Mosaic Select Art Pepper

[blind-blake]

How improved is the sound? Is it worth getting if I have the material from the three Blue Note/Pacific Jazz releases from the 1980s? Thanks in advance.

[Clunky]

The sound is better than the 80s issue I have. I was quite happy with my McMaster Cd of the "The Art of Pepper" but the Select is an upgrade. The rest of the material ( 2/3 approx.) on the select was new to me, so an easy decision

[J.A.W.]

It's not an "upgrade" to my ears, I prefer the 1980s CDs. However, the Mosaic's fine for someone who doesn't have those CDs.

Edited September 2, 2008 by J.A.W.

[mikelz777]

My 2 cents; keep and enjoy the Pepper you already have and spend that same money on some jazz you don't have yet.

[JohnS]

My 2 cents; keep and enjoy the Pepper you already have and spend that same money on some jazz you don't have yet.

That would be my advice too.

[king ubu]

I decided to keep the old ones in this case. (But then as I buy the Selects more or less chronologically/by number, it would have taken a while till I arrived at this one anyway.)

In addition, there's this one from Spain, including a couple of hitherto unreleased tracks, I think also omitted on the Select:

link from where I took below info, with samples over there

The Art Of Pepper - Omega Sessions: The Complete Master Takes (2 Unissued Tracks)

Art Pepper

Featuring: Art Pepper (as), Carl Perkins (p), Ben Tucker (b), Chuck Flores (ds)

REFERENCE: FSRCD 378

BAR CODE: -

PRICE: 10.75 €

Contains the unissued tracks "Blues Rock" and "Rock Blues" (listen the samples).

Digital remastering in 24 bit high resolution

Limited edition digipack cover sleeve.

Comprehensive notes, 24-page booklet fully illustrated.

This CD presents the complete master takes from the legendary 1957 "Omega Sessions". The first eleven tracks were originally marketed on two 7 1/2 ips reel-to-reel stereophonic tapes by the Omegatape label, between 1957 and 1958. "Summertime" was not issued until the early 1980's on Lp on the Nadja label in Japan. The two previously unreleased tracks appear here for the first time. However, both tracks are missing from the so-called "The Complete Art Pepper Aladdin Recordings" marketed by the Mosaic and Blue Note record labels.

The recordings were made on April 1 & 2, 1957 at the small Audio Arts Studio in Hollywood and the man who made them possible was Don Clark, a young disc jockey, concert promoter and Pepper fan, who in June 1956, become a good friend of the altoist. At that time, Art Pepper had been just released after serving 19 months in prison for heroin possession and Clark began acting as his personal manager, contributing to Pepper's rapid and successful return to the jazz scene. Clark after being directly involved in booking gigs and also in some of the most brilliant LPs Art Pepper recorded in those days, was finally able to reach his dream of becoming a record producer when he was appointed president of Intro Records at the end of 1956. "Clark brought Art Pepper to the label and that's how he got the job. THAT was his connection. ART was his ticket. It provided Clark with a job, and it got Art on wax, as we used to say in the old days," stated West Coast journalist John Tynan. The full history of how these recordings came out originally on Omegatape (and not on LP by intro) can be read in the outstanding booklet.

Tracklisting:

1. Holiday Flight 5:10

2. Too Close For Comfort 6:08

3. Webb City 4:55

4. Surf Ride (Art Pepper) 4:41

5. Body and Soul 4:22

6. Begin The Beguine 7:24

7. The Breeze and I 3:33

8. Without a Song 7:37

9. Fascinatin' Rhythm 4:24

10. Long Ago And Far Away 4:09

11. I can't believe that you're in love with me 5:39

12. Summertime 6:31

Previously Unreleased Bonus Tracks

13. Blues Rock (Art Pepper) 2:37

14. Rock Blues (Art Pepper) 2:46

Recorded at Audio Arts Studio, Hollywood, April 1 & 2, 1957

[blind-blake]

My 2 cents; keep and enjoy the Pepper you already have and spend that same money on some jazz you don't have yet.

That would be my advice too.

Thanks a lot. I'm convinced.