Indebted Beginnings by Pepper Winters

La famiglia di Nila Weaver è obbligata a rispettare un patto di sangue stretto più di seicento anni prima con la famiglia Hawk. Non sembra esserci via d’uscita per lei: in quanto primogenita, la ragazza sconta ancora le colpe degli antenati. I secoli bui sembrano essere passati, ma i debiti non sono stati cancellati. Jethro Hawk, discendente dei creditori, affascinante e glaciale, riceve Nila in eredità per il suo ventinovesimo compleanno. La sua vita gli apparterrà finché lei non avrà pagato il debito secolare. Jethro può fare di lei quello che vuole, senza porsi limiti, e Nila non può difendersi, né sperare in alcun aiuto. Ma Nila non ha intenzione di cedere facilmente, da ragazza ingenua e indifesa si sta trasformando in una combattente. Jethro Hawk ha trovato in Nila molto di più di un’avversaria valida: ha trovato la donna che potrebbe annientarlo. C’è una linea sottile tra l’odio e l’amore, e persino più sottile tra la paura e il rispetto..

This superior three-LP box set reissues all of altoist Art Pepper's small-group dates for the Pacific Jazz label. Virtually all of the music has since been reissued on CD (part of it as The Artistry of Pepper and part of it under trumpeter Chet Baker's name), but the Mosaic box, which has an attractive booklet, is the definitive treatment of this chapter in Pepper's musical story. The great altoist is heard in a sextet with Baker and tenor saxophonist Richie Kamuca, on a version of "Tenderly" with Chet Baker's big band, with Baker and tenor Phil Urso in a different sextet, sharing the spotlight with tenor saxophonist Bill Perkins in a quintet, and heading a nonet playing arrangements by Shorty Rogers. The music is very much in the cool/bop tradition, but Pepper is instantly recognizable (he never sounded that much like Charlie Parker) and even at this early stage, he was at the top of his form. All 26 performances are quite enjoyable and swinging, making this hard-to-find set worth the search.

This superior three-LP box set reissues all of altoist Art Pepper's small-group dates for the Pacific Jazz label. Virtually all of the music has since been reissued on CD (part of it as The Artistry of Pepper and part of it under trumpeter Chet Baker's name), but the Mosaic box, which has an attractive booklet, is the definitive treatment of this chapter in Pepper's musical story. The great altoist is heard in a sextet with Baker and tenor saxophonist Richie Kamuca, on a version of "Tenderly" with Chet Baker's big band, with Baker and tenor Phil Urso in a different sextet, sharing the spotlight with tenor saxophonist Bill Perkins in a quintet, and heading a nonet playing arrangements by Shorty Rogers. The music is very much in the cool/bop tradition, but Pepper is instantly recognizable (he never sounded that much like Charlie Parker) and even at this early stage, he was at the top of his form. All 26 performances are quite enjoyable and swinging, making this hard-to-find set worth the search.