Sam Thomas - Chicago Guitarist

[JSngry]

His playing on Involvement, John Klemmer's first album, has captured the imagination of a few current BFT-takers, myself included. I was prompted to pull out the album, and yeah, he's pretty unique on all four cuts on which he plays.

Which leads to the question - Sam Crawford, eh?

Chicago Jazz Mafia, the floor is all yours, please.

[JSngry]

Guardian Angels?

Any idea how the association w/Klemmer came about, or for that matter, how Klemmer came onto the Chicago scene, and in what way did he leave it?

[JSngry]

Found a copy of "Out At Last at DG.

They describe it thusly:

Despite a title that makes the record sound like either a George Clinton or Sun Ra album, the record's a pretty straight batch of jazz tracks, put out by this obscure Chicago area combo that has a nice soulful style. Samuel Thomas plays guitar, and the record's got some very nice bass work by Scott Black and Harrison Bankhead – but the nicest treat is Maja Rios, who sings vocals on the best cuts. The best of these is the Latiny "The Pursuer", which sounds like a nice lost groover from the bag of Carmen Bradford. Other tunes include "Glad To Be Sad", "Minority", "Give Me A Moment", and "Will N Jug".

Good enough for me. I ordered it.

[Larry Kart]

Yes, the Guardian Angels.

http://en.wikipedia....ki/John_Klemmer

A few typos there -- it should be Joe Daley and Wilbur Campbell. IIRC, being a Joe Daley student was among Klemmer's entrees to the scene, though he was, as that first album makes clear, a fluent, talented player. I assume that the association with Sam Thomas came about because they worked some gigs together and hit it off musically. The partnership is a good one.

[johnlitweiler]

Thanks for the Wikipedia entry about John Klemmer. I used to enjoy him at the Baroque on 53rd Street in Chicago but had no idea he recorded so many classics or that Jodie Foster was a Chicago sideman, and if he had so many great managers/agents why wasn't he famous and only led 3 albums after 1981? Etc. Makes me want to write some Wikipedia entries about my friends.

Spaceship Love was the name of Sam Thomas's and Maja Rios's combo

[JSngry]

If anybody else is interested, when I called to order, DG said they had two copies of the Spaceship Love album in stock. That's now down to one, but..

I like buying those local-pressing Chicago jazz albums from them. I got both E. Parker McDougal sides, one or two Tommy Jones things, some other things. It's like they're finally packing up and leaving home, but it's a good home they're going to.

[sgcim]

Thanks for all the info on Sam Thomas. I saw his name on Klemmer's first LP, and tried to find out who he was, but to no avail.

Who or what is DG?

[Dan Gould]

Dusty Groove aka Da Bastards.

www.dustygroove.com

[Larry Kart]

Thanks for the Wikipedia entry about John Klemmer. I used to enjoy him at the Baroque on 53rd Street in Chicago but had no idea he recorded so many classics or that Jodie Foster was a Chicago sideman, and if he had so many great managers/agents why wasn't he famous and only led 3 albums after 1981? Etc. Makes me want to write some Wikipedia entries about my friends.

Spaceship Love was the name of Sam Thomas's and Maja Rios's combo

"Jodie Foster" -- what was that person thinking? Though I suspect that Foster and Maja Rios might have gotten along if they'd met.

[Chuck Nessa]

As I mentioned in the notes of my Hal Russell reissue, I heard a Klemmer quartet with Sam, Hal and Malachi Favors. Must have been in 67 or 68. Sam's brother Phil was a fine drummer.

[johnlitweiler]

Thanks for the Wikipedia entry about John Klemmer. I used to enjoy him at the Baroque on 53rd Street in Chicago but had no idea he recorded so many classics or that Jodie Foster was a Chicago sideman,

Kelmmer played regularly with Jodie Christian, piano, back then.

[clifford_thornton]

On 1/11/2013 at 3:49 PM, JSngry said:

Found a copy of "Out At Last at DG.

 

 

They describe it thusly:

 

 

 

Good enough for me. I ordered it.

that cover photo is amazing!