John Klemmer

Dear John: I agree, Touch is a must to hear/have, we have to remember that one of the Klemmer " group " on this recording was another " big name ": Dave Grusin.

Btw, from MFSL LP the Joe Sample " Rainbow Seeker " is very good too.

Oregon, who are those friends of you?

Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.

Being a modern big band aficionado in the '70s introduced me to some great artists before they become front men. I first heard Richie Cole when he debuted with the Buddy Rich Big Band on "Buddy and Soul." Similarly, John Klemmer first recorded as the new sax guy on a Don Ellis album. I think it was "Soaring" on MPS/BASF.

I don't have the MoFi "Touch," but I picked up the conventional album at a St. Vincent DePaul for fitty cents. Sounds very good.

I manage to purchase about five John Klemmer LP so far, and I love every one of them. The John Klemmer Mosaic is a double album and I was glad to get that one also. I am now after "Finesse, Magic Moments, and Magnificent Madness".
Dave Grusen is another favorite of mine, I picked up two of his LP in Tokyo last month. I like those 1970's LP's because they sound so full and natural. I find that most of the 1980's music I come across have too much synthesizers in them, and it drives me "NUTTS", I hate the sound of Synthesizers... it just messes up the music.

Like other recommenders, get "Touch" which is his high point because everything else he put out is just more of the same - echoplex with different chords. He's borderline "new age/smooth jazz". If that's your preference keep buying his catalog. Otherwise, listen to other sax players because there are plenty more who are more original in their playing.

The sonics on Straight From The Heast are FAR superior than Touch if that matters.

Touch 6/10

SFTH 9/10