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!



 

In response to my article 7 Reasons Why The Saxophone Rocks:



We need more of these in the world don't you think? Check out those sexy suits.

And how often do you see a saxophone that huge (that's a rare bass saxophone)? Wow!

It seems that everyone loves the sax. People tell me constantly how much they love the sax. (You probably do, too, or you wouldn't be reading this.)

But why? What is it about the sax that's so wonderfully cool? And why does it effect so many people so strongly? Here are my thoughts on the subject:

1. Sax makes you feel good. The very sound of the sax does something to you. It touches you. It tickles your nervous system. In a good way.
2. Sax sounds great anytime, in just about any kind of music, and makes almost any band more fun to listen to, even lousy ones. Even country music. Even polkas!
3. Sax creates great ambiance. The sax sounds hip, sophisticated, relaxed, sensuous and romantic, and always creates great atmosphere.
4. The sax looks cool. Even just the look of the instrument itself is artistic and fun. Even just having a sax laying around the room creates a hip ambiance.
5. Sax music takes you... A good sax player can really take you places like no other instrument. Sure, guitar players would argue with that, but its true!
6. Sax players are cool people. Almost universally. And I know a lot of them.
7. Sax & Sex. And I think you know what I mean. Need I say more?

Got my face in Sacramento Magazine this month. It was part of spread for the Nevada City, CA event called Victorian Christmas.

Ain’t it beautiful? You’ll notice I’m wearing gloves? This picture was taken last December, and man it was cold that night!  But business was good, people were friendly – life was beautiful!