I have to say, out of those Pepper CDs I recently got I much prefer his live dates over studio. There's just a little something extra there when live. Not sure I'll actually pick up any other studio records from him.
Laurie Pepper, Art Pepper's widow, has been releasing rare live recordings of Art under the label "Widow's Taste". They are all great, and can be found on CD Baby.
This Art Pepper Live in Toronto (from '77) is a straight boot, substandard SQ and all. The song lengths don't match what's listed on the back and who knows if the personnel listing is correct: Bernie Serensky on piano, Dave Piltch on bass and Terry Clarke on drums. All that said, the playing is phenomenal. Damn shame about the SQ b/c if this was better it would be one of my favorite Pepper CDs.
Art made a couple of albums with The Milcho Leviev Quartet, TRUE BLUES and BLUES FOR THE FISHERMAN which are basically Pepper albums but for contractual reasons couldn’t be billed as such. I don’t think I’ve heard a bad album from Art. His music certainly deserves to be heard by any jazz lover.
I bought Early Art back when it came out in the 70's and liked it a lot. It's pretty cheap on discogs if you have a turntable: Art Pepper - Early Art
If you cannot get enough of Art Pepper and think you have it all, track down a Richie Cole lp, " Back to Alto Acres" circa 1982. Fine later era Art.
The Galaxy albums from the 1970s and early 198os, are superb. I feel that they have been given short shrift here. Especially the albums with pianist George Cables. Art and George Cables had a special musical bond.
First, I think that everyone has done an excellent job of not overwhelming the newcomer with ephemera. Each entry on this thread is very well thought out and I recommend adhering to those suggestions, but if you find that you want more, here is my suggestion:
Lots of great recommendations. One essential disk not mentioned is his encounter with Sonny Stitt, Groovin' High. Other good ones are Marty Paich Quartet and Art Pepper Today.
A great "late" Pepper performance is under a Richie Cole banner: " Return to Alto Acres" circa 1982. PAJ vinyl Pepper on alto and clarinet And if you cannot get enough of AP, don't forget the soundtrack for "Heart Beat" circa 1980. Music by Jack Nitzsche: "featuring Art Pepper on alto sax".
Despite his personal troubles, Art Pepper never made a bad record in his life. An absolutely amazing live recording is Besame Mucho - Live in Tokyo 1979. Unfortunately, the XRCD is oop and has become somewhat expensive.
Talking about expensive: I just found the DCC Gold CD (mastered by our host) for Gettin‘ Together for a reasonably price on ebay. My old Original Jazz Classics CD does not sound bad at all, but this version is a MAJOR improvement. The DCC sounds clearer and much more natural. Highly recommended. Unfortunately, I will now need to add the DCC Gold for Intensity to my want list as well. ;-(
The Trip. Fresh out of the can and ready to roll. At times feeling his modal Coltrane vibe with none other than Elvin Jones on the skins.
Absolutely agree about The Trip - Art Pepper plus Elvin Jones is a great combination. And Today is a wonderful record: an empathetic rhythm section, bassist Cecil McBee on magisterial form, and a couple of lovely Pepper originals including this ballad over the changes of Misty:
Man, am I in a foul mood right now. And I have to say that THIS is funk eliminating stuff. Art at his best, IMO. I'm feeling better already.
These masters are under the Blue Note umbrella now. They would make a perfect Tone Poet twofer! In fact, I'll head over to the Tone Poet thread and make the suggestion. It's a great Radio Recorders stereo recording, Carl Perkins, what could be better?
One of the great jazz biographies. Though, not the thing to read if you are looking for vivid recollections of some of his most acclaimed sessions!
this one https://www.amazon.com/Blues-Fisherman-Unreleased-Pepper-Vol/dp/B005BY8XA4 Art Pepper: Art Pepper: Blues for the Fisherman album review @ All About Jazz
But don't try it at home! Nature Boy, from the album Straight Life, which I quite like despite the booming bass.
