Winter is well and truly upon us, with the dull grey skies and nights creeping in earlier and earlier. But this week, British guitarist Jack Gardiner dropped a track that will instantly transport you to the beaches of Miami in the 80s. Indeed, his new piece ‘Taxman’ is instrumental sunshine in a bottle, a perfect remedy to the December blues.
Jack Gardiner, hailing from the Liverpool area, is something of a hidden gem, nestling in the realm between a multitude of genres and styles. While on the surface an extraordinarily talented jazz fusion guitarist, his masterful shredding encompasses rock, funk, blues, and far more. Past singles this year from his ‘Urushi’ EP, ‘Shibuya Meltdown’, ‘Eightfold Fence’, and ‘Mugen’, have tinkered with traditional Japanese sounds and instrumentation, all under under his laser-focused guitar playing.
But it is this final single, ‘Taxman’ that crowns his year off in beautiful fashion. Recorded with frequent collaborators Owane, a Norwegian multi-instrumentalist and producer, and Henrik Linder, best known as the virtuoso bassist of experimental Swedish group Dirty Loops, the whole composition is an eclectic treasure trove of good vibes without a vocalist in sight.
While the funky bass pops harken back to US easy listening music of the late 20th century, and the synths wash over like a summer breeze, it is of course the electric guitar that is the centrepiece, a mix of melodies you could almost sing along to, followed by Gardiner’s lightning-fast lead work. All of the elements blend to create a groovy bite of nostalgia and warmth.
As if the track itself wasn’t enough to evoke a feeling of summer, then the accompanying music video must be. Filmed on location on the coast of Norway, it features scenic views of the three musicians out on the cliffs, with the backdrop of crystal clear Nordic waters. When contrasted with the bleak sight outside English windows currently, you can tell why they didn’t attempt to film it here. And the playful, yet bizarre editing showcases that these three artists are having as much fun creating this music as listeners will be upon hearing it.
Jack Gardiner himself is an interesting character. He currently lives in Switzerland, where as well as writing his own music, he applies his talents to instructional courses and teaching materials for other keen guitarists. Having been in the spotlight as a unique talent since the age of 15, he caught the eye of many greats of the guitar world such as Tom Quayle, Rick Graham, and the renowned innovator Steve Vai.
Now Gardiner himself is on a rise of his own, releasing a diverse set of distinctive singles across 2025, as well as featuring as the lead artist on the promotional track ‘Matterhorn’ for guitar plug-in developer Neural DSP. With so much output, we can expect everything that comes after ‘Taxman’ to be just as exciting.
Jack Gardiner’s 2025 EP ‘Urushi’ and single Taxman, are available to buy on his Bandcamp store, and are also on streaming services. His educational courses are available on his website, and he is forecast to release a full album of material in February 2026.
