Straight, No Chaser - Art Pepper, Monk, Thelonious
Blues for Blanche - Art Pepper, Pepper, Art
So in Love - Art Pepper, Porter, Cole
Diane - Art Pepper, Mingus, Charles
Stardust - Art Pepper, Carmichael, Hoagy
Recordings like this take audiophile quality and make it both affordable and transparent. Art Pepper, more creatively prolific in his late years than at almost any other time in his troubled life, cuts as sharply as a scyt... more »he when he's taking on an edge on this 1979 set. He appears in two different quartet formations, the first with pianist Hank Jones, bassist Ron Carter, and versatile drummer Al Foster, and the second with pianist George Cables and the rhythmic duo Ornette Coleman used so effectively, bassist Charlie Haden and drummer Billy Higgins. The Jones-Carter-Foster lineup moves more measuredly than the Cables-Haden-Higgins one. Chalk it up to Coleman's speedy "harmolodic" compressions, but Haden and Higgins dance all over the melodies, pressing Pepper to spray alto lines in multiple directions almost at once. "Diane" is lovingly taken, with Pepper finding in Jones a great, romantic colleague. And if you find yourself curious about Pepper, try reading his tell-all autobiography, Straight Life, jazz's greatest confessional. --Andrew Bartlett« less
Recordings like this take audiophile quality and make it both affordable and transparent. Art Pepper, more creatively prolific in his late years than at almost any other time in his troubled life, cuts as sharply as a scythe when he's taking on an edge on this 1979 set. He appears in two different quartet formations, the first with pianist Hank Jones, bassist Ron Carter, and versatile drummer Al Foster, and the second with pianist George Cables and the rhythmic duo Ornette Coleman used so effectively, bassist Charlie Haden and drummer Billy Higgins. The Jones-Carter-Foster lineup moves more measuredly than the Cables-Haden-Higgins one. Chalk it up to Coleman's speedy "harmolodic" compressions, but Haden and Higgins dance all over the melodies, pressing Pepper to spray alto lines in multiple directions almost at once. "Diane" is lovingly taken, with Pepper finding in Jones a great, romantic colleague. And if you find yourself curious about Pepper, try reading his tell-all autobiography, Straight Life, jazz's greatest confessional. --Andrew Bartlett
"This album together with the other two of the series (NY album and The intimate) is a fantastic addiction to any jazz collection. Art was in his late years but at the top of his shape. He played here with urgency and emotional intensity. Here the material is the result of a couple of sessions. The first was recorded in NY with Hank Jones, Ron Carter and Al Foster and produced two tunes, Diane and Monk's blues Straight no chaser. The second session was recorded 3 months later in California with George Cables, Charlie Haden and Billy Higgins and produced three tunes more, Blues for Blanche, So in love, and Stardust. I can say that the California combo probably has more drive, is more aggressive. The Hank Jones combo was more light, educated. Anyway the quality of the music is always very high and Art played magnificiently. If you buy the three albums together you will have a great deal. These three records from Analog Productions has been recorded extremely well with a state of the art Wilson custom audio system. They are without a doubt reference recordings that you, hiend enthusiast like myself, would appreciate a lot, believe me."
Pepper's only Artist's House Release is a GEM!
Elmo's Firetruck | Bush Country! | 12/16/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I remeber buying this LP when it was first released. This is really two distinct sessions--one in L.A. and the other in N.Y.--each side of the LP had a totally diffent make up of players and tension.. Really intense, raw NY side and a smooth, comfortable LA side. Bot both feature top-notch side men and Pepper at his absolute peak! An essential Jazz recording. "Blues for Blanche" (written for Pepper's white cat) and "Straight No Chaser" are the highlights for me.BUY THIS RECORDING NOW!"
Art get warmed up with Vacuum Tubes
rash67 | USA | 11/14/2000
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Art Pepper's high alto sax has been captured here and recut/remaster using all Vaccuum tube equipment and Wow, what an improvement! The vacuum tubes warmed up the bass and removed the transistor distortion scretchiness which sometimes marred the highs of his other recordings. What's left is a warm, accurate and intimate sound. Sounds like you're there! Best are the involving ballads, Diane, Stardust and also So In Love. Now if we could get some other Jazz classics redone on tubes..."
Art Pepper, the well bred musician
Antonio | Madrid Spain | 01/18/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This album, recorded on 1979, in the period Art Pepper had the support of his sentimental couple, Laurie Pepper, is a masterpiece. And it shows that, as it is affirmed everywhere, this man didn't need to practice a lot, he simply took his saxo and performed a beautiful jazz with great honesty and nobleness. Art Pepper, with all his defects and tortuous life due to drug dependency, is a well bred musician and he shows himself naked before we all. If God finally exists I guess he decided to take him to heaven, because of his honesty and the artistry he gave us all. The two different rhythm sections of this album are excellent. I have no doubt about recommending it."