SUMMARY: RUNNING TIME: 3:28 Min.
Dating back to 1939, this instrumental jazz classic co-written by Earle Hagen and Dick Rogers was a frequent cover for decades. Perhaps most memorably, the tune was became the lead theme of Stacy Keach’s hard-boiled Mike Hammer TV franchise in the ‘80s (and its brief reboot in the ’90s). The London Starlight Orchestra covered the Hagen-Rogers tune for its 1989 album, 16 Famous TV Themes.
REVIEW:
Given its ultra-obscure source, one might have low standard-issue expectations for a nondescript orchestra covering “Harlem Nocturne.” Impressively, this up-tempo rendition offers terrific entertainment. Lightening the tune’s gritty noir-style spirit, The London Starlight Orchestra makes this jazz standard sound surprisingly fresh. It’s worth checking out as a possible download addition to any instrumental jazz or relaxing TV tunes playlists.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 7½ Stars
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