Art Pepper - Art Pepper + Eleven (1959) [1990]

This is a true classic. Altoist Art Pepper is joined by an 11-piece band playing Marty Paich arrangements of a dozen jazz standards from the bop and cool jazz era. Trumpeter Jack Sheldon has a few solos, but the focus is very much on the altoist who is in peak form for this period. Throughout, Pepper sounds quite inspired by Paich's charts which feature the band as an active part of the music rather than just in the background. Highlights of this highly enjoyable set include "Move," "Four Brothers," "Shaw Nuff," "Anthropology," and "Donna Lee," but there is not a single throwaway track to be heard. Essential music for all serious jazz collections. [Some reissues add two additional versions of "Walkin'" and one of "Donna Lee" to the original program.]


Tracks:

01. Move (Best) - 3:28
02. Groovin' High (Gillespie) - 3:26
03. Opus de Funk (Silver) - 3:14
04. 'Round Midnight (Monk-Williams) - 3:36
05. Four Brothers (Giuffre) - 3:00
06. Shawnuff (Gillespie-Parker) - 3:00
07. Bernie's Tune (Leiber-Stoller-Miller) - 2:47
08. Walkin' Shoes (Mulligan) - 3:33
09. Anthropology (Gillespie-Parker) - 3:22
10. Airegin (Rollins) - 3:04
11. Walkin' (Carpenter) - 5:18
12. Donna Lee (Parker) - 3:21

Personnel:

Art Pepper - tenor saxophone
Pete Candoli (#3,4,8,10), Jack Sheldon, Al Porcino (#2,6,9,12) - trumpet
Dick Nash - trombone
Bob Enevoldsen - tenor saxophone, valve trombone
Vince de Rosa - French horn
Herb Geller (#3,4,8,10), Bud Shank (#2,6,9,12), Charlie Kennedy (#1,5,7,11) - alto saxophone
Bill Perkins (#2-4,6,8-10,12), Richie Kamuca (#1,5,7,11) - tenor saxophone
Med Flory - baritone saxophone
Russ Freeman - piano
Joe Mondragon - bass
Mel Lewis - drums