The Truth (Jazz Sessions Vol. 3)

Volume 3 of the Jazz Sessions brings James Taylor into play, arriving as he marks 40 years of his solo career. Formerly of The Prisoners, who split in 1986, he issued his first James Taylor Quartet single, a take on Blow Up, later that year on Re-Elect The President.

That session shaped a long relationship with Acid Jazz, making The Truth a fitting return. Here, James Taylor works in trio format for the first time, joined by Theo Carasco on drums and Orlando Flemming on upright bass.

The record draws on the early ’70s sound of Les McCann, Hampton Hawes and Lonnie Liston Smith, with Fender Rhodes, Solina string synthesiser and Hammond organ at its core. Aref Durvesh adds tablas, while gospel-trained singer Liz Jai appears on three tracks, including Lucy and Linus, Thus Sprach Zarathustra and Aref’s Space.