Surf Instro Review: The Knights - Surfin’ The Southwest, Santa Fe Style

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Now this is great instro music! The Knights come roaring back with their second release, Surfin’ The Southwest, Santa Fe Style, right on the heels of the comeback CD Surfin’ The Web, which I covered earlier this year. I think they are back, and in a big way.

Most of the tracks in this album are original, and they are all exceptional. The group’s talent shines through in these dynamite original tunes. After a 30-year hiatus, they were getting their feet wet with the first CD. This album presents a softer surf sound, a departure from the loud, hard, and fast reverb-drenched music. It’s a sound with more depth and substance.

Despite the softer sounds, this music packs a powerful punch, albeit in a different way. The album features a unique blend of blues and surf, creating an original Santa Fe Style Surf sound, as bass player Gary Snow’s wife Judi and engineer Steve Hudgins so aptly describe. This perfectly coined phrase also serves as a fitting title for the album.

I am reminded of Tex-Mex George Tomsco (RIP) when I listen to this. That is a big compliment as Tomsco is one of the best instrumental guitarists around, he has been for some 40-odd years. It’s spicy and flavorful, just as the colorful cover art, which features vibrant and lively imagery, indicates. This group is in a groove and better than ever.

Surfin’ The Southwest, Santa Fe Style is a stylish and well-tailored session that is truly impressive. The experience and expertise of the group in the music business are evident in the high-quality production and superb sonics that consistently caught my ear.  Please take a listen to their instro stew, it’s cookin’ with some extra spice!

Keith "MuzikMan" Hannaleck

December 6, 1999

Tracks:

01. Surfin' Santa Fe Style

02. Cut Out Y2K

03. Judi

04. The Man Who Wasn't There

05. Jeannie

06. Surfin' The Southwest

07. Moonbeam 2000

08. Precision 2000

09. Ghost Riders In The Sky

10. Legends

11. Wipe Out