Follow along with the video below to see how to install our site as a web app on your home screen.
Note: This feature may not be available in some browsers.
I have several of John Klemmer's albums on CD primarily from Barefoot ballet to his 1989 CD "Music" which was a bit of a disappointment he does too much spoken word in the songs I lost track of his music after that and just stuck with the ones I love most I wish he would return to the more Laid back style that I still enjoy today'sJohn Klemmer day...
His first album Involvement, on Cadet Concept, before he got all spacey. This is pretty much all straight-ahead jazz, fresh out of Chicago.
Followed by Touch, one of the more laid back dates. This was one of Mobile Fidelity's first releases, and either the MoFi LP or CD are the go-to versions here:
Finally, a hard rockin' date from his Cadet Concept era, Blowin' Gold:
I know Bernie Fleisher ( also a BMB Alumni )played on either touch or Barefoot ballet on the flute as he was credited.I think Music was one of his last albums. He had a later one in the 90s on his own label, but it was pretty much a rehash of his Touch-style albums. My sax tutor recommended Klemmer's first album since his tone on the sax was something good to work towards. I know a musician who played keys for him on one of his later records, and when I asked him about it, I think he told me something along the lines of, "Nice guy, but a liiittle strange."
Some feel his Cadet/Concept records are among his best. Prior to his own recordings, he had played in one of Don Ellis' big bands, and they played some really "out there" charts at times. One of the Baja Marimba guys played in Ellis' big bands also--I think it was Dave Wells (trombone).
I always liked his solo on "The Caves of Altamira." Funny when I heard it, right away I knew it was Klemmer...even down to the Echoplex.
I think Music was one of his last albums. He had a later one in the 90s on his own label, but it was pretty much a rehash of his Touch-style albums. My sax tutor recommended Klemmer's first album since his tone on the sax was something good to work towards. I know a musician who played keys for him on one of his later records, and when I asked him about it, I think he told me something along the lines of, "Nice guy, but a liiittle strange."
Some feel his Cadet/Concept records are among his best. Prior to his own recordings, he had played in one of Don Ellis' big bands, and they played some really "out there" charts at times. One of the Baja Marimba guys played in Ellis' big bands also--I think it was Dave Wells (trombone).
I always liked his solo on "The Caves of Altamira." Funny when I heard it, right away I knew it was Klemmer...even down to the Echoplex.
I think I have the Fillmore album here...oh and possibly Autumn. Sometimes I can't keep them all straight.Klemmer played on 3 Ellis albums, Autumn, The New Don Ellis Band Goes Underground and Live At Fillmore. He was with the band from 1968-1970.
Dan
Wow you Are on a Roll My friend.and I've been listening to George Shearing quite a bit lately my most recent favorites are two standouts from his 1963 album Touch me softly " Lollipops and Roses which has a good Latin beat to it and a nice version of " Sunday Monday or Always" they were recorded during his stint at Capitol records Great memorable stuffCoolest Qobuz find so far.
I've mentioned it before around these parts, but I've collected Cal Tjader's recordings for decades. I already had dozens, then "inherited" an entire Tjader collection from the widow of another collector who was a completist. Well...I think I heard about this particular record maybe once, but had never seen it, and it wasn't in the shipment I received either. I'm thinking he might have owned it, but perhaps it was stored in with another set of records. This one I believe was Tjader's first-ever record under his own name, issued on a 10" LP in the early 1950s.
What a thrill to hear it now! I am pretty sure I will purchase this from Qobuz, as I've never seen it on CD. It is quite an interesting artifact. Keep in mind that by this time, he was either just out of, or still part of, the George Shearing group where he took up his Latin bag.
I haven't seen you in over a decade. It weren't me!I once had a vinyl copy of AJA, but it disappeared ages ago. I think it was appropriated by someone who 'borrowed' it.