Art Pepper - Art Pepper Presents West Coast Sessions Volume 6: Shelly Manne (2017)

The Shelly Manne edition of West Coast Sessions is the oldest fashion of all of the recordings. This recording has much more of a swing era flavor in the repertoire and performance when compared with the others. The inclusion of pianist Pete Jolly accentuates this swing-era element in his Oscar Peterson-styled blues playing on "Hollywood Jam Blues." Jolly's contributions are wordy and voluble, full of all order of ornate phrasing. The three horn from of Pepper, tenor saxophonist Bob Cooper and trombonist Bill Watrous adds to the swing-era environment by representing the most stripped down of big bands. All three understand the material, performing it with a late 1940s flair. "Just Friends" is given a jaunty treatment with near Dixieland counterpoint. The band sounds comfortable and relaxed.

Relaxed. This is what Pepper was being the ostensible, yet unnamed, leader of these sessions. He did not feel the leadership pressure for the recordings and was more relaxed than on name recordings. Here Pepper plays with great mirth and gentle release. These are not the near-tortured performances captured on The Complete Village Vanguard Sessions (Contemporary, 1977/1995). Here, Pepper is in complete command, comfortable with his sidemen, making some of the best music of his career. This is a fitting way to end an acclaimed series.

Critic's Note: Anno Domini 2017, marks the 100th Anniversary of recorded jazz, deftly noted by the release of the shellac "Dixieland Jass Band One-Step (A)/Livery Stable Blues (B)," Victor 18255, recorded February 26, 1917 and released March 7, 1917. For perspective, my father was 18 months old and my mother was yet to be born for two years. Yes, it all remains that close. It is also the twentieth anniversary of me writing for All About Jazz. The first recording I reviewed for the magazine was Art Pepper's San Francisco Samba (Contemporary, 1997), published December 1, 1997. I am using this present review as part of a series noting my twentieth anniversary with the magazine and paying special tribute to my fellow writers at All About Jazz, Publisher Michael Ricci, and groovy people like Terri Hinte and Laurie Pepper, who I would otherwise have never met.

TRACKLIST

01. Just Friends
02. These Foolish Things (Remind Me Of You)
03. Hollywood Jam Blues
04. Lover Come Back To Me
05. Limehouse Blues
06. I'm Getting Sentimental Over You
07. I'm Getting Sentimental Over You (Alternate Take)