Eric Kloss

Whatever happened to Eric Kloss? A brilliant player by the time he was 20, Kloss has largely disappeared from the jazz scene since his string of excellent recordings (mostly for Prestige and Muse) stopped in 1981. This particular CD reissue has two complete albums (To Hear Is to See and Consciousness) that feature Kloss with the Miles Davis rhythm section of the period (keyboardist Chick Corea, electric bassist Dave Holland, and drummer Jack DeJohnette); the second session also has innovative guitarist Pat Martino. It is to Eric Kloss' great credit that he keeps up with his more famous sidemen on the adventurous program, which is comprised of his seven originals and one song apiece by Pat Martino, Joni Mitchell, and Donovan ("Sunshine Superman"). The music blends together aspects of the avant-garde and fusion and rewards repeated listenings.

Eric Kloss is one of many artists recorded live at E.J.'s in Atlanta before it ceased operations in 1982. Unlike typical guest artists performing there, Kloss doesn't simply play with a local house band; he is joined throughout both dates by pianist Gil Goldstein, with bassist Steve Tisher and drummer Terry Silverlight added on the last three selections. Kloss, who abruptly seemed to have ceased performing and recording without explanation during the 1980s, is in great form on these 1979 live sets. The duo leads off with "Sweet Connections," a furious original credited to both men. The saxophonist's lush ballads "Wrapped in a Cloud" and "The Sands of Time" are followed by a fairly straightforward interpretation of rocker James Taylor's "Places in My Past"…

Eric Kloss - Sky Shadows / In The Land Of The Giants (1968-69) {1999 Prestige Remaster}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 452 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 179 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 16 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1999 Prestige / Fantasy | PRCD-24217-2
Jazz / Post Bop / Saxophone

For this 1969 release, saxophonist Eric Kloss, exclusively on alto for the date, is joined by tenor veteran Booker Ervin, allowing the 20-year-old Kloss to demonstrate he can readily go toe to toe with the Texan's big, blustery sound, as well as work in a more impressionistic vein. The rhythm section of drummer Alan Dawson and bassist Richard Davis is effective, although Davis is not quite up to his customary brilliance.

Barry Miles - Sky Train (1976) {Wounded Bird WOU 2200 rel 2009}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 352 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 116 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 9 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1976, 2009 RCA Victor / Wounded Bird Records / Sony Music | WOU 2200
Jazz / Fusion / Keyboards

Barry Miles is a Fusion-Jazz keyboardist who has worked with many of the top fusion musicians, including Al Di Meola and Miles Davis. He has issued a handful of solo albums over the years. We now present Sky Train, originally released on RCA Records in 1977, for the first time on compact disc. It features Eric Kloss, Anthony Jackson and Randy Brecker. The album also features the 20 minute epic 'Cityscape (The Fusion Suite)'.