Jazz Articles

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: 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 ...

Art Pepper: The Hollywood All-Star Sessions

by C. Andrew Hovan
July 1, 2001

Let’s face it, when historians and other purveyors of the jazz legacy consider the scene during the 1970s, a bleak outlook is usually the upshot. Jazz had become commercialized, fusionized, rock infested, and raped. Even the modest amount of mainstream fare that was being released to little public notice seemed to pale in comparison with the great body of work delivered during the golden age of the ‘50s and ‘60s. When it came to the life of Art Pepper, this ...

Philly Joe Jones: Philly Mignon

by Derek Taylor
February 1, 2001

Pun-laden title aside this is a gourmet collection of hard swinging jazz. Philly Joe in his later years may have been a shade less audacious than in his youth, but you’d never know it listening to his bristling precision traps work on these five tracks. Manning his kit like a man possessed Jones pushes his rhythm mates with well-worn sticks and cast iron swing. He and Carter are actually the only constants with two different front lines cycling through the ...

Art Pepper: Renascence

by Dave Nathan
November 1, 2000

Art Pepper was one of those rare jazz players whose playing was immediately recognizable upon hearing the first few measures. Combining the technical fluidity of Charlie Parker with the pure, cool sound belying his West Coast origins, he had enough talent for two alto players.At the time of this recording, Art Pepper had just recordedLiving Legendfor Contemporary Records, one of his few visits to the studio since being released from his latest stay at San Quentin, and his first as ...