[SACD-R][OF] Art Pepper - Art Pepper + Eleven - 1959/2003 (Jazz)

This album & the earlier Art Pepper Meets the Rhythm Section are surely the 2 most important sessions in Pepper’s entire recording career. Even though Art had recorded in many big bands, this was the 1st time he did so as a leader, & every musician in town wanted to be involved. Marty Paich, chosen as arranger, was someone he’d already played with & felt comfortable with. Reflecting later on the date, which went like a dream, Art remarked that he had both chafed at & embraced the constraints a tightly-arranged big band placed on him as a soloist.

This 1959 Contemporary Records date is probably Pepper’s most important album & has been reissued in almost as many different forms over the years as Miles’ All Blues. He had over a decade of drug use & imprisonment behind him & the lineup of some of the top jazzmen of the era plus terrific arrangements propelled Pepper to new heights of achievement. Among his cohorts were Peter Candoli, Russ Freeman, Richie Kamuca, Mel Lewis, Bill Perkins, Bud Shank & the young trumpet player Jack Sheldon. Pepper performs not just on his primary axe, the alto, but also on tenor sax & clarinet. The 15 tracks on this SACD include 3 bonus tracks not on the original LP, plus 2 alternate takes of 1 tune & 1 of another. These are thoughtfully placed at the very end of the program so you can cut out early if you want – thank you.