One of the last 'Great American Songbook' entries, 'More (Theme from Mondo Cane),' was originally featured in the 1962 exploitation film Mondo Cane.  It won the 1964 Grammy for Best Instrumental Theme and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Song at the 36th Academy Awards in 1964. The song was released as a single in 1962 and has been covered by such musical greats as Frank Sinatra, Bobby Darin, Aretha Franklin, and Jackie Gleason....oh right, Kai Winding is in there too.

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While not quite a household name, Winding was an accomplished trombonist and jazz arranger who was active for most of the 40s up to the 70s. Kenny Burrell - another familiar name to jazz connoisseurs - was a successful guitarist who came out with  an especially phenomenal Christmas album in 1966, A Soulful Little Christmas. Naturally, following the successful chart run of their version of 'More,' these two jazz legends came together and decided to make....a surf album? Well, actually, the album was released with two covers, one bearing the name More (Theme From Mondo Cane) and the other sporting the title Soul Surfing. Oddly, both have the same back cover, which expressly identifies the moniker, 'Soul Surfing,' and extensive liner notes referencing various surfing gear and pastimes. 

 

'More' features an Ondoliner - a rare musical instrument played by Winding himself. 'Hero' is a great little surf tune with extensive guitar work courtesy of Burrell. 'Gravy Waltz' could be classified as surf-jazz, though it borders a little more to the former. 'China Nights' is another good surf tune incorporating Hawaiian stylings. What could be considered the album's best surf track, 'Surf Bird' (not the Trashmen song), actually benefits from the trombone punches and features Burrell using some welcome low twang. 'Pipeline' follows suit and is just about the most original cover of the Chantays' hit single out there. 'Sukiyaki' has the distinction of being the only Japanese language single to hit #1 in the US, and it also sounds fresh here. After such a strong seven-song run, the album's namesake 'Soul Surfin'' is a little underwhelming - mostly a blues jam session. 'Tube Wail' is fun and features Burrell's signature guitar tone. 'Spinner' is another Hawaiian-esque number with some cool guitar sounds. 'Hearse Ride' is a spooky number with some trademark-genre whammy bar action that could've fit onto the Deadly Ones' 'It's Monster Surfing Time. 'Comin' Home Baby' sits well among the other tracks and is a fine closer.

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Laying aside certain objections from purists, the music on Soul Surfing definitely benefits from the jazz stylings. All in all, it's just really good music played exceptionally well. Who wouldn't enjoy that? In fact, I often find myself repeating a side before flipping the record over. Pressed on the jazz label Verve Records, this album is mastered and printed exquisitely, and copies are relatively easy to locate. It's a genre-bending album that is played beautifully that I highly recommend checking out.