Search - Eric Kloss :: In the Land of Giants

There are some Great Lp's that shouldn't be two'fered!!!!!!!

C. Katz | Peoples Republic Of Massachussettes | 06/23/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"And this Kloss CD is one of them.The second half of the LP is totally different then the first.Kloss the blind child phenom (his first leadership of an LP was for and "Introducing" LP in 1965 which like the "Sky Shadows" LP has the great Pat Martino).1968's "Sky Shadows" has(if a remember right) all Kloss cuts "Country Soul Garden","Sky Shadows","Girl With the Fall in Her Hair","I'll Give You Everything",and "January's Child" with Martino,Jaki Byard (on both sessions),Bob Cranshaw on bass,and Jack Dejohnette on drums.It's s fine session one where Martino is fine comping and soloing.But it's just IMHO oppinon meant to picked out on it's own and not to be put with what I think is and even better session that follows which is totally different



But the second is a the first of s string of 5 star sessions that began in '68 when Kloss was 19.The "In The Land Of Giants" session is AMAZING/Kloss trades with the great Booker Ervin on tenor,Byard on keys,Alan Dawson on drums and the great Richard Davis on Drums.The session is worth the twice whatever you pay just for the opening cut of "Summertime" done as and epochal alto/bass duet between Kloss and Davis.The rest of the album shows the maturing Kloss can rip right along with the high powered Texan (and aren't they all about just about everything??Larger than life stuff).A perfect follow up of Miles "So What" by whole band follows and two Kloss originals "Sock It To Me Socrates" and "When Two Lovers Touch".As noted at allmusic guide the last cut Ellington's "Things Ain't What They Used To Be" is stylistically a bit misfit here is played perfectly.Maybe it was the idea and time of title that made it a choice (1969 right?).Lastly the Byard piano is not well mixed in if impeccably played.That's a shame.Because this album from the cover art to the last note deserves almost iconic status.If you look at the post bird players like Stitt,Pepper,Cannonball,and others no greats list is complete without Kloss.It seems a strange thing to observe but it's as though after Bird many less black players picked up the alto as if it were scarilage after Bird (he had said it all perhaps) so you had number of white youngsters like Kloss (who again being blind color wasn't such a big thing eh?) and folks like Frank Strozier have no problems (Check out "Fantastic Frank Strozier" with Kelly,P.C. and Cobb aka Miles rhythm section).But enopugh of my social political nonsense about music and race and choice of axe.Kloss was a wunderkind whose albums especially his late 60's run were incredible.The fact he dropped out of jazz and disappeared after 1981 at the age of 32 was maybe the candle that burns at both ends but it was a profound loss to jazz.Try to get the Japan release of "In The Land Of Giants" or fight it out on ebay with me for the LP.It deserves to be heard on it's own.On other hand this OOP twofer gives a fine session in addition I just don't they should be combined.Then you will want the 1969 "Meets The Rhythem Section" and everything in that era.Kloss is criminally under recognized more so as time devides us from his spectacular shooting star short run.

Peace

Chazz

P.S.OK I either put you to sleep with my B.S on this one (another insomnia mess I admit) or your not reading this.But if you are:I am hypnotizing you.You are getting not sleepy but compassionate and will give to Jazz Foundation Of America,Jazz's Habitat For Humanity.Maybe with more commercial support or foundational help a guy like Kloss would hand in there but with him we won't know."