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New Art Unreleased
Art Pepper: Unreleased Art Vol. 3
Available From CD Baby
VOLUME 3 is a TWO DISC SET, a (nearly) complete concert performed in Croydon,
England at the acoustically admirable Fairfield Hall. Art was, at this time,
almost continually touring with the first of his comeback bands, and this
band was TIGHT. They knew and understood the tunes and communicated as only
true jazz people can in performance, like a team of rhythmic, lyric, limber
psychics. All Art's bands had great moments. This is one of those moments
with this magnificent band: Milcho Leviev on piano, Bob Magnusson on upright
bass, Carl Burnett on drums. John S. Wilson praised this quartet in the New
York Times, saying they made Art’s “innate rhythmic drive even more buoyant”
and referring to Bob Magnusson as “fabulously fast-fingered.” Critic Gary
Giddins, in The Village Voice, said Bob Magnusson's “sure time and rich tone
in the bottom register complemented Pepper’s frequently ethereal gambits”
and praised Carl Burnett’s “chatty responsiveness.” Musician and critic Jon
Hendricks called Milcho Leviev “a most marvelous pianist, a real joy. He
plays with beauty and passion.” When I sent Milcho these discs, he listened
and then called me up, exultant. "We were so good!" he said. "We were so
good!" Mastered by Wayne Peet, the quality is excellent. (Included: a twelve
page booklet with reminiscences and photos by Laurie) (moi).
Nobody has it. It's an instant collectors' item.
The Last Concert Vol 2
ART PEPPER: LAST CONCERT
Kool Jazz Festival, Kennedy Center, Washington, D.C.
(With Roger Kellaway, David Williams, Carl Burnett; mastered by Wayne Peet)
To Hear The Songs and Purchase the CD
VOLUME 1 is a TWO DISC SET, a complete concert performed in Abashiri, in
Northern Japan, in the snowy winter of 1981 for an audience who showered Art
and the guys with uncommon enthusiasm and wild love. They responded with a
performance that seems to levitate with energy. You get to be there and hear
Art declare this performance of "Body and Soul" "One of the best things I
ever played in my life." Mastered by Wayne Peet, the quality is excellent
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Art Pepper
by Peter La Barbera
Smooth beauty flowing through gardenias
boulevards rushing to San Pedro and the Pacific Ocean on endlessly
straight Los Angeles roads
he sounds the Fifties
something golden about a State,
backed by Shorty's muted French Horns
something cool something California
Art's lady is beauty from Figueroa to Watts
riding surfs at Howard Rumsey's Lighthouse on malted Sunday afternoons
the California Los Angeles I remember
Art smooth post Kenton riffs away from the Parker tradition
He merely wanted to be the greatest Jazz Musician ever!
Despite
a remarkably colorful and difficult life, Art Pepper was quite consistent in
the recording studios; virtually every recording he made is well worth
getting. In the 1950s he was one of the few altoists (along with Lee Konitz
and Paul Desmond) that was able to develop his own sound despite the
dominant influence of Charlie Parker. During his last years Pepper seemed to
put all of his life's experiences into his music and he played with
startling emotional intensity.
After a brief stint with Gus Arnheim, Pepper played with mostly Black groups
on Central Avenue in Los Angeles. He spent a little time in the Benny Carter
and Stan Kenton orchestras before serving time in the military (1944-46).
Some of Pepper's happiest days were during his years with Stan Kenton
(1947-52) although he became a heroin addict in that period. The 1950s found
the altoist recording frequently both as a leader and a sideman resulting in
at least two classics (Plays Modern Jazz Classics and Meets the Rhythm
Section) but he also spent two periods in jail due to drug offenses during
1953-56. Pepper was in top form during his Contemporary recordings of
1957-60 but the first half of his career ended abruptly with long prison
sentences that dominated the 1960s.
His occasional gigs between jail terms found him adopting a harder tone
influenced by John Coltrane that disturbed some of his longtime followers.
He recorded with Buddy Rich in 1968 before getting seriously ill and
rehabilitating at Synanon (1969-71). Art Pepper began his serious comeback
in 1975 and the unthinkable happened.
Under the guidance and inspiration of his wife Laurie, Pepper not only
recovered his former form but topped himself with intense solos that were
quite unique; he also enjoyed occasionally playing clarinet. His recordings
for Contemporary and Galaxy rank with the greatest work of his career.
Pepper's autobiography Straight Life (written with his wife) is a brutally
honest book that details his sometimes-horrifying life. When Art Pepper died
at the age of 56, he had attained his goal of becoming the world's great
altoist. --Scott Yanow, All Music Guide
Stop The Press
New Release From Laurie Pepper
A new release DECEMBER 1, 2006. This will be a two disc set:
Art at Hokkaido: The Abashiri Concert November 22, 1981; featuring George
Cables, David Williams, Carl Burnett. Art is supercharged by the passion of
the Northern audience which turned out to be more emotional and wilder than
the typical audience in Japan. Their energy fueled Art's, and the evening
was a spectacular one. The tape has been resurrected and beautifully
mastered by Wayne Peet
Details to follow
You know, there's honest musicians and there's dishonest musicians. Let me clarify that: An honest musician, to me, plays with his heart and soul and gives you his all, all the time. And then there's the dishonest musician who plays and he gives to his all, but not all the time. It's like a race horse. When Art plays, it's all the time. I never heard him lay back at any time, and that, to me, is an honest musician. And there aren't too many of them in the entire world."
Marty Paich From Straight Life.
I would
like to take this opportunity to thank Laurie Pepper for all her
support in the making of this tribute to her late husband
Disclaimer:
Update November 18,2006
On this site we do not sell any products or any other
jazz artist's posters, CD's or Books
The quality companies mention on this page sell a wide variety of
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