Monthly Archives: December 1998

John Klemmer: “Making Love”

John Klemmer
Making Love Vol. 1

Touch Records
Released: 1998
Time: 72:54

Musicians: John Klemmer (saxophones); instrumental accompaniment.

Rating: 3 stars
Depending on how you like your John Klemmer, you may or may not like this recording. Klemmer is recording once again after a lengthy sabbatical, and his newest more or less picks up where his previous project, Music, left off. The idea here is a musical suite with movements and variations, like classical music, but oriented toward contemporary jazz and new age music consumers. This is both its drawback and its strength, since there are some who wish John Klemmer would just lay it all on the line and put out an album of really good “blowing” tunes like his classic Cadet/Concept sides (or even his Cry solo saxophone project), while others will like this smooth and seductive set because it is so sedate and relaxed. With a few exceptions, this is yet another set of tunes in the same vein as the series of recordings he began with his successful Touch album from the mid 70’s, although we get the relaxing sounds of rain and thunder throughout this disc.

Despite the concept of the album, Klemmer still has his unmistakable tone on the tenor sax, and is just as solid a player as ever. The current crop of soprano saxophonists should listen to Klemmer’s tone on that instrument for an example of how to play it without turning it into a screeching, wailing, headache-inducing squeal. And whether you like it or not, the “Echoplex” sound is also back in full swing. If you like Klemmer’s playing and can get past the rather sedate concept of this album, you’ll enjoy this one. It’s good to see Klemmer back on the scene, and hope his next project will be not so far off into the future.