Art Pepper - The Intimate Art Pepper (1979/2016) [DSD64] DSF + HDTracks

In 1979 Art Pepper was recorded at two sessions that yielded two fine albums, So In Love and The New York Album. There was more first-rate material recorded in those two sessions than would fit on two LPs so difficult choices had to be made as to what material not to include on the albums released at the time. Those choices were not necessarily made on the basis of the quality of the performances but with respect to such considerations as length and congruence of repertoire within an album.
These rare recordings which feature primarily material recorded in connection with the So In Love session but which also include a beautiful rendition of Jerome Kern's Yesterdays (with Hank Jones, Ron Carter and Al Foster) showcase Art in solo and trio treatments of jazz standards.
There are also quartet performances with George Cables Charlie Haden and Billy Higgins of material from Pepper's repertoire. The original multi-track recordings were painstakingly mixed and transferred to 2-track analog by Rik Pekkonen and John Koenig. Remastered from the analog tapes by Kevin Gray and Steve Hoffman for the 2003 Analogue Productions SACD. Authored for DSD by Gus Skinas at the Super Audio Center in Boulder, Colorado.
It was John Snyder, then creative director of Horizon Records, A&M's jazz label, who arranged the recording sessions in Los Angeles and New York that became the source for these historic albums. Art's promise to Snyder was kept — that Art's new contract with Fantasy permitted Snyder to record one album for his brand-new startup label, Artists House.
"John then recorded way too much. Too much for just a single album. He recorded in Los Angeles and, when we visited New York again, John set up sessions there as well. And used the all-star bands he wanted. John Snyder honored Art, just as he'd hoped to do when we first met in 1977. These tracks are the sublime result," says Laurie Pepper, Art's wife. We concur.