Records

John Klemmer, "fresh feathers", (ABCD 836).

In a recent "Downbeat" interview John Klemmer spoke of plans to unveil a "new musical concept," an attempt to eliminate avant-garde alienation and re-associate jazz as a popular music. The result is "Fresh Feathers".  two sides of "formulaic-funk" efficiently generated by a quintet, three female vocalists (modestly called the John Klemmer Inner Voices). and Klemmer's electronically-altered tenor sax. The switch from Impulse to its parent label ABC and song titles like "Music for the People" indicate just how intent he is upon reaching a wider audience.

Unfortunately there is very little that is new about Klemmer's musical concept. Like Herbie Hancock, he has tried to combine the basic rhythms of soul with sounds from the space age. But his fusion is a failure, for after the novelty of these electronic toys has worn off the listener is left with little more than 50 minutes of mediocre Motown. Echo-plexes, ring modulators, phasers, and wah-wah pedals have their place in jazz, but must be treated as unique communicative tools, not as a means of only giving "far-out" timbres to the same old funky riffs. Only once does Klemmer begin to realize the potential of his electrified tenor, predictably enough in a solo passage, the intro to "Stinger."

Klemmer's playing is much like that of Joe Farrell - technically proficient but seldom inspired. With the exception of one beautiful ballad, "Gentle Morning Song," the album is mechanistic and boring. Gunther Schuller once said that in order to be rewarding for the listener, jazz must be 50% predictability and 50% surprise. "Fresh Feathers " is a 95/5% proposition.

In the same "Downbeat" interview, Klemmer better expressed his "new musical concept," "Jazz has the potential of becoming big business. This means that all of us who have worked so hard can finally have success in our lifetime." Will success spoil John Klemmer?