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Hugh Von Kleist jazz musician
featured albums
That Old Feeling
Sylvia Rodriguez & The Rhythm Boys Album
Hugh von Kleist "Good Juju"
Hugh von Kleist "Good Juju"
Sylvia Rodriguez & The Rhythm Boys Album
Hugh von Kleist "Good Juju"
Sylvia Rodriguez & The Rhythm Boys Album
Sylvia Rodriguez & The Rhythm Boys Album
Sylvia Rodriguez & The Rhythm Boys Album
reviews
Hugh von Kleist took some time before he settled on playing music for a career. He was a professional baseball player and served in the U.S. Navy for six years. Right after he left the military, he rented a tenor-sax, started taking lessons, and has been a pro ever since. The saxophonist has worked in the Tom Kubis Big Band, soloed in many combos, and has led his own bands. In 2015 he recorded his first album as a leader but for unknown reasons (certainly not musical ones), That Old Feeling was not released for years.
This set teams von Kleist with guitarist Ron Eschete, pianist Chris Keefe, bassist Jim Hughart, and drummer Kendall Kay. Throughout the nine standards, Hugh von Kleist is sometimes reminiscent of Zoot Sims in his tone and his ability to always swing, which makes it only right that the CD is released by Zootcase Records.
The standards, which include “That Old Feeling,” “I Got Rhythm,” “East Of The Sun,” and a cooking “It’s Alright With Me,” are all familiar but worthy of being revived again. Very much a blowing session, this date has consistently satisfying solos by von Kleist, the always welcome Eschete, and Keefe with solid support from Hughart and Kay. Available from www.blowingold.com, That Old Feeling is easily recommended to fans of Zoot Sims, bebop, and straight ahead jazz.
reviews
From the name of his Zootcase Records, it is obvious that Zoot Sims is one of tenor-saxophonist Hugh von Kleist’s inspirations. After careers playing baseball and serving in the Navy, he recorded his debut album That Old Feeling in 2015 although it was not released until more recent times. Von Kleist has continued to evolve since that time and on Good Juju, he shows that he has become a more individual player while still staying connected to his roots.
For this set, Hugh von Kleist is joined by guitarist Jesse Ward, bassist Teresa Sanchez, and drummer Kendall Kay. Other than the Wayne Shorter title tune that opens the set, the music is comprised of straight ahead standards plus Antonio Carlos Jobim’s classic bossa nova “Meditation.” The packaging is a little bit faulty with the order of the songs being different than they are listed after the first three tunes however all of the selections are included.
Whether embracing the melody of “Sophisticated Lady,” playing some effective flute on “Meditation,” jamming joyfully on “Yardbird Suite,” or digging into the blues on Oscar Pettiford’s “Blues In The Closet,” Hugh von Kleist shows that he is a creative and swinging soloist. Sanchez and Kay are excellent as supportive players who have occasional brief spots while Jesse Ward’s versatile and consistently surprising solos make it obvious that the guitarist is one to watch for in the future. Good Juju is easily recommended and available from www.blowingold.com.
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