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An extraordinarily gifted altoist, Eric Kloss first appeared on the scene at the age of 16, when his debut record won him critical acclaim as a blind child prodigy. By the time of this recording, the 23-year-old Kloss had lived up to his early promise, growing as an open-minded musician with experience playing with such jazz heavy-weights as Jaki Byard, Booker Ervin, Jack DeJohnette, and Chick Corea. One, Two, Free is an avant-garde album of often funky music, with its strong rhythms rooted in the driving bass lines of Miles Davis-veteran Dave Holland and the vintage Fender Rhodes sounds of Ron Thomas. Kloss and guitarist Pat Martino stretch imaginatively on the 18 minute title track (seamlessly divided into three parts), crafting a memorable original that approaches the electric intensity of Miles Davis' work from the same era. Carol King's "It's Too Late" starts off with tongue-in-cheek straightness, but once the theme is stated, the pop-song is turned on its head and transformed into a funky vehicle for exploration. The closing track, "Licea," is complex and cerebral, but rewards close listening. Featuring two originals and one cover tune, all over 10 minutes long, One, Two, Free is an adventurous blast from the past that still retains its freshness and is definitely worth owning. Buy it, and help rescue one of the unsung heroes of the saxophone from undeserved obscurity.
---John Ballon (email)
Buy or Hear It Now...
Tracks:
1. One, Two, Free (Suite in Three Parts) (18:03)
Pt. 1: One, Two, Free
Pt. 2: Elegy
Pt. 3: The Wizard
2. It's Too Late (13:38)
3. Licea (10:10))
Players:
Eric Kloss: Alto Sax
Pat Martino: Electric Guitar
Ron Thomas: Fender Rhodes, Tambourine
Dave Holland: Bass, Fender Bass
Ron Krasinski: Drums
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