Art Pepper - The Return Of Art Pepper: The Complete Art Pepper Aladdin Recordings, Vol. 1 (1957) [1987]

Blue Note's The Return of Art Pepper: The Complete Art Pepper Aladdin Recordings compiles the 13 final masters that the alto saxophonist recorded for Aladdin between August 1956 and January 1957. These are titled The Return of Art Pepper, since they were recorded shortly after he completed a jail sentence in 1956. As a result, Pepper's chops are a little rusty, but you can hear that he still has a passion for playing, and he does improve over the course of these tracks. For serious Pepper fans, it's worth a listen, but for less dedicated fans, there are better places to become acquainted with his work.

Tracks:

01. Pepper Returns (4:26)
02. Broadway (5:00)
03. You Go To My Head (4:18)
04. Angel Wings (4:43)
05. Funny Blues (4:38)
06. Five More (4:42)
07. Minority (4:19)
08. Patricia (3:38)
09. Mambo De La Pinta (4:16)
10. Walkin' Out Blues (5:56)
11. Pepper Steak (3:50)
12. You're Driving Me Crazy (5:08)
13. Tenor Blooz (5:01)
14. Yardbird Suite (5:44)
15. Straight Life (3:20)

Personnel:

Songs 01-10
Art Pepper - alto sax
Jack Sheldon - trumpet
Russ Freeman - piano
Leroy Vinnegar - bass
Shelly Manne - drums

Recorded at Capitol Studios in Los Angeles in August, 1956

Songs 11-15
Art Pepper - alto sax / tenor sax
Red Norvo - vibraharp
Gerald Wiggins - piano
Ben Tucker - bass
Joe Morello - drums

Recorded at Western Recorders in Los Angeles on January 3, 1957