This week’s Jazz On the Beach playlist includes guitarist Matin Taylor’s extremely cool version of Morton Stevens’ iconic Hawaii Five-0 theme, released on Kiss And Tell by Sony Jazz/Columbia in 1999. The tempo is cut to a slow burning groove, with Taylor, trombonist Jay Ashby and keyboard player Matt Rollings taking fine solos over the rhythm section of bassist Chris Kent and percussionist Eric Darken. Taylor’s guitar is always something special, and his playing here is as deep and soulful as ever. It’s one of my favourite and proudest moments from my time at Sony Jazz.
Also featured this week is an advance play of Genesis, an exciting new track from the Jazz Is Dead team of Adrian Younge and Ali Shaheed Muhammad. For their new album they are spotlighting trombonist Phil Ranelin and saxophonist Wendell Harrison, the founders of Detroit’s Tribe Records in the 70s. Jazz Is Dead 16 will be released in late January.
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