Art Pepper discography

[Durand]

Anyone could recommend some cd's from Art Pepper??
I have heard some work from him, but want to know more. I like his alto sound
Any suggestions?

[tophatcane]

i've always been partial to:

Modern Art (Quartet) vol 2
AP Meets the Rhythm Section (with Philly Joe Jones!)

his autobiography is every bit as fascinating as "Beneath the Underdog."
It's called "Straight Life."

[52nd Street]

Durand,

Most of his Galaxy albums from around 1960 are worth a try. They have been reissued by original jazz classics.

My personal favorites from that time are 'Smack up' and Gettin' Together.

You could als try the later albums like the four volumes of 'live at the village vanguard' with Elvin Jones on drums.

Between these periods (early 60's and late 70's) Pepper spent a lot of time in jail. After his releas he changed his setup from a Martin/Runyon combination to Selmer/Meyer. You can hear the changes in his sound quite clearly when you listen to these recordinges.

[tophatcane]

52nd:

do you prefer the his earlier martin setup in terms of sound?

[52nd Street]

Tophat,

I like the Martin setup better. It seems to give him a more personal sound and a greater range of expression. The Selmer setup seems to give him a slightly brighter and less flexible sound.

But even though I like the earlier setup better Pepper's later albums are still very good.

[warmdaddy]

I too love his sound. I have four of his recordings, one was recorded live in 1980 at Copenhagen with Duke Jordan. Although it is really emotional, he plays a little more jagged than I would have liked, it sort of doesn't flow as much as his early stuff. I have Smack Up which is good and Meets the Rhythm Section which is really good, even though most of the playing space I think goes to the rhythm section. My favourite though is Art Pepper + 11 which features Art against a big band made up of west coast greats from about 1959 playing bebop hits. The arrangments are interesting and Art has plenty of space to play. I originally got into him after hearing this recording he made with Shorty Rogers. I loved that edge to his sound and phrasing, it was some of the most beautiful music I have ever heard.

[kaibau]

I have only one record of him which is "Smack up" but i really love it, in particular the songs "Las cuevas de mario" and "How can you lose". He has a very brilliant sound on the alto.

[Durand]

Thanx so much to all of you, guys.