Jazz Articles about Art Pepper

Art Pepper + Eleven: Modern Jazz Classics

by David Rickert
January 2, 2003

Due to lengthy stints in drug rehab and jail, it is a remarkable feat that Art Pepper managed to put out any records at all. However, the few that he did put out were often exceptional. In his early days Pepper had spent time as a successful soloist in Stan Kenton’s band, and Marty Paich conceived of the idea of featuring him as the main (and almost only) soloist in front of an eleven-man ensemble. This was hardly a risk ...

Art Pepper: Art Pepper Meets the Rhythm Section

by C. Michael Bailey
October 2, 2002

Making a classic better and affordable? Man, being reasonable, must get drunk; The best of life is but intoxication: Glory, the grape, love, gold, in these are sunk The hopes of all men, and of every nation; Without their sap, how branchless were the trunk Of life's strange tree, so fruitful on occasion: But to return,—Get very drunk; and when You wake with headache, you shall see what then. —George Gordon, Lord Byron, from Don Juan

Art Pepper and The Hollywood Allstars: Art Standards

by C. Michael Bailey
September 13, 2002

Here is the sampler (and a fine one at that) from the box set...

From 1979 until his death in 1982, alto saxophonist Art Pepper, while still under contract to Galaxy, recorded for the small Japanese concern, Atlas, overtly as a sideman on a series of “All-Star" sessions, featuring a number of prominent West Coast musicians. I say overtly a sideman because covertly he was the undisputed leader on these dates. As Pepper's wife Laurie points out in the liner ...

Art Pepper: Winter Moon

by John Eyles
July 11, 2002

Recorded in 1980, Winter Moon is Art Pepper's “with strings" album. I know that phrase will strike fear and loathing into the heart of many a jazz fan, but this album is as sympathetic a meeting as it is possible to imagine. Pepper never sounds compromised or constrained by the strings (as has been the case on other albums of the genre). On the contrary, thanks to arrangements by Bill Holman and Jimmy Boyd, the strings beautifully complement Pepper's playing ...

Art Pepper: The Hollywood All-Star Sessions

by Jack Bowers
December 1, 2001

Aside from serving as a casebook study in self–destructive behavior, Art Pepper was one of the most consistently brilliant saxophonists ever to emerge from the so–called West Coast school of Jazz. The well–named Hollywood All–Star Sessions, on which he performed as a “sideman,” were recorded in 1979–82, the last of them (with alto saxophonist Lee Konitz) only five months before Art’s passing at age 56 in June ’82. Although he was depicted as no more than a member of the ...

Art Pepper: The Hollywood All-Star Sessions

by C. Michael Bailey
August 1, 2001

Just when the jazz community believes no more gold can be mined from the archives of the titan altoist Art Pepper, a mother lode is released.

First of all, a thumbnail sketch. Art Pepper emerged in the late 1940s as a formidable foil to the supremacy of Charlie Parker in the alto saxophone arena. After playing for Benny Carter and Stan Kenton and a stint in the army, Pepper embarks on his own, soaring through series of classic jazz recordings ...

Art Pepper: Renascence

by C. Michael Bailey
August 1, 2001

More Live Pepper.

The last ten years has seen a significant trickle of previously unissued or limited issued Art Pepper live music. The most recent include:Tokyo Debut (Galaxy 4201, 1989)Art Pepper with Duke Jordan in Copenhagen 1981 (Galaxy 8201, 1981)Art 'N Zoot (Pablo 2310, 1995)

 Now showing up is Renascence, a recording made at the famous West Coast club, The Bach Dancing and Dynamite Society in Half Moon Bay, California. Recorded on September 28, 1975, this concert represents one of ...