When I was just 18 years old, a friend put on John Klemmer's album, "Waterfalls", and it changed my life forever.
For here was a sound that I had never heard before, notes cascading by the thousands, a sound bathed in echo and reverb - passionate, sensuous, ethereal, haunting, and beautiful! I was amazed - I had no idea you could make a saxophone sound like that - and like so many others, I was hooked on his sound.
That was back in 1973. Waterfalls, released in 1972, was John Klemmer's 6th album. While living in L.A. in the late 60's and early 70's at the height of the rock explosion, he did concerts with Janis Joplin etc. & local L.A. rock groups & musicians. He incorporated these new styles etc. in his recordings for Cadet Concept/Chess & Impulse! records, constantly breaking new ground, broadening & increasing his critical interest & acclaim & fan base.
Klemmer, the self-styled "Ambassador Of Cool," was a smooth jazz saxophone pioneer, composing and performing music back in the 70's that was smooth, hip and easy - way, way before Kenny G broke the world of smooth jazz saxophone wide open.
Here's a YouTube clip of Klemmer back in the 70's when he was only 19! Amazing innovative stuff! And check the size of the gong that Alphonse Mouzon has - it's huge! Enjoy!
For here was a sound that I had never heard before, notes cascading by the thousands, a sound bathed in echo and reverb - passionate, sensuous, ethereal, haunting, and beautiful! I was amazed - I had no idea you could make a saxophone sound like that - and like so many others, I was hooked on his sound.
That was back in 1973. Waterfalls, released in 1972, was John Klemmer's 6th album. While living in L.A. in the late 60's and early 70's at the height of the rock explosion, he did concerts with Janis Joplin etc. & local L.A. rock groups & musicians. He incorporated these new styles etc. in his recordings for Cadet Concept/Chess & Impulse! records, constantly breaking new ground, broadening & increasing his critical interest & acclaim & fan base.
Klemmer, the self-styled "Ambassador Of Cool," was a smooth jazz saxophone pioneer, composing and performing music back in the 70's that was smooth, hip and easy - way, way before Kenny G broke the world of smooth jazz saxophone wide open.
Here's a YouTube clip of Klemmer back in the 70's when he was only 19! Amazing innovative stuff! And check the size of the gong that Alphonse Mouzon has - it's huge! Enjoy!