Art Pepper

5 STARS DOWNBEAT MAGAZINE

Among the many gems from Art Pepper’s superlative discography was a January 19, 1957 studio date in which the altoist fronted a quartet featuring the rhythm section from Miles Davis’ first great quintet (1955-1957): pianist Red Garland, bassist Paul Chambers and drummer Philly Joe Jones. Ten exquisite tracks were recorded in a period of just five hours, nine of which made their way onto the album Art Pepper Meets The Rhythm Section.

Two compositions were written at the date: “Waltz Me Blues” (which was co-composed by Pepper and Chambers) and “Red Pepper Blues” (that was penned by Garland). The other tracks consisted of versions of jazz standards. The quartet’s chemistry and the sublime quality of the music recorded belie the numerous complications that occurred prior to the session. Art had never previously played with any of the members of The Rhythm Section, and never would again with the exception of Paul Chambers. The trio of Garland, Chambers and Jones, however, were like a well-oiled machine, honed to perfection as the pulse behind the trumpet of Miles Davis and the tenor saxophone of John Coltrane. Prior to their date with Pepper, the trio had already appeared with Davis on such seminal albums as Miles (1955), Round About Midnight, Cookin’, Steamin’, Relaxin’ and Workin’ (1956). They had also backed Sonny Rollins on his legendary 1956 quartet album Tenor Madness, whose title track boasted the added participation of Coltrane.

PERSONNEL:

ART PEPPER, alto sax
RED GARLAND, piano
PAUL CHAMBERS, bass
PHILLY JOE JONES, drums

Los Angeles, January 19, 1957.

TRACKS:

Side A:
01 YOU’D BE SO NICE TO COME HOME TO (Cole Porter) 5:27
02 RED PEPPER BLUES (Red Garland) 3:39
03 IMAGINATION (Johnny Burke-Jimmy Van Heusen) 5:55
04 WALTZ ME BLUES (Art Pepper-Paul Chambers) 2:57
05 STRAIGHT LIFE (Art Pepper) 4:01

Side B:
01 JAZZ ME BLUES (Tom Delaney) 4:49
02 TIN TIN DEO (Chano Pozo) 7:43
03 STAR EYES (Gene DePaul-Don Raye) 5:13
4 BIRKS WORKS (Dizzy Gillespie) 4:19