(Vol.15)
Jazz
This 3-cd Art Pepper box (Mosaic Select #15) is about as hip as it gets, essential if you're into Pepper or mid-'50's West Coast jazz in general.
Mosaic is Michael Cuscuna's jazz collector label, well-known for limited edition collections re-mastered from original master tapes. If you're not familiar with the label, be assured that this is a professionally produced set of the highest quality. Be aware, too, that these sets do go out of print, so if this one looks like something you'll like, now's the time to pick it up.
The sessions here are all from 1956 and 1957. Cuscuna has issued most of this on cd before, on a series of three fine cd's released in 1989 on the Blue Note label - The Return of Art Pepper, Modern Art, and The Art of Pepper.
A decade and a half later, Cuscuna has returned to the master tapes again for new re-mastering to great effect, and has added a couple of other sessions from the same time period. There are nine tunes here featuring Art Pepper on dates with Joe Morello or Bill Perkins that did not appear on the old Blue Note cd's.
Now if only Mosaic would bring to cd the collection of Art Pepper's Pacific Jazz recordings from '56 and '57 that they released (on lp only) years ago . . .
By Steven Kosakowski.
**
Featuring Art Pepper's 1956 and 1957 Aladdin sessions, which have been issued on The Return of Art Pepper (Jazz West), Collections (Intro), Modern Art (Blue Note), Just Friends (Pacific Jazz), Solo Flight (Pacific Jazz), The Art of Pepper (Omega) and The Art of the Art (Nadja), Mosaic's 3-CD boxed set portrays the alto saxophonist in familiar company, full of life and at his best. The collection includes several bonus tracks, alternate takes, and material that was previously available only on reel-to-reel tape.
Mosaic's 24-bit re-mastering provides a clear sound that lets you appreciate this artist who "grew" from Bird and who helped pioneer the cool school of West Coast Jazz. Pepper's attack was fast, fluid, and quick to turn on a dime. He was equally adept at animated bebop antics as with a tender ballad.
Paul Desmond's musical character was light and rhythmically swinging. Cannonball Adderley poured emotion from the heart. Sonny Stitt dove headfirst at a wild and furious pace, while Phil Woods and Richie Cole have been linked to a balanced set of musical skills that have allowed them to follow any path they choose. Pepper's alto saxophone tone proved to be light, resilient, and filled with rich overtones. He gave his audiences an upbeat feeling to go along with the rhythmic syncopation and spontaneous improvisation of mainstream jazz.
Ten tracks include trumpeter Jack Sheldon with Pepper, Russ Freeman, Leroy Vinnegar and Shelly Manne. This quintet captures the essence of West Coast Jazz. On "Straight Life," the alto saxophonist drives with a hearty bebop character, as Red Norvo, Gerald Wiggins, Ben Tucker and Joe Morello help to push the session's animated character into high gear. Released in Morello's name, this one and four more tracks feature Pepper's clear instrumental voice with added emphasis from the drummer, including extended solos and trading fours. Pepper plays tenor on "Tenor Blooz," a rip-roaring adventure that features Norvo in animated, bebop-driven action.
The ten selections from Modern Art feature Pepper's quartet with Freeman, Tucker and drummer Chuck Flores. His alto saxophone soars lightly with a delicate air. "Blues In" and "Blues Out" walk at a slow pace with heavy, underlying emotion, and "Summertime" drifts slowly with enduring passion. Familiar standards and Pepper's fresh originals combine to give the listener a mixture of up-tempo bebop and beautiful ballads.
Five selections from Just Friends under Bill Perkins' name, feature a quintet with Pepper, saxophonist Perkins, pianist Jimmy Rowles, bassist Tucker, and drummer Mel Lewis. Perkins' tenor adds a warm quality that complements Pepper's free-flowing melodies. Their integrated harmony gives the session an exotic character.
Twelve tracks from The Art of Pepper and three alternate takes from feature Pepper's quartet with pianist Carl Perkins, bassist Tucker and drummer Flores (Disc-3). Their interpretation of classic songs in the bebop tradition comes from the mainstream with consistent results. Pepper is fluid, Perkins comps and solos with force, Tucker walks the bass conversationally, and Flores colors every song with complementary textures. The Latin beat of "Beguine the Beguine" provides an exotic ambience. "Summertime" turns out dry and empty. "Body and Soul" keeps much of its luster through Pepper's heartfelt interpretation of the melody; however, Perkins' piano counterpoint proves heavy-handed and unnecessarily dense.
While Disc-3 remains the weakest of the 3-CD set, Mosaic Select 15 brings Art Pepper into our living rooms with great care paid to re-mastering his original sound. The adventures are varied, but the alto saxophonist provides us with nearly four hours of great memories. Recommended, this Art Pepper compilation captures the spirit of a bright light from jazz's not so distant past.
**
Art Pepper- (Alto Sax, Tenor Sax);
Bill Perkins- (Tenor Sax);
Jack Sheldon- (Trumpet);
Gerald Wiggins, Jimmy Rowles, Russ Freeman- (Piano);
Red Norvo- (Vibraphone);
Chuck Flores , Joe Morello, Mel Lewis, Shelly Manne- (Drums).
**
CD 1:
01. Pepper Returns (A) 4:26
(Art Pepper)
02. Broadway (A) 4:56
(Bird-McRae-Woode)
03. You Go To My Head (A) 4:15
(J.F. Coots-H. Gillespie)
04. Angel Wings (A) 4:40
(Art Pepper)
05. Funny Blues (A) 4:36
(Art Pepper)
06. Five More (A) 4:37
(Art Pepper)
07. Minority (A) 4:17
(Art Pepper)
08. Patricia (A) 3:33
(Art Pepper)
09. Mambo De La Pinta (A) 4:14
(Art Pepper)
10. Walkin' Out Blues (A) 5:52
(Art Pepper)
11. Straight Life (B) 3:19
(Art Pepper)
12. Yardbird Suite (B) 5:43
(Charlie Parker)
13. Pepper Steak (B) 3:48
(Art Pepper)
14. You're Driving Me Crazy (B) 5:06
(Walter Donaldson)
15. Tenor Blooz (B) 4:59
(Art Pepper)
CD 2:
01. Blues In (C1) 6:00
(Art Pepper)
02. Bewitched, Bothered And Bewildered (C1) 4:25
(R.Rodgers-L.Hart)
03. Stompin' At The Savoy (C1) 5:04
(Razaf-Goodman-Sampson-Webb)
04. What Is This Thing Called Love (C1) 6:03
(Cole Porter)
05. Blues Out (C1) 4:45
(Art Pepper)
06. Diane's Dilemma (C2) 3:47
(Art Pepper)
07. When You're Smiling (C2) 4:50
(Fisher-Goodwin-Shay)
08. Cool Bunny (C2) 4:12
(Art Pepper)
09. Summertime (C2) 7:17
(Gershwin-Heyward-Gershwin)
10. Diane's Dilemma (alt. take) (C2) 4:54
(Art Pepper)
11. What Is This Thing Called Love (D) 5:29
(Cole Porter)
12. A Foggy Day (D) 3:53
(G. Gershwin-I. Gershwin)
13. Diane-A-Flow (D) 4:02
(Art Pepper)
14. Zenobia (D) 5:14
(Art Pepper)
15. Angel Eyes (D) 3:38
(M. Dennis-E.K. Brent)
CD 3:
01. Holiday Flight (E) 5:08
(Art Pepper)
02. Too Close For Comfort (E) 6:08
(Bock-Holoscener-Weiss)
03. Long Ago And Far Away (E) 4:07
(J.Kern-I.Gershwin)
04. Begin The Beguine (E) 7:20
(Cole Porter)
05. I Can't Believe That You're In Love With Me (E) 5:37
(J. McHugh-C. Gaskill)
06. Summertime (E) 6:30
(Gershwin-Heyward-Gershwin)
07. Fascinatin' Rhythm (E) 4:23
(G. Gershwin-I. Gershwin)
08. Body And Soul (E) 4:20
(Green-Heyman-Sour-Eyton)
09. Without A Song (E) 7:37
(Youmans-Rose-Eliscu)
10. The Breeze And I (E) 3:30
(Ernesto Lecuona)
11. Surf Ride (E) 4:42
(Art Pepper)
12. Webb City (E) 4:54
(Bud Powell)
13. Begin The Beguine (alternate take) (E) 6:15
(Cole Porter)
14. Fascinatin' Rhythm (alternate take) (E) 3:59
(G. Gershwin-I. Gershwin)
15. Webb City (alternate take) (E) 4:33
(Bud Powell)
**
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