Art Pepper

phil_edwards · Mar 22, 2008

Only available on "Listen Again" for a few more days...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/musicfeature/pip/o0m30/

Phil

andrew_sanders · Mar 23, 2008

Good programme Phil, can't stand the Stan Kennet arrangements though.Too much piercing trumpet, too loud man, too loud.
Wish that they had played more small combo stuff.
Having said that, what great technique Pepper had. Can you recommend any CD's without the blarting bigband arrangements?

jools · Mar 27, 2008

Art Pepper has had more influence on me than Yardbird, mainly because I always perceived his playing as 'achievable' (unlike Yards, which was way out of reach). I also believe he is perhaps the only player of that era that was not himself influenced by Bird. He never uses any of the standard licks and vocabulary so freely quoted by other players of the time. He was out on his own.

If you're looking to get into some Pepper, there are two distinct 'eras' to enjoy - the early stuff and his comeback in the 70s. Albums? - look out for:

"Gettin' Together" - (with Wynton Kelly, Paul Chambers and Jimmie Cobb) 1960

"Complete Lighthouse Sessions" (with Shorty Rogers) 1951

"Straight Life" 1979 - with a spine-tingling version of "Nature Boy"

It's all good. 🙂

phil_edwards · Mar 27, 2008

I've just picked up 'Intensity' off ebay for about ?3.50, recorded in 1960, it's good.

Includes the following...
1. I Can't Believe That You're In Love With Me
2. I Love You
3. Come Rain Or Come Shine
4. Long Ago And Far Away
5. Gone With The Wind
6. I Wished On The Moon
7. Too Close For Comfort
8. Five Points

As quoted on Amazon "Art Pepper was one of the most talented alto saxophonists of his generation, always exploring new ground within the limits of tonality. In essence, he was the photo negative to the emerging avant-garde movement of the early 1960s. Instead of seeking harsh dissonance or harmonic discord, Pepper sought to invoke greater beauty in his music.
Pepper's tunes tended to revolve around exquisite melodies and lyrical solos, and INTENSITY is no exception. The saxophonist really shines on "Long Ago (And Far Away)", which is played at a break-neck speed. Conversely, his ballad rendition of "Come Rain or Come Shine" invokes the sadness of a lifetime. Only a player of Pepper's calibre could be versatile enough to enliven things so much on one track, and then reveal such heartbreak on another."

jools · Mar 28, 2008

"the sadness of a lifetime"-

That's it, right there. He is the only player that has brought me to tears. A truly magical quality. The git!. >:

Bobby G · Apr 7, 2008

I like that distinction between what's achievable and what's beyond you; hence I both love and admire Cannonball Adderley (not achievable by me), but purely love Johnny Hodges (you fill in the gap here). That Art Pepper though, he is a bit good!

phil_edwards · Apr 8, 2008

I'm with you on all of those names, Bobby.

Phil

onecat · Apr 11, 2008

I love Art Pepper but my favorite recordings are the early ones such as those with Warne Marsh and Chet Baker. He played a Martin during this period and his tone is very buttery.

david_tannahill · Apr 18, 2008

I missed the r4 thing but today picked up a fantastic CD with two albums on it in a little hi-fi shop in Saffron Walden.- Art Pepper Meets the Rhythm Section- this is with Miles Davis's rhythm section (Paul Chambers, Red Garland and Philly Jones). Lots of good stuff including Tin Tin Deo which David Sandborn had on a recent album (not sure what I like best!). The second album on the Cd is Marty Paich Quartet Featuring Art Pepper (Marty Paich, Buddy Clark and Frank Capp). Again this is really good and has the first recording that Art did of Over the Rainbow.