Cross-Currents
Artist: Bill Evans Trio

This superior set was a logical idea. One of pianist Bill Evans' earlier influences was Lennie Tristano so on the date Evans' trio (with bassist Eddie Gomez and drummer Eliot Zigmund) was teamed with Tristano's two top "students": altoist Lee Konitz and tenor saxophonist Warne Marsh. The quintet performs four standards (all of which fit easily... Read More

Ed Kelly & Pharoah Sanders
Artist: Ed Kelly

When Pharoah Sanders initially recorded with Theresa in 1979, he was still under contract to Arista. Arista refused to let Sanders be pictured on the cover or mentioned in the title, resulting in the album being issued as Ed Kelly and Friend, although anyone with even a passing knowledge of Sanders' style immediately recognized his playing. The... Read More

Art Pepper Live In Japan, Vol. 1: Ophelia
Artist: Art Pepper

Art Pepper concluded a very successful tour of Japan with a concert in Yamagata that was recorded and released on two Storyville CDs. The first CD has just 38 minutes of music, but the quality is quite high. Pepper (with pianist Milcho Leviev, bassist Bob Magnusson and drummer Carl Burnett) performs lengthy versions of two originals ("Ophelia,"... Read More

A Night in Tunisia
Artist: Art Pepper

Altoist Art Pepper was nearing the turning point in his career at the time that he performed the concert at Half Moon Bay, CA, that is included on this Storyville CD. He had been back on the scene for two years and had not quite broken through to the wider jazz audience yet, but major successes were in the near future. It is obvious from his... Read More

Thursday Night at the Village Vanguard
Artist: Art Pepper

Art Pepper's appearances at the Village Vanguard in 1977 were a major success, making the brilliance of the West Coast-based altoist obvious to the New York critics. His historical stint at the Vanguard was originally made available on four LPs (all reissued as CDs with one additional selection added on each disc) and more recently in more... Read More

The Trip
Artist: Art Pepper

Art Pepper made a name for himself around Los Angeles in the '50s as a leading light in the style then known as West Coast jazz -- a cool alternative to the hot hard bop being made in East Coast cities like New York and Philadelphia. Pepper never really fit the cool stereotype, however; he was too incendiary a soloist (influenced by Lester... Read More

Living Legend
Artist: Art Pepper

Art Pepper, one of the major bop altoists to emerge during the 1950s, started his comeback with this excellent set. After 15 years filled with prison time and spent fighting drug addiction, Pepper was finally ready to return to jazz. Accompanied by three of his old friends (pianist Hampton Hawes, bassist Charlie Haden and drummer Shelly Manne),... Read More

Landscape
Artist: Art Pepper

Altoist Art Pepper was in inspired form during this Tokyo concert, which has also been reissued as part of a huge "complete" Galaxy box set. This particular single CD features Pepper (along with pianist George Cables, bassist Tony Dumas, and drummer Billy Higgins) on memorable versions of "True Blues," "Sometime" (during which Pepper switches to... Read More

Art Pepper Today
Artist: Art Pepper

Altoist Art Pepper, in the midst of a successful comeback, recorded this excellent set (also included in full in his massive Galaxy box set) for Galaxy. With pianist Stanley Cowell, bassist Cecil McBee and drummer Roy Haynes, Pepper performs a definitive version of his intense ballad "Patricia"; other highlights include "Miss Who," "Lover Come... Read More

Among Friends
Artist: Art Pepper

Art Pepper mostly sticks to standards on this Discovery LP, but he brings out new life in the veteran songs, particularly on such ballads as "Round Midnight," "What's New" and "Besame Mucho." With the assistance of pianist Russ Freeman, bassist Bob Magnusson and drummer Frank Butler, the great altoist (who is heard just prior to signing an... Read More

Tokyo Encore
Artist: Art Pepper

It is not obvious looking at the outside of this CD but the music from this live performance is also included in Art Pepper's 16-CD Galaxy set. However those Pepper fans unable to afford the larger box are advised to acquire this Dreyfus single CD for the altoist is heard in superb form. Accompanied (and inspired) by pianist George Cables,... Read More