Review by Ronnie D. Lankford, Jr.
First Class! collects two solid Eric Kloss albums from 1966 and 1967, the first titled Grits and Gravy, the latter First Class Kloss! Over the course of 16 pieces, however, saxophonist Kloss fronts three different groups: a quartet, quintet, and septet. While this never seems disjointed, it does occasionally feel like a best-of package, especially when the female vocal group joins in on pieces like "Slow Hot Wind." This is especially true on the first eight pieces from Grits and Gravy. Bizarre hodgepodges like the title track with its combination of background vocals, a large ensemble, and repetitive funky riffs remind one of a bad '60s movie soundtrack. These tracks are juxtaposed with incredibly edgy work by Kloss, pianist Jaki Byard, bassist Richard Davis, and drummer Alan Dawson. The intensity of "Softly, As in a Morning Sunrise" still sounds fresh 20 years after the fact, and the chemistry among the players is explosive. Luckily, the two bonus tracks, "When I Fall" and "Psychedelicatessen Rag," come from these sessions. Kloss is joined by trumpeter Jimmy Owens, pianist Cedar Walton, bassist Leroy Vinnegar, and drummer Dawson for the last half-dozen tracks, and the work here is uniformly excellent. "The Chasin' Game" and "African Cookbook" take advantage of the duel-horn lineup, and the quintet stretches both of these pieces out for seven minutes. While the overall effect of First Class! is a bit scattered, there's a great deal of excellent music on the disc that's sure to please the Kloss fan. https://www.allmusic.com/album/first-class%21-mw0000636649
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Reseña de Ronnie D. Lankford, Jr.
First Class! recoge dos sólidos álbumes de Eric Kloss de 1966 y 1967, el primero titulado Grits and Gravy, el segundo First Class Kloss! A lo largo de 16 piezas, sin embargo, el saxofonista Kloss lidera tres grupos diferentes: un cuarteto, un quinteto y un septeto. Aunque nunca parece inconexo, a veces da la sensación de que se trata de lo mejor de lo mejor, especialmente cuando el grupo vocal femenino se une en piezas como «Slow Hot Wind». Esto es especialmente cierto en las ocho primeras piezas de Grits and Gravy. Hodgepodges extraños como la canción que da título al disco, con su combinación de voces de fondo, un gran conjunto y riffs funky repetitivos, recuerdan a la banda sonora de una mala película de los sesenta. Estos temas se yuxtaponen con el increíble trabajo de Kloss, el pianista Jaki Byard, el bajista Richard Davis y el batería Alan Dawson. La intensidad de «Softly, As in a Morning Sunrise» sigue sonando fresca 20 años después, y la química entre los músicos es explosiva. Por suerte, los dos temas extra, «When I Fall» y «Psychedelicatessen Rag», proceden de estas sesiones. A Kloss se le unen el trompetista Jimmy Owens, el pianista Cedar Walton, el bajista Leroy Vinnegar y el batería Dawson para la última media docena de temas, y el trabajo aquí es uniformemente excelente. «The Chasin' Game» y “African Cookbook” sacan partido de la formación de doble trompa, y el quinteto alarga ambas piezas durante siete minutos. Aunque el efecto general de First Class! es un poco disperso, hay una gran cantidad de música excelente en el disco que sin duda complacerá al fan de Kloss. https://www.allmusic.com/album/first-class%21-mw0000636649
Tracks:
1 - A Day In The Life Of A Fool 3:30
2 - Repeat 3:05
3 - A Slow Hot Wind 3:00
4 - Gentle One 3:55
5 - Grits And Gravy 2:30
6 - Softly As In A Morning Sunrise 4:58
7 - You Don't Know What Love Is 6:00
8 - Milestones 10:10
9 - When I Fall In Love 6:05
10 - Psychedelicatessen Rag 2:55
11 - Comin' Home Baby 2:44
12 - The Chasin' Game 7:03
13 - One For Marianne 6:44
14 - Chitlins Con Carne 2:49
15 - Walkin' 5:28
16 - African Cookbook 7:06
Credits:
Alto Saxophone – Eric Kloss
Art Direction – Jamie Putnam
Baritone Saxophone, Flute, Percussion – Danny Bank (tracks: 1, 3, 5)
Bass – Leroy Vinnegar (tracks: 11 to 16), Richard Davis (2) (tracks: 2, 4, 6 to 10), Ronnie Boykins (tracks: 1, 3, 5)
Compilation Producer – Stuart Kremsky
Design – Deb Sibony
Drums – Alan Dawson (tracks: 2, 4, 6 to 16), Robert Gregg (tracks: 1, 3, 5)
Guitar – Billy Butler (tracks: 1, 3, 5)
Liner Notes – Michael Rozek
Photography By – Don Schlitten
Piano – Al Williams (4) (tracks: 1, 3, 5), Cedar Walton (tracks: 11 to 16), Jaki Byard (tracks: 2, 4, 6 to 10)
Producer – Cal Lampley (tracks: 1 to 10), Don Schlitten (tracks: 11 to 16)
Recorded By – Rudy Van Gelder
Remastered By – Kirk Felton
Tenor Saxophone – Eric Kloss (tracks: 14 to 16)
Transferred By – Jesse Nichols
Trumpet, Flugelhorn – Jimmy Owens (tracks: 11 to 16)
Vibraphone – Teddy Charles (tracks: 1, 3, 5)
Vocals – Robert Gregg (tracks: 1, 3, 5)
Recorded At – Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey
Tracks 1-8 originally released as 'Grits & Gravy' (Prestige 7486)
Tracks 9-10 previously unissued
Tracks 11-16 as 'First Class Kloss!' (Prestige 7520)
Label: Prestige – PRCD-24293-2
Country: US
Released: 2004
Genre: Jazz
Style: Post Bop
https://www.discogs.com/release/3407629-Eric-Kloss-First-Class
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