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ART PEPPER & THE HOLLYWOOD ALL-STARS
Art Standards (Galaxy)
Reviewed by Ron Saranich
Buy this cd. It's that good. Art Pepper was one of the greatest alto saxophone players who ever lived. Building on the work of Charlie Parker and Lester Young, Pepper had a fiery, passionate approach with a seemingly endless source of inspired creativity. Art Standards is a greatest hits disc of nine songs selected from the large boxed set called Art Pepper: The Hollywood All-Star Sessions. For those of us not able to afford purchasing the larger compilation, Art Standards is godsent.
The songs are taken from a series of recordings made during the period 1979 to 1982. Though Pepper was, in fact, the leader of these sessions, making decisions as to band members, songs to play, and cuts to issue, due to contractual reasons these sessions were generally released under other artists names. Musicians found on this cd are Sonny Stitt on alto saxophone, Lee Konitz on alto, Jack Sheldon on trumpet, Bill Waltrous on trombone, Russ Freeman on piano, Lou Levy on piano, Mark Lang on piano, Pet Jolly on piano, Milcho Leviev on piano, Bob Magnusson on bass, Tony Dumas on bass, Chuck Domanico on bass, John Heard on bass, Carl Burnett on drums, Roy McCurdy on drums, and John Dentz on drums.
Through it all Pepper dominated by his simple need to express his feelings. Using remarkable inventiveness and abundant technique, Pepper played his heart out. On one song, Pepper even used a clarinet, a rarity for him. 1982 was the year Pepper died, but even on the selection recorded five months before his death, he sounded as engaged and inspired as ever.
This is among the best jazz released this year. All the numbers are jazz classics, but Pepper made them sound fresh and eloquent. Art Standards is so good, I'm now trying to figure out how I can afford to purchase the larger box set. Anybody need a gardener?
Track List:
Begin The Beguine * You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To * Night And Day * Bernie's Tune * How High The Moon * My Funny Valentine * Imagination * 'S Wonderful * The Shadow Of Your Smile
© 2002 - Ron Saranich