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PAT METHENY New Chautauqua by Don Heckman & John S. Wilson

John Klemmer: Nexus for Duo and Trio John Klemmer, producer. 1.ÍYe at «», .. *_'1 FLOATING Arista/ Novas AN2 3500 (two 'ECM' WARREN BERNHARDT discs)

John Klemmer has particular aesthetic profun- he does via extensive over- mellow tone on guitar and his made his reputation with a dities. he zeroes in on a mod- dubbing of six- and twelve - relaxed attack set him apart tenor saxophone and an Echo- est target of pieces that range string electric guitars, acoustic from today's prevalent hectic plex. This time around he ap- from standards (Someday My guitar. fifteen -string harp gui- guitar twangers. He is a ro- pears unelectrified, accom- Prince Will Come) and rock tar. and electric bass. It's a mantic-as heard on a long, panied only by drummer Carl pieces (Come Together) to stunning technical achieve- hauntingly moody develop- Burnett and bassist Bob Mag- Zappa-esque originals (Eat It ment-a whirlwind of musical ment of Henry Mancini's Two nusson. But the two -disc col- and Song fora Sucker like sound and fury. How much it for the Road-but he's a jazz lection, which consists mostly You). His piano playing is signifies, however, is some- romantic who conjures up of standards, is an exercise in crisply functional. but hardly thing else. Once the initial as- memories of Wes Montgom- self-indulgence. Unaided by up to the performance level of tonishment over Metheny's erywith the back beat funk of his Echoplex, Klemmer seems his sidemen-the Brecker mechanical skills wears off, QuincyJones's In the Heat of to feel he must substitute end- Brothers. Steve Khan, Tony surprisingly little musical fasci- the Night and on his own Side less flurries of notes for his Levin. and others. D.H. nation remains. D.H. Track. His beautifully polished more familiar cascades of guitar work is ably supported sound. Before the first of these Warren Bernhardt: Slide Hampton: World of by Lou Levy on piano, Ray four sides was concluded. I Floating Trombones Brown on bass. and Jake found myself aching to hear Warren Bernhardt, producer Roger Pola, producer Hanna on drums. J.S.W. three pure and simple minutes Arista Novas AN 3011 West 54 WLW 8001 of working Milt Jackson: his way through Body and Pianist Warren Bern- Slide Hampton has put Soul Believer Soul. D.H. hardt has been a darling of together an ensemble of nine Ray Brown, producer New York jazz/ rock fans for trombones and given it a wide Pablo 2310832 years. Unfortunately, his un- range of material. A fascinat- NEXUS questionable improvisatory ing arrangement of 'Round Milt Jackson's venture FOR DUO AND TRIO powers are missing in this col- Midnight features a solo, duo. into singing on this disc is not lection. Considering the ex- and a trio that interact like an an attempt at something new. tremely personal quality of his adventurous jigsaw puzzle. since he sang professionally d meanderings, it seems odd Sometimes the group goes with a gospel quartet before that the better moments here jamming, riding a strong becoming an instrumentalist. come on Songs to My Father rhythm section: sometimes its But his vibes have outstripped Jahn Klrarnrnrar and Metrics, both of which rich sonorities are reminiscent his voice since then. He can Carl Burnett were written vibist Bob Megrvsson by Mike of Stan Kenton in his Con- summon up a swinging inten- Mainieri. D.H. certo to End All Concertos pe- sity on a blues or project a riod. But when it tries to cope grainy sincerity on a ballad. Ben Sidran: Pat Metheny: with the fast phrasing of but on the next piece his voice Live at Montreux New Chautauqua 's Donna Lee, turns thin, drained of color or Ben Sidran, producer Manfred Eicher, producer its' grave concentration pro- texture. The contrast between Arista AB 4218 ECM 1-1131 duces an elephant dance. J.S.W. his sure touch on vibes and the uncertainty of his singing sug- Pianist Ben Sidran's Pat Metheny describes Remo Palmier gests that if he were not Jack- performance at the 1978 Mon- this LP as something he's "al- Carl E. Jefferson. producer son the vibist. he would have treux Jazz Festival is not much ways wanted to do ... an al- CJ 76 little chance to show off Jack- more than a pleasant diver- bum where I took respon- son the singer. J.S.W. tissement. Not aiming for any sibility for every note." And so Remo Palmier's dark,