And what an introduction. The 16-year-old Eric Kloss joins forces with organist Don Patterson in what is a top-flight date for both of them. Patterson always had premier players with him who were attuned to his unique blend of hard-bopping soul jazz. In his debut recording, Kloss is equal to any of them. Regular Patterson collaborators -- guitarist Pat Martino and drummer Billy James -- are also on board. Martino is superb in his rhythm and solo work, his extraordinary technique and natural way with the blues always a sure bet on a Don Patterson date. Similarly, James' progressive style and command of the blues are key to this group's sound. The titular star sticks to his tenor, except for a modern, swinging treatment of Embraceable You, where he switches to alto. Kloss favors the higher end of the tenor's register, plays with little or no vibrato, and makes little use of the tenor's trademark honks and barks. Although he is not unorthodox in his approach, Kloss, while still a teenager, does not sound overtly like anyone else, except, perhaps, for an inevitable John Coltrane influence. For this session, the program comprises standards, originals, and blues, including a version of Miles Davis's All Blues, which gets a slightly more low-down treatment than usual, without sacrificing the tune's innate sophistication and cool. Kloss went on to record many fine sessions in the ensuing years, including dates with members of the rhythm section on Miles Davis' Bitches Brew, but since the early '80s, he has been absent from the jazz scene. When he arrived with this introduction, though, Kloss combined with the others in this quartet to produce a hard bop, organ jazz session that stands with the best. ~ Jim Todd, Rovi

1		Close Your Eyes
2		Old Folks
3		'S 'Bout Time
4		That's the Way It Is
5		All Blues
6		Embraceable You