HutchFan Posted March 8, 2016 Report Posted March 8, 2016 This CD may be old news for many of you -- but I was just giving it a listen and was struck by its power. Thought I'd share here. A few years ago, I went on a Jaki Byard bender. That's what prompted me to track down this CD. It compiles two Eric Kloss Prestige LPs, both featuring Byard, recorded in 1969: Sky Shadows and Land of Giants. Kloss was only 19 (!) when he made this music, but his playing is remarkably assured. While he didn't necessarily break new ground, Kloss was an excellent musician and made some fine music. I've now heard most of Kloss' recordings; I think these two LPs are his strongest. Also, they are required listening if you're a Jaki Byard fan. As usual, he is BRILLIANT. Along with Byard, both LPs feature sensational bands. Here are the line-ups: Sky Shadows: Eric Kloss - alto saxophone, tenor saxophone Jaki Byard - piano Pat Martino - guitar Bob Cranshaw - bass Jack DeJohnette - drums In the Land of the Giants: Eric Kloss - alto saxophone Booker Ervin - tenor saxophone Jaki Byard - piano Richard Davis - bass Alan Dawson - drums If you like Booker's Space Book and Freedom Book sessions, In the Land of Giants uses the same Byard/Davis/Dawson rhythm section with a Ervin/Kloss two-horn front line. Have you heard this music? If so, what say you? Quote
danasgoodstuff Posted March 8, 2016 Report Posted March 8, 2016 I have In the Land of Giants on vinyl - I find it to be fully as wonderful as any of the albums under Booker's name with Jaki Byard. Quote
JSngry Posted March 8, 2016 Report Posted March 8, 2016 Yeah, it's good stuff. As is, in a different zone, the two records he made with the Corea/Holland/Dejohnette trio. Reach maybe exceeded grasp, but it's not like that's always a bad thing, right? And the moments when he really "breaks through" are palpably real in a way that "better players" on a different plane don't get to as often as they did on their way up. Somebody here recently referenced Essence, a slightly later Muse thing with Hannibal & Mickey Tucker, that one burns. Listening to Eric Kloss records can take you to some interesting places sometimes. Quote
sidewinder Posted March 8, 2016 Report Posted March 8, 2016 (edited) Second what you guys say above - I have this CD and enjoy it very much as well (Pat Martino even signed my copy ). Byard is particularly good on the first session, I like the way he puts in the occasional very unpredictable interjection to keep things very interesting and imaginative. Good stuff ! Edited March 8, 2016 by sidewinder Quote
clifford_thornton Posted March 8, 2016 Report Posted March 8, 2016 39 minutes ago, JSngry said: Yeah, it's good stuff. As is, in a different zone, the two records he made with the Corea/Holland/Dejohnette trio. Reach maybe exceeded grasp, but it's not like that's always a bad thing, right? And the moments when he really "breaks through" are palpably real in a way that "better players" on a different plane don't get to as often as they did on their way up. Somebody here recently referenced Essence, a slightly later Muse thing with Hannibal & Mickey Tucker, that one burns. Listening to Eric Kloss records can take you to some interesting places sometimes. I was spinning that recently - Essence - may have mentioned it in the vinyl listening thread. Very good record. I like Kloss and should probably pick up a few more of his albums, Sky Shadows being one and Life Force / We're Goin' Up being a couple of others I'd like to hear. Quote
HutchFan Posted March 8, 2016 Author Report Posted March 8, 2016 (edited) 32 minutes ago, clifford_thornton said: I was spinning that recently - Essence - may have mentioned it in the vinyl listening thread. Very good record. I like Kloss and should probably pick up a few more of his albums, Sky Shadows being one and Life Force / We're Goin' Up being a couple of others I'd like to hear. Life Force features some nice Jimmy Owens trumpet work. ... and I need to listen to Essence again. Been a long while. Edited March 8, 2016 by HutchFan Quote
soulpope Posted March 8, 2016 Report Posted March 8, 2016 2 hours ago, HutchFan said: In the Land of the Giants: Eric Kloss - alto saxophone Booker Ervin - tenor saxophone Jaki Byard - piano Richard Davis - bass Alan Dawson - drums If you like Booker's Space Book and Freedom Book sessions, In the Land of Giants uses the same Byard/Davis/Dawson rhythm section with a Ervin/Kloss two-horn front line. Truly superb stuff .... Quote
StarThrower Posted March 9, 2016 Report Posted March 9, 2016 Great player! I have said CD, and the 32 Jazz reissue One Two Free. Quote
Kevin Bresnahan Posted March 9, 2016 Report Posted March 9, 2016 We had that "fund raiser" for Eric Kloss here a few years back... I wonder how he's doing these days? Did anyone ever hear anything after we sent him that money? Quote
sidewinder Posted March 9, 2016 Report Posted March 9, 2016 Good point - I don't recall any reports coming in after that. Quote
Guy Berger Posted March 9, 2016 Report Posted March 9, 2016 I really like both of these albums, though I'd put them a notch below the two albums with Corea/Holland/DeJohnette. JSngry's assessment is right on. Quote
HutchFan Posted March 10, 2016 Author Report Posted March 10, 2016 (edited) 19 hours ago, Guy Berger said: I really like both of these albums, though I'd put them a notch below the two albums with Corea/Holland/DeJohnette. JSngry's assessment is right on. Yeah, those two albums are fantastic also -- and quite different from the records with Byard. I particularly dig Consciousness. I guess it's sorta inevitable that Kloss sounds a little Wayne-ish while playing with that rhythm section. Edited March 10, 2016 by HutchFan Quote
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