Art Pepper The Trip

Art Pepper - The Trip (1976) {Contemporary Japan VDJ-1583 rel 1987}
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© 1976, 1987 Contemporary / Victor Japan | VDJ-1583
Jazz / Post Bop / West Coast Jazz / Saxophone

Art Pepper made a name for himself around Los Angeles in the '50s as a leading light in the style then known as West Coast jazz – a cool alternative to the hot hard bop being made in East Coast cities like New York and Philadelphia. Pepper never really fit the cool stereotype, however; he was too incendiary a soloist (influenced by Lester Young, perhaps, and Bird certainly), more inclined to inject overt anger and passion into his playing than contemporaries like Getz or Mulligan. By the time these sides were made in 1976, any residual coolness had been displaced by hot emotionalism and an almost manic intensity.

For a few years, I got to travel with these bands—they included me—a dream come true. I’ve tried to take you on a trip with me and Art and the bands while reliving all of it a little—in writing it, in pictures I took, scenes and conversations I recall. And in the music Art asked me to record. About which I feel absolutely safe in saying it: That’s it. That’s jazz.

This giant 16-CD Galaxy set features Pepper at the peak of his powers. Most of the performances are in a quartet setting, although this collection also includes a session with strings, five unaccompanied alto solos (he also plays clarinet on a few tracks), and a pair of CDs in which Pepper performs duets with pianist George Cables. Although more general collectors may want to acquire some of the individual sessions first (most of which are available separately on CD), the more dedicated jazz fans are advised to save their money and acquire this essential package.

Art Pepper - The Complete Village Vanguard Sessions (1977) {9CD Box Set Contemporary 9CCD-4417-2 rel 1995}
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© 1977, 1995 Contemporary / Fantasy | 9CCD-4417-2
Jazz / Post Bop / West Coast Jazz / Saxophone

One of the clearest examples of the creative genius of Art Pepper, especially in his later years – filled with loads of long live tracks that are a masterpiece of improvisation! The group features George Cables on piano, George Mraz on bass, and Elvin Jones on drums. A lavish nine-disc boxed set that contains all 45 uninterrupted takes from Art Pepper's legendary stay at the Village Vanguard! Any Pepper fan will find a lot to treasure here: A Night in Tunisia; You Go to My Head; These Foolish Things; Labyrinth; My Friend John; Valse Triste; But Beautiful; Caravan; More for Les ; a solo sax rendition of Somewhere over the Rainbow ; radically-different alternate takes; witty between-song banter and spoken introductions, and more, plus an essay in the liner notes tells the whole sordid tale of Pepper's odyssey from prison to a halfway house to a late-1970s rebound that brought about some of his best music.

Art Pepper - Live At The Village Vanguard (1977) {4CD Set Contemporary-Victor Japan, VDP-5043~6, Early Press rel 1987}
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© 1977, 1987 Contemporary Records / Victor Japan | VDP-5043~6 | from a master recording
Jazz / Bop / Cool / Post Bop / West Coast Jazz / Saxophone

I’ve long overlooked Pepper’s later work, there is so much good stuff in his prime, but when I stumbled on this lovely three box set recorded in 1977, and with one of my recent favourite bassists, George Mraz, and Mr Elvin Jones on drums, a second opinion was long overdue. Recorded over three nights before a relaxed appreciative audience (no jackass stomping hooting or whistling, – apologies to those who welcome the more demonstrative audience ) this live set automatically has you turning the lights down low and joining the audience, a decanter positioned strategically within arms reach.

Art Pepper - Not A Through Street, Live In Yamagata '78 (1990) {2CD Set, Toy's Factory Records Japan TFCL-88901~2}
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© 1978, 1990 Toy's Factory Records Japan TFCL-88901~2
Jazz / Cool / Bop / West Coast Jazz / Saxophone

Art Pepper is widely considered to be one of the greatest alto saxophonists of all time. Born in California in 1925, Art Pepper came to prominence during the 1950s as one of the major soloists of the West Coast and cool jazz movements. But his playing changed dramatically later in his career, as he took on the influence of new stylistic developments in the jazz world.

Art Pepper - Blues For The Fisherman (1980) {4CD Set, Widow's Taste APM11001 rel 2011}
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© 1980, 2011 Widow's Taste | APM 11001 | Unreleased Art Series
Jazz / Post Bop / Bebop / West Coast Jazz / Alto Saxophone

This is the official Widow's Taste release by the Widow herself, Laurie Pepper, in Los Angeles and remastered by Wayne Peet AND including a 22 page booklet filled with info, gossip, and photos. ALL of two nights live at Ronnie Scott's in London, 198, transferred from original analogue tapes professionally recorded by Mole Jazz. THE TWELVE BARS OF THE DECADE; Blues for the Fisherman was hailed by one jazz journalist as just that when four of these tracks were released in the U.K. in 1980 by Mole Jazz. That LP remained at the top of the British jazz charts for well over a year, so Mole eventually released a second album from the same session.

Shortly after Art Pepper's death in 1982, JVC Records in Japan began issuing a series of titles of the great saxophonist's performances in Japan. This set, recorded in 1979, was compiled from two different July performances and features the classic Pepper quartet with pianist George Cables, drummer Billy Higgins, and the great Tony Dumas on bass. Pepper played only alto on the dates, and these five tunes offer a portrait of the musician at the very top of his form and very inspired. There are three Pepper originals: "Red Car," "Mambo de la Pinta," and "The Trip," all of which are over nine minutes, buffeted by the set's lone ballad, "The Shadow of Your Smile," and a smoking read of the title track…