Prime Art Pepper on remastered vinyl…
Art Pepper – Smack Up – Craft Recordings/ Contemporary Records #CR00706 – 180 gm stereo vinyl – 1960 – ****
(Art Pepper – alto saxophone; Jack Sheldon – trumpet; Pete Jolly – piano; Jimmy Bond – bass; Frank Butler – drums)
Alto saxophonist, Art Pepper, was in a good place at the beginning of the 1960s. Several albums had met critical acclaim, and his health was good after drug problems in the mid 1950s. The drug issues soon returned with prison stays, including a stretch at San Quentin, but in late 1960, when a West Coast based line-up was formed to record, Smack Up, all was relatively well.
The boutique label, Craft Recordings, as part of their Contemporary Records Acoustic Sounds Series, is now releasing this album, with a major sonic upgrade. Lacquers from the original master tapes were used by ace engineer, Bernie Grundman, to remaster the album, with 180 gm vinyl used at QRP for pressing. That’s good news for Art Pepper fans as this release features the front line addition of trumpeter, Jack Sheldon, as well as a rhythm section of pianist, Pete Jolly; bassist, Jimmy Bond; and drummer, Frank Butler. Each were stalwarts of the Los Angeles jazz scene of that era.
The song list is unique, as all tracks were written by saxophonists (Harold Land, Benny Carter, Buddy Collette, Duane Tatro, and Ornette Coleman), in addition to “Las Cuevas De Mario,” written by Pepper.
The title track, from Harold Land, is given a bop treatment with the group “trading 4s” and given solo space. “Las Cuevas” is a blues written in 5/4, with the horns playing over a repetitive figure, setting a pensive mood.
The blues continues with “A Bit of Basie,” that has generous solos in an upbeat tempo propelled by drummer, Frank Butler. Benny Carter’s “How Can You Lose,” is my favorite track. It’s pleasantly funky, with a gospel blues feel. Duane Tatro’s “Maybe Next Year,” has a sublime and passionate Pepper soloing, with a distinctive late night club vibe. The closer, “Tears Inside,” written by Ornette Coleman is very approachable (for Coleman), and Pete Jolly shines, while Art digs in, freely improvising.
With superb remastering acoustics, this would be a nice upgrade for fans of Mr. Pepper…
—Jeff Krow
Art Pepper – Smack Up
Tracklist:
Side 1:
Smack Up,
Las Cuevas De Mario,
A Bit of Basie
Side 2:
How Can You Lose;
Maybe Next Year,
Tears Inside
More Information through Acoustic Sounds
