Part I" revisited (and remixed) - and partly new material. Since I have only heard audio snippets from the HMV website, I can't really comment any further on that release. Needless to say, it shall be finding it's way to my collection pretty soon.

What should you expect at the gig, then? The great Soul voice (and it is Soul, not the boom-tick "me too" R'nB which is so prevalent at the moment), delicious harmonies, and great music of Lewis Taylor and band.

See you at the Jazz Cafe!

Daniel O'Connell