We continue our look back at the music of 50 years ago…….
I thought I would give you one more jazz LP before we head into 1972 and this one is little known outside of jazz circles.
John Klemmer is a Chicago saxophonist who played many different styles of jazz over a long career. I first discovered him in the mid 70’s at 90FM blowing some soft stuff that got played a bit on the radio. Earlier though he had played traditional jazz and bop, and also was one of the pioneers of the jazz-fusion style popularized in the late 60’s and early 70’s. His 1971 LP, called ‘Constant Throb” works in various styles.
It ranges from the ethereal title tracks featuring the Star Trek like vocal keening of Marni Nixon who had worked in movies as the ghost singer for many actresses including Natalie Wood in West Side Story, Deborah Kerr in The King & I and Audrey Hepburn in My Fair Lady.
But the star here is the sax of Klemmer. He works with both tenor and soprano instruments and it really is something. Soaring and honking, speeding through various runs and playing soft passages with equal passion.
Some of the highlights for me are the tune “Crystaled Tears” and “California Jazz Dance”
He also lets his sidemen get their moments. Don Menza’s bass clarinet(not an instrument you hear everyday) stands out on “Neptune” and guitarist Howard Roberts has a nice solo on “Let Me Touch The Wind. He’s also supported by old pros Jim Keltner and Shelly manne on the drum kits, Wilton Felder and Reggie Johnson on bass and Mike Woofford & Mike Lang on keyboards.
He recorded four LPs in the early 70’s for the Impulse label that were more hard than soft jazz and this was one of them.