Release Date: July 11, 2025
Label: Steel Derrick Music
Website
The M-Squad Crime Jazz Quintet has come up with an incredibly
imaginative and eclectic recording titled TO
KILL A DEADMAN!
They manage to create their own instrumental soundtrack,
blending cool jazz and surfy rock lines from the guitars. In addition, the
vibes and piano play a crucial role in making these soundscapes of intrigue and
mystery.
If you’re a jazz fan, you will love this. If you appreciate
experimental surf, you will also love it. If you are looking to hear a surf
instro album, this will not be your cup of tea.
I enjoyed this recording, and it lives up to the hype sticker
that says It’s A Crime Wave of
Daddy-o! – 14 Bongo Blasting Mid-Century Suspense Themes-Dig!
Ok, I will go with that!
“Danger” is the atmospheric opener (a word I want emphasis with
this music). The guitar intro is very smooth as the piano is added, which is
quite jazzy. In fact, it is mainly through this entire album. There is a switch
in tempo as it increases, then back to slower, then another change. You hear
percussion done lightly to follow the volume and pace. This is very
transitional music, and that is what makes it interesting and keeps it that
way.
“Our Man Flint” features the drum taking the lead, with the bass
following. The organ and guitar give it a bit of a surf/spy vibe. Then the
transition is to more volume and an increased tempo brings it to a close.
“Walkin’ Bass,” indeed; that is precisely what it does, as a
flute is introduced. A piano comes in as the percussion is minimal, letting the
other instruments maintain command of the atmosphere of intrigue and mystery.
The vibes add their essence as well. Now more of the jazz elements come into
focus here, and as we advance.
“Richard Diamond” begins with a drum intro, guitar, and piano
come into play with a real jazz feel. Drums and cymbals add another element as
the piano does a solo for some more jazz layers. The guitar is very tasteful
and pronounced here.
“A Marked Man” features Spanish-inflected acoustic and electric
guitars, with the steady and ready bass providing a solid foundation. The
brushes on the drums are a soft touch, making the track mellow and sweet, even
though the track title would indicate something entirely different. Considering
the tone and atmosphere, it could be regarded as ironic, and that could be the
idea here.
“Elegy For A Loser” starts with the sound of traffic and more
jazz guitar lines. Under a minute, this is a quicky, then on to the next track.
“Dark Eye” features their jazz strengths with guitar and vibes.
The guitar breaks out this time on a run into some stinging leads (which are
uncharacteristic for the most part on this album). Drums, percussion (bongos),
and bass are superb, and then the piano gets a turn.
“From Russia With Love” brings on the twangy surf again (I know
you were waiting for that!) set to that mysterious spy tone. The piano and
vibes stay in the jazz lane. The piano gets down and dirty with some fine runs.
Cymbals are effective and in rhythm, so to finish it with a dramatic ending
only seemed appropriate. This is a good example of how jazz intersects with
surf.
“Dope Street” has a bass line to kick things off, and it does
its walk as the flute plays its mesmerizing notes. The percussion adds to the
sound of intrigue waiting just around the corner. Picture an old black-and-white
film with a gumshoe standing under a dimly lit streetlight. Strange sound
effects are added, giving an added spacey, weird feel.
“Beat Girl” is a total switch to surf instro! The Hammond organ
adds its classic retro sound: another quick jaunt, but exciting and energizing.
“Love & Murder,” we go back to the jazz/surf/spy sounds.
Vibes are present as the jazz unfolds, with the guitar settling somewhere in
the middle. The piano is a bonus.
“Kind Of Green” is their fun and different track with a voice talking
all about green and everything in between, that’s green. Some cool jazz guitar
lends a hand to set down the atmosphere for the voice, as the flute adds its
eloquence in an otherwise spoof track.
“Blue Interlude” has traffic sounds in the beginning and
the jazz guitar with the organ gradually added, stopping, and coming back for
effect—another quicky then on to the closer.
“Beat” begins with a drum solo, then the bass and percussion
join in, followed by the guitar and flute, which merge to create a very cool
jazz sound. Percussion gives it the air of mystery that they do so well project
in their music. The piano tinkles and reverberates as the bass leads the way
for a while. The traffic sounds come back to close the curtain.
If you are interested in exploring a mixture of sounds done
instrumentally, with jazz leading the way and elements of surf rock woven in, TO KILL A DEADMAN! will be a
lot of fun for you to listen to. It’s a soundtrack to a movie of crime and
suspense as advertised!
The M-Squad are:
MIKE VERNON – guitars / piano on 3, 5, 14 /
effects on 9
TED HAMER – piano / organ / lead piano on 14
DOUG SNYDER – double bass
CHRIS ROBERTS – drums
NELSON BRAGG – percussion / cymbal on 1
Keith
“MuzikMan” Hannaleck-Surf Music and Art Reviews Founder
September
10, 2025
Tracks:
01. Danger 03:33
02. Our Man Flint 02:36
03. Walkin' Bass 02:34
04. Richard Diamond 03:37
05. A Marked Man 02:34
06. Elegy For A Loser 00:51
07. Dark Eye 03:38
08. From Russia With Love 04:24
09. Dope Street 04:12
10. Beat Girl 01:40
11. Love & Murder 03:27
12. Kind Of Green 03:43
