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Review: The music on this Savoy CD (put out by
Nippon Columbia) is quite brilliant, but the packaging leaves a lot to be
desired. The recording dates are all incorrect, there are only 12
performances included (around 37 minutes) and none of the sessions are
reissued in complete form. Two of the dates, quartet outings with either
Russ Freeman or
Hampton Hawes on
piano, have just three of their four numbers reissued while only six of
the eight songs from the altoist's classic session with tenor saxophonist
Jack Montrose are
here. Even if the four missing selections had been included, the program
would have totaled around 49 minutes. The somewhat random nature of this
set is unfortunate, for
Pepper is in
superior form throughout with highlights including "Tickle Toe," "The Way
You Look Tonight" and his earliest recordings of such originals as "Susie
the Poodle," "Straight Life" and "Surf Ride." Get the more definitive LP
sets instead. -- Scott Yanow, All Music Guide |
