Tim Price Blogging For Rico Reeds- The timeless brilliance & innovation of John Klemmer.

- John Klemmer....exploring, experimenting,creating always reaching for and inspiring the world with innovations. John had the guts and courage to step ahead every time he played his horn. I'll be blunt and totally honest...everything-you hear today in loops, samples, electronic saxophone playing with vivid imagination was already done by John Klemmer in the late 60's. His musicianship and feeling knocked me out when I heard it. Inspiring and he made me want to search further, expand and just be more open to it all. His results today are a world class benchmark of genius.Johns knowledge of harmony-soul-sound-intensity and love is evident always. Johns first records on Chess I just got on CD and his " Blowin Gold" on import from Japan. Blowin Gold was_BEFORE_BITCHES BREW_ and deep. Very deep- there was a musical direction there. "There is a saying, `What you are speaks louder than what you say'"...this is a positive example for eternity of that.Everything Klemmer has done is unique, musical and personal. Johns saxophone sound is one of a kind. For any musician who feels there is a spiritual component to what they do, check out Johns directions and listen. His work is inspirational, thought-provoking, and illuminating. Ultimately, John's concepts are universal and can be enjoyed by all. I was always inspired by his common thread between all of the world's musics to illustrate his points.As I said,hearing him as a teenager helped me broaden my perspective, and understand the true nature of a players quest. The recordings before " Blowing Gold" like "Involvement". Wow. Check that out now- if you haven't. ~ That John's very first album, what he played onit, and how he played the saxophone was/is amazing. Total maturity, musicality, a personal sense of beauty,passion and emotionalism. The vibe was set! He was a debut record with a strong sense of direction and a total mastery of both his instrument and composing skills. LISTEN- To his obvious signs of the ballads & bossa novas. hIs beautiful sound, chock full of grit and ideas on standards and ballads still to this day sounds amazing. ~ As time moved on- you can hear the innovation in John's music. But the roots and directions set on those early recordings set the stage. " Blowing Gold"....was like nothing else then. Remember this was before Miles came out with " Bitches Brew". You can immediately hear the Essence of Klemmer's Unique sound & style as well as lyrical,super melodic passion. Electronic saxophone directions, jazz-rock beats, it's all there in the highest form. BACKED BY A SUPERB BAND....this recording is history forever. ~ Another recording of importance is the " Cry" album. In talking to John awhile ago I found out why this music was so unique, uplifting and stunning. This is the story- the "cry" album was recorded in Tucson Arizona away from the L.A. music vibe so no one would know about it. John recorded in a gigantic brand new studio in the middle of the desert offered to him. The deep part of this that I'll never forget was he told me- he recorded with the lights off and his parents whom he invited sitting in chairs on each side of him in total darkness. This was a "gift" or "tribute" to his mother was dieing rapidly of cancer at the time.John told his mother that by her being right there next to him inspiring him as he was playing-improvising she would be immortalized. What was played here were intended to sooth his mothers pain, as well as his own.As they sat there, John played and recorded.Hence the title "Cry". ~ WHEN...the album came out it stunned everyone as radio stations and non-jazz stations were playing the entire album, as it was it very successful. From John's explanation, "Cry" was the purity and essence of "Touch" of John without the rhythm section. From a saxophonistic point of view- Klemmer's time has always been the ultimate. How he uses time, and the strong way he plays time, weather it's straight ahead, fusion or romantic is one of a kind. You can hear this as far back as the debut record and the cadenzas he played with Don Ellis. It's an ever evolving process. ~ John Klemmer is one of the gifts to this music,a guy with a horn who loves to play and explore as well as experiment while expressing himself in a very personal manner with a deep definite loving purposes behind it all. CHECK THIS OUT ; ELECTRONICA http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDB94549CEB56B837.......... NEW MUSIC http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9iIZ...e=results_main.......... LIVE IN L.A. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a23-t...e=results_main......... SOLO ACOUSTIC SAX II "GREAT AMERICAN SONGBOOK" SOLO SAX III http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQc84...e=results_main........ JOHN KLEMMER YOU TUBE CHANNEL http://www.youtube.com/results?searc...be.77KU5iR4F90......... ~ IT'S A LESSON IN ALL THINGS MUSIC.....TALKING TO JOHN KLEMMER ABOUT MUSIC AND HIS PASSION FOR IT. HE IS A HARD WORKER, AND SOMEONE WHO NEVER LOOKS BACK, A FORWARD THINKER WHO YOUNG PLAYERS, STUDENTS AND LISTENERS NEED TO STUDY, ENJOY AND EXPERIENCE MORE. ~ He really defined my thoughts on the Rico Plasticover reeds. How he feels they respond in the studio, with electronics and define the essence of the player. John has been a long time RICO REEDS ARTIST...someone that Rico is very proud of. A modern day master who changed music. Just listen! John is the essence of timeless quality, when it applies to music, his presence looms strong as ever today. In all this is more than a half-century of brilliance that is uncompromising in a way that contains vivid intuition, innovation and joy. Have you heard " NEXUS" ? ~ I hope this Rico Reeds Blog....on Rico artist and jazz legend John Klemmer is helpful to you. There will be more on John too. I am working on some ideas and directions. BUT- Check out the music, listen to " God Bless The Child" on youtube from his " NEXUS" sessions. Much thanks to John Klemmer for his devotion to this art form,and his great explanations on this music. There will be more- till then- keep listening and moving forward. - - - Tim Price