Art Pepper's 1st Contemporary session, November 26, 1956

[JamesAHarrod]

Art Pepper and Warne Marsh completists will want to acquire Laurie Pepper’s joint release with the Los Angeles Jazz Institute of rare and unissued Art Pepper sessions. The Pepper/Marsh track is an alternate of AVALON, the master take (Ed Michel’s choice) was issued on the Victor (Japan) Art Pepper With Warne Marsh CD (VDJ-1577) 1986. The release also has previously unissued tracks from Art Pepper Plus Eleven, Gettin’ Together, Smack Up, and Intensity. Laurie Pepper’s version is Antique Art Pepper and the LAJI version is Over The Rainbow - Rare and Unissued Art Pepper 1949-1960. This alternate take of Avalon brings the total timing of music from this session to sixty minutes, music that could have aided the careers of Pepper and Marsh if it had been released back then. John Litweiler gave The Way It Was (6 tracks from the session) a five star review in Down Beat when it was released in 1973.

[Chuck Nessa]

Thanks for the alert!

[GA Russell]

I had no idea that The Way It Was was a respected album!

[Chuck Nessa]

LOL. It was my album of the year back then. The full session issued in Japan is even better.

[JSngry]

Mr. Litweiler's DB review stuck in my head and made a "album to buy the first time you ever see it", which is exactly what I did. I mostly stuck to Side One though, because, you know, Warne.

[gmonahan]

So, are all these new alternates going to be issued in cd form, or only as downloads?

gregmo

[JamesAHarrod]

The LAJI edition is a CD with an eight page booklet of notes by Ken Poston. I believe that Laurie Pepper's edition is a download only with a pdf. of Ken's notes. Over The Rainbow is the twelfth limited edition CD release by the LAJI. Ken produces these as a fund raiser for the institute and offers them as a member bonus. Annual membership is $50. Here are the details from the tray liner.

Edited March 20, 2015 by James Harrod

[romualdo]

managed to get a copy of this & I was bowled over to see the alternates from the Contemporary sessions - I thought they would have been in the possession of Contemporary

[clifford_thornton]

Yeah, I only have the old Contemporary LP but it's a gas. Will have to get these extra tracks.

[medjuck]

Laurie's freebie this month is Mr. Dom a cut from 1964. It's one of the few recorded examples of Art's Coltrane influenced period.

[jlhoots]

Yeah, I only have the old Contemporary LP but it's a gas. Will have to get these extra tracks.

Weren't there alternates on the OJC reissue?

[danasgoodstuff]

I have the Jap version of the session with Warne. It is indeed great (except for the stupid but typical early stereo mix); but I think I can live without the new alternates, but I would like to get the studio stuff from the lost years even if I don't expect to love it.

[Clunky]

The full session of Marsh/ Pepper wanders a fair bit. I think the tracks selected for "The way it was" were the core of session , with much of the rest lacking the same coherence. Still worth hearing

[chewy-chew-chew-bean-benitez]

i have the 90s japan import somewhere but i need the VDJ

[gmonahan]

Yeah, I only have the old Contemporary LP but it's a gas. Will have to get these extra tracks.

Weren't there alternates on the OJC reissue?

Yes, two alternate takes, one of "I Can't Believe that You're in Love with Me" and one of "All the Things You Are." About 12 minutes of extra music.

Edited to add that there are about 11 bonus tracks altogether on the late 50s-60 Pepper OJCs. I'd think that would cover the lion's share of those on this new issue, no?

gregmo

Edited March 21, 2015 by Greg M.

[Chuck Nessa]

I think these are additional takes.

[gmonahan]

I think these are additional takes.

Really? Well, I think eleven is probably enough for me!

gregmo